Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT In this work, the presence of cut nodes in a network is exploited to propose a competitive method for the multi-terminal maximum flow problem. The main idea of the method is based on the relation between cut-trees and cut nodes, which is observed in the context of sensitivity analysis on the variation of edges capacities. Computational experiments were conducted with the proposed algorithm, whose results were compared with the ones of Gusfield, for randomly generated and well-known instances of the literature. The numerical results demonstrate the potential of the method for some classes of instances. Moreover, the proposed method was adapted for the single maximum flow problem, but failed to improve existing running times for the very same classes of instances.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Managing a one-way vehicle sharing system means periodically moving free access vehicles from excess to deficit stations in order to avoid local shortages. We propose and study here several network flow oriented models and algorithms which deal with a static version of this problem while unifying preemption and non preemption as well as carrier riding cost, vehicle riding time and carrier number minimization. Those network flow models are vehicle driven, which means that they focus on the way vehicles are exchanged between excess and deficit stations. We perform a lower bound and approximation analysis which leads us to the design and test of several heuristics. One of them involves implicit dynamic network handling.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT This paper provides an overview of the state-of-the art and the current research trends concerning shortest paths problem on dynamic graphs. The discussion is divided in two main topics: reoptimization and time-dependent shortest paths. Reoptimization consists in the solution of a sequence of shortest path problems in which each instance slightly differs from the previous one. The reoptimization tackles this problem wisely using information stored in an optimal solution previously computed. On the other hand, shortest path problems on time-dependent graphs are characterized by a weight function which not only depends upon the arcs but changes in time according to a certain time horizon.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT In power delivery systems, the use of dispersed generation and security control to improve network utilization requires the optimal use of system control devices. The installation of loop controller allows the distribution system to operate in a loop configuration, achieving effective management of voltage and power flow. In the investment planning process, it is important to identify the optimal location and installed capacity of the equipment such that all operational constraints are satisfied. This paper presents a method for identifying the optimal location and capacity with the minimum installation cost. Our novel approach uses an economic model that considers the fixed costs. A slope scaling procedure is presented, and its efficiency is demonstrated using numerical experiments.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Cost-effective planning and dimensioning of backhaul microwave networks under unreliable channel conditions remains a relatively underexplored area in the literature. In particular, bandwidth assignment requires special attention as the transport capacity of microwave links is prone to variations due to, e.g., weather conditions. In this paper, we formulate an optimization model that determines the minimum cost bandwidth assignment of the links in the network for which traffic requirements can be fulfilled with high probability. This model also aims to increase network reliability by adjusting dynamically traffic routes in response to variations of link capacities induced by channel conditions. Experimental results show that 45% of the bandwidth cost can be saved compared to the case where a bandwidth over-provisioning policy is uniformly applied to all links in the network planning. Comparisons with previous work also show that our solution approach, based on column generation technique, is able to solve much larger instances in significantly shorter computing times (i.e., few minutes for medium-size networks, and up to 2 hours for very large networks, unsolved so far by previous models/algorithms), with a comparable level of reliability.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT We investigate a variant of the Multi-Layer Network Design problem where minimum cost capacities have to be installed upon a virtual layer in such a way that (i) a set of traffic demands can be routed AND (ii) each capacity (subband) is assigned a route in the physical layer. The traffic demands cannot be splitted along several paths (nor even several capacities installed on the same link), which makes the problem even more difficult. In this paper, we present new non-compact ILP formulations to model the problem and provide column generation procedures, based on different Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition schemes to solve it. More precisely, an arc-flow formulation is given for the problem and used to derive two different paths formulations: non-aggregated and aggregated. The former contains two families of path variables and requires a double column generation procedure to solve it, while the latter relies on a single path variable with a specific structure. These alternative modeling approaches induce two Branch-and-Price algorithms that allow to solve the problem efficiently for several classes of instances.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT We present a survey on nonconvex models and algorithms for multicommodity network design problems. We put in perspective the alternative modelling of these problems, traditionally represented by mixed-integer linear programs, by separable nonconvex arc cost functions. We show in particular that some problems take profit of a continuous modelling and explore the case of capacity expansion of communications networks.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT In this paper, we study the stochastic knapsack problem with expectation constraint. We solve the relaxed version of this problem using a stochastic gradient algorithm in order to provide upper bounds for a branch-and-bound framework. Two approaches to estimate the needed gradients are studied, one based on Integration by Parts and one using Finite Differences. The Finite Differences method is a robust and simple approach with efficient results despite the fact that estimated gradients are biased, meanwhile Integration by Parts is based upon more theoretical analysis and permits to enlarge the field of applications. Numerical results on a dataset from the literature as well as a set of randomly generated instances are given.