New solution approaches for the maximum-reliability stochastic network interdiction problem

We investigate methods to solve the maximum-reliability stochastic network interdiction problem (SNIP). In this problem, a defender interdicts arcs on a directed graph to minimize an attacker’s probability of undetected traversal through the network. The attacker’s origin and destination are unknown to the defender and assumed to be random. SNIP can be formulated as a stochastic mixed-integer program via a deterministic equivalent formulation (DEF). As the size of this DEF makes it impractical for solving large instances, current approaches to solving SNIP rely on modifications of Benders decomposition. We present two new approaches to solve SNIP. First, we introduce a new DEF that is significantly more compact than the standard DEF. Second, we propose a new path-based formulation of SNIP. The number of constraints required to define this formulation grows exponentially with the size of the network, but the model can be solved via delayed constraint generation. We present valid inequalities for this path-based formulation which are dependent on the structure of the interdicted arc probabilities. We propose a branch-and-cut (BC) algorithm to solve this new SNIP formulation. Computational results demonstrate that directly solving the more compact SNIP formulation and this BC algorithm both provide an improvement over a state-of-the-art implementation of Benders decomposition for this problem.     

An integrated model for logistics network design

In this paper we introduce a new formulation of the logistics network design problem encountered in deterministic, single-country, single-period contexts. Our formulation is flexible and integrates location and capacity choices for plants and warehouses with supplier and transportation mode selection, product range assignment and product flows. We next describe two approaches for solving the problem---a simplex-based branch-and-bound and a Benders decomposition approach. We then propose valid inequalities to strengthen the LP relaxation of the model and improve both algorithms. The computational experiments we conducted on realistic randomly generated data sets show that Benders decomposition is somewhat more advantageous on the more difficult problems. They also highlight the considerable performance improvement that the valid inequalities produce in both solution methods. Furthermore, when these constraints are incorporated in the Benders decomposition algorithm, this offers outstanding reoptimization capabilities.     

Nonanticipative duality,relaxations, and formulations for chance-constrained stochastic programs

We propose two new Lagrangian dual problems for chance-constrained stochastic programs based on relaxing nonanticipativity constraints. We compare the strength of the proposed dual bounds and demonstrate that they are superior to the bound obtained from the continuous relaxation of a standard mixed-integer programming (MIP) formulation. For a given dual solution, the associated Lagrangian relaxation bounds can be calculated by solving a set of single scenario subproblems and then solving a single knapsack problem. We also derive two new primal MIP formulations and demonstrate that for chance-constrained linear programs, the continuous relaxations of these formulations yield bounds equal to the proposed dual bounds. We propose a new heuristic method and two new exact algorithms based on these duals and formulations. The first exact algorithm applies to chance-constrained binary programs, and uses either of the proposed dual bounds in concert with cuts that eliminate solutions found by the subproblems. The second exact method is a branch-and-cut algorithm for solving either of the primal formulations. Our computational results indicate that the proposed dual bounds and heuristic solutions can be obtained efficiently, and the gaps between the best dual bounds and the heuristic solutions are small.     

A class of Dantzig–Wolfe type decomposition methods for variational inequality problems

We consider a class of decomposition methods for variational inequalities, which is related to the classical Dantzig–Wolfe decomposition of linear programs. Our approach is rather general, in that it can be used with certain types of set-valued or nonmonotone operators, as well as with various kinds of approximations in the subproblems of the functions and derivatives in the single-valued case. Also, subproblems may be solved approximately. Convergence is established under reasonable assumptions. We also report numerical experiments for computing variational equilibria of the game-theoretic models of electricity markets. Our numerical results illustrate that the decomposition approach allows to solve large-scale problem instances otherwise intractable if the widely used PATH solver is applied directly, without decomposition.     

On mixing sets arising in chance-constrained programming

The mixing set with a knapsack constraint arises in deterministic equivalent of chance-constrained programming problems with finite discrete distributions. We first consider the case that the chance-constrained program has equal probabilities for each scenario. We study the resulting mixing set with a cardinality constraint and propose facet-defining inequalities that subsume known explicit inequalities for this set. We extend these inequalities to obtain valid inequalities for the mixing set with a knapsack constraint. In addition, we propose a compact extended reformulation (with polynomial number of variables and constraints) that characterizes a linear programming equivalent of a single chance constraint with equal scenario probabilities. We introduce a blending procedure to find valid inequalities for intersection of multiple mixing sets. We propose a polynomial-size extended formulation for the intersection of multiple mixing sets with a knapsack constraint that is stronger than the original mixing formulation. We also give a compact extended linear program for the intersection of multiple mixing sets and a cardinality constraint for a special case. We illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed inequalities in our computational experiments with probabilistic lot-sizing problems.     

