BMCH: Blockchain-enhanced multidimensional behavior scoring and privacy-preserving cluster head election scheme for the internet of vehicles

The high mobility and dynamic nature of vehicles pose significant challenges for existing cluster head election mechanisms, which struggle to maintain network stability and efficiency amidst frequent topology changes. To address these challenges, this study proposes a novel scheme based on Blockchain-enhanced Multidimensional vehicle behavior scoring for Cluster Head election (BMCH). The proposed method evaluates a range of factors, including participation degree, integrity degree, vehicle resources allocation, location and mobility pattern, vehicle compliance and legal adherence and vehicle anomalous behaviors. By dynamically adjusting scoring weights, the mechanism thereby ensures more accurate cluster head election under varying network conditions. Additionally, blockchain technology is integrated to encrypt and securely store trust scores and election outcomes, ensuring data integrity, consistency and decentralized tamper resistance. Experimental simulations demonstrate that the proposed approach enhances network stability even in the presence of malicious nodes, while achieving shorter cluster head election times, higher packet delivery rates, increased blockchain throughput, and acceptable energy consumption compared to representative existing schemes.