Information Technology Journal1812-56381812-5646Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/itj.2013.656.663ChenYourong RenTiaojuan LiuYaolin ZhouYing 42013124Many routing algorithms for chain wireless sensor networks were lack of theoretical analysis. It was difficult to judge whether these algorithms maximally prolonged network lifetime. In order to solve the problem, lifetime maximization algorithm for chain wireless sensor networks (LMA_CWSN) was proposed. The optimization method was used to research on the network lifetime maximization problem. Network optimization model was established. Non-negative slack variables and logarithmic barrier function were introduced. Newton method was used to solve the model. Finally, optimal value of network lifetime and optimal routing scheme were obtained. Simulation results show that LMA_CWSN makes full use of nodes energy to improve network lifetime, converges to the optimal value of network lifetime and optimal routing scheme after iteration calculation and outperforms LEACH (low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy), PEGASIS (power-efficient gathering in sensor information systems) and Ratio_w (ratio weight routing algorithm). Under certain conditions, LMA_CWSN can guide the data routing for chain wireless sensor networks, try to meet the optimal scheme when node transmission path and data amount are selected and provide reference to assess the performance of other routing algorithms.]]>Yick, J., B. Mukherjee and D. Ghosal,20085222922330Lindsey, S., C. Raghavendra and K.M. Sivalingam,200213924935Heinzelman, W.R., A. Chandrakasan and H. Balakrishnan,20002000pp: 30053014Zhu, Y.H., D.D. Shen, W.D. Wu, Z.W. Shen and Y.P. Tang,20093710411045Shin, J. and C.J. Sun,2011131725Chen, K.H., J.M. Huang and C.C. Hsiao,20092009pp: 15Chen, Y.L. and J.S. Lin,201235507516Wang, H., Y.H. Yang, M. Ma, J.H. He and X.M. Wang,2008737593768Hua, C. and T.S.P. Yum,200816892903Wei, E., A. Ozdaglar and A. Jadbabaie,20102010Ren, T.J., H.B. Yang and Y.R. Chen,201227683690