Solving chance-constrained combinatorial problems to optimality

The aim of this paper is to provide new efficient methods for solving general chance-constrained integer linear programs to optimality. Valid linear inequalities are given for these problems. They are proved to characterize properly the set of solutions. They are based on a specific scenario, whose definition impacts strongly on the quality of the linear relaxation built. A branch-and-cut algorithm is described to solve chance-constrained combinatorial problems to optimality. Numerical tests validate the theoretical analysis and illustrate the practical efficiency of the proposed approach.     

Nonconvex, lower semicontinuous piecewise linear optimization

A branch-and-cut algorithm for solving linear problems with continuous separable piecewise linear cost functions was developed in 2005 by Keha et al. This algorithm is based on valid inequalities for an SOS2 based formulation of the problem. In this paper we study the extension of the algorithm to the case where the cost function is only lower semicontinuous. We extend the SOS2 based formulation to the lower semicontinuous case and show how the inequalities introduced by Keha et al. can also be used for this new formulation. We also introduce a simple generalization of one of the inequalities introduced by Keha et al. Furthermore, we study the discontinuities caused by fixed charge jumps and introduce two new valid inequalities by extending classical results for fixed charge linear problems. Finally, we report computational results showing how the addition of the developed inequalities can significantly improve the performance of CPLEX when solving these kinds of problems.     

On solving discrete two-stage stochastic programs having mixed-integer first- and second-stage variables

In this paper, we propose a decomposition-based branch-and-bound (DBAB) algorithm for solving two-stage stochastic programs having mixed-integer first- and second-stage variables. A modified Benders' decomposition method is developed, where the Benders' subproblems define lower bounding second-stage value functions of the first-stage variables that are derived by constructing a certain partial convex hull representation of the two-stage solution space. This partial convex hull is sequentially generated using a convexification scheme such as the Reformulation-Linearization Technique (RLT) or lift-and-project process, which yields valid inequalities that are reusable in the subsequent subproblems by updating the values of the first-stage variables. A branch-and-bound algorithm is designed based on a hyperrectangular partitioning process, using the established property that any resulting lower bounding Benders' master problem defined over a hyperrectangle yields the same objective value as the original stochastic program over that region if the first-stage variable solution is an extreme point of the defining hyperrectangle or the second-stage solution satisfies the binary restrictions. We prove that this algorithm converges to a global optimal solution. Some numerical examples and computational results are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of this approach.     

Inexact Operator Splitting Methods with Selfadaptive Strategy for Variational Inequality Problems

The Peaceman-Rachford and Douglas-Rachford operator splitting methods are advantageous for solving variational inequality problems, since they attack the original problems via solving a sequence of systems of smooth equations, which are much easier to solve than the variational inequalities. However, solving the subproblems exactly may be prohibitively difficult or even impossible. In this paper, we propose an inexact operator splitting method, where the subproblems are solved approximately with some relative error tolerance. Another contribution is that we adjust the scalar parameter automatically at each iteration and the adjustment parameter can be a positive constant, which makes the methods more practical and efficient. We prove the convergence of the method and present some preliminary computational results, showing that the proposed method is promising. This work was supported by the NSFC grant 10501024.     

求解结构型单调变分不等式的改进的邻近类分解方法

邻近类分解方法首先是由Chen和Teboulle（Math. Programming,1994,64(1):81-101）提出用来求解凸的极小化问题．在此基础上,该文提出一种新方法求解具有分离结构的单调变分不等式．其主要优点在于放松了算法中对某些参数的限制,使得新方法更加便于计算．在和原分解方法相同的假设下,可以证明新方法是全局收敛的．     

The mixed vertex packing problem

We study a generalization of the vertex packing problem having both binary and bounded continuous variables, called the mixed vertex packing problem (MVPP). The well-known vertex packing model arises as a subproblem or relaxation of many 0-1 integer problems, whereas the mixed vertex packing model arises as a natural counterpart of vertex packing in the context of mixed 0-1 integer programming. We describe strong valid inequalities for the convex hull of solutions to the MVPP and separation algorithms for these inequalities. We give a summary of computational results with a branch-and-cut algorithm for solving the MVPP and using it to solve general mixed-integer problems. Received: June 1998 / Accepted: February 2000?Published online September 20, 2000     

A column generation based decomposition algorithm for a parallel machine just-in-time scheduling problem

We propose a column generation based exact decomposition algorithm for the problem of scheduling n jobs with an unrestrictively large common due date on m identical parallel machines to minimize total weighted earliness and tardiness. We first formulate the problem as an integer program, then reformulate it, using Dantzig–Wolfe decomposition, as a set partitioning problem with side constraints. Based on this set partitioning formulation, a branch and bound exact solution algorithm is developed for the problem. In the branch and bound tree, each node is the linear relaxation problem of a set partitioning problem with side constraints. This linear relaxation problem is solved by column generation approach where columns represent partial schedules on single machines and are generated by solving two single machine subproblems. Our computational results show that this decomposition algorithm is capable of solving problems with up to 60 jobs in reasonable cpu time.     

