Skip to main content
Log in

Relations between capacity utilization, minimal bin size and bin number

  • Published:
Annals of Operations Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We consider the two-dimensional bin packing problem given a set of rectangular items, find the minimal number of rectangular bins needed to pack all items. Rotation of the items is not permitted. We show for any integer \({k} \ge 3\) that at most \({k}-1\) bins are needed to pack all items if every item fits into a bin and if the total area of items does not exceed \({k}/4\)-times the bin area. Moreover, this bound is tight. Furthermore, we show that only two bins are necessary to pack all items if the total area of items is not larger than the bin area, and if the height of each item is not larger than a third of the bin height and the width of every item does not exceed half of the bin width.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Belov, G., Kartak, V., Rohling, H., & Scheithauer, G. (2009). One-dimensional relaxations and lp bounds for orthogonal packing. International Transactions in Operational Research, 16, 745–766.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bougeret, M., Dutot, P.F., Jansen, K., Otte, C., & Trystram, D. (2009). Approximation algorithm for multiple strip packing. IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark, 7th WAOA.

  • Buchwald, T., & Scheithauer, G., (2012). A note on, Relations between capacity utilization and minimal bin number. Preprint MATH-NM-05-2012, Technische Universität Dresden.

  • Carlier, J., Clautiaux, F., & Moukrim, A. (2007). New reduction procedures and lower bounds for the two-dimensional bin packing problem with fixed orientation. Computers & Operations Research, 34, 2223–2250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coffman, E. G., Garey, M. R., Johnson, D. S., & Tarjan, R. E. (1980). Performance bounds for level-oriented two-dimensional packing algorithms. SIAM Journal on Computing, 9(4), 808–826.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dyckhoff, H., & Finke, U. (1992). Cutting and packing in production and distribution. Heidelberg: Physica Verlag.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Fekete, S. P., & Schepers, J. (2004). A general framework for bounds for higher-dimensional orthogonal packing problems. Mathematical Methods of Operations Research, 60(2), 311–329.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garey, M. R., & Johnson, D. S. (1979). Computers and intractability: A guide to the theory of NP-completeness. San Francisco: Freeman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann, K., Scheithauer, G. (2012). Relations between capacity utilization and minimal bin number. Preprint MATH-NM-03-2012, Technische Universität Dresden.

  • Jansen, K., & Zhang, G. (2007). Maximizing the total profit of rectangles packed into a rectangle. Algorithmica, 47, 323–342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, K., & Cheng, K. H. (1990). On three-dimensional packing. SIAM Journal on Computing, 19(5), 847–867.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lodi, A., Martello, S., & Monaci, M. (2002). Two-dimensional packing problems: A survey. European Journal of Operational Research, 141(2), 241–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martello, S., & Vigo, D. (1998). Exact solution of the two-dimensional finite bin-packing problem. Management Science, 44, 388–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meir, A., & Moser, L. (1968). On packing of squares and cubes. Journal of Combinatorial Theory, 5, 126–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, A. (1997). A strip-packing algorithm with absolute performance bound 2. SIAM Journal on Computing, 26(2), 401–409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guntram Scheithauer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Buchwald, T., Hoffmann, K. & Scheithauer, G. Relations between capacity utilization, minimal bin size and bin number. Ann Oper Res 217, 55–76 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-014-1572-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-014-1572-z

Keywords

Navigation