一般单调变分不等式的近似邻近外梯度算法

近似邻近点算法是求解单调变分不等式的一个有效方法,该算法通过解决一系列强单调子问题,产生近似邻近点序列来逼近变分不等式的解,而外梯度算法则通过每次迭代中增加一个投影来克服一般投影算法限制太强的缺点,但它们均未能改变迭代步骤中不规则闭凸区域上投影难计算的问题.于是,本文结合外梯度算法的迭代格式,构造包含原投影区域的半空间,将投影建立在半空间上,简化了投影的求解过程,并对新的邻近点序列作相应限制,使得改进的算法具有较好的收敛性.     

Mixing mixed-integer inequalities

Mixed-integer rounding (MIR) inequalities play a central role in the development of strong cutting planes for mixed-integer programs. In this paper, we investigate how known MIR inequalities can be combined in order to generate new strong valid inequalities.?Given a mixed-integer region S and a collection of valid “base” mixed-integer inequalities, we develop a procedure for generating new valid inequalities for S. The starting point of our procedure is to consider the MIR inequalities related with the base inequalities. For any subset of these MIR inequalities, we generate two new inequalities by combining or “mixing” them. We show that the new inequalities are strong in the sense that they fully describe the convex hull of a special mixed-integer region associated with the base inequalities.?We discuss how the mixing procedure can be used to obtain new classes of strong valid inequalities for various mixed-integer programming problems. In particular, we present examples for production planning, capacitated facility location, capacitated network design, and multiple knapsack problems. We also present preliminary computational results using the mixing procedure to tighten the formulation of some difficult integer programs. Finally we study some extensions of this mixing procedure. Received: April 1998 / Accepted: January 2001?Published online April 12, 2001     

关于单调变分不等式的不精确邻近点算法的收敛性分析

We consider a proximal point algorithm(PPA) for solving monotone variational inequalities. PPA generates a sequence by solving a sequence of strongly monotone subproblems .However,solving the subproblems is either expensive or impossible. Some inexact proximal point algorithms(IPPA) have been developed in many literatures. In this paper, we present a criterion for approximately solving subproblems. It only needs one simple additional work on the basis of original algorithm, and the convergence criterion becomes milder. We show that this method converges globally under new criterion provided that the solution set of the problem is nonempty.     

Min-cut clustering

We describe a decomposition framework and a column generation scheme for solving a min-cut clustering problem. The subproblem to generate additional columns is itself an NP-hard mixed integer programming problem. We discuss strong valid inequalities for the subproblem and describe some efficient solution strategies. Computational results on compiler construction problems are reported.This paper is dedicated to Phil Wolfe on the occasion of his 65th birthday.This research was supported by NSF grants DMS-8719128 and DDM-9115768, and by an IBM grant to the Computational Optimization Center, Georgia Institute of Technology.     

An Improved Gradient Projection-based Decomposition Technique for Support Vector Machines

In this paper we propose some improvements to a recent decomposition technique for the large quadratic program arising in training support vector machines. As standard decomposition approaches, the technique we consider is based on the idea to optimize, at each iteration, a subset of the variables through the solution of a quadratic programming subproblem. The innovative features of this approach consist in using a very effective gradient projection method for the inner subproblems and a special rule for selecting the variables to be optimized at each step. These features allow to obtain promising performance by decomposing the problem into few large subproblems instead of many small subproblems as usually done by other decomposition schemes. We improve this technique by introducing a new inner solver and a simple strategy for reducing the computational cost of each iteration. We evaluate the effectiveness of these improvements by solving large-scale benchmark problems and by comparison with a widely used decomposition package.     

Multiprocessor scheduling under precedence constraints: Polyhedral results

We consider the problem of scheduling a set of tasks related by precedence constraints to a set of processors, so as to minimize their makespan. Each task has to be assigned to a unique processor and no preemption is allowed. A new integer programming formulation of the problem is given and strong valid inequalities are derived. A subset of the inequalities in this formulation has a strong combinatorial structure, which we use to define the polytope of partitions into linear orders. The facial structure of this polytope is investigated and facet defining inequalities are presented which may be helpful to tighten the integer programming formulation of other variants of multiprocessor scheduling problems. Numerical results on real-life problems are presented.     

Benders Decomposition for a Location-Design Problem in Green Wireless Local Area Networks

We consider a problem arising in the design of green (or energy-saving) wireless local area networks (GWLANs). Decisions on both location and capacity dimensioning must be taken simultaneously. We model the problem as an integer program with nonlinear constraints and derive valid inequalities. We handle the nonlinearity of the formulation by developing a Benders decomposition algorithm. We propose various ways to improve the Benders master problem and the feasibility cuts.