Skip to main content
Log in

Linear Approximations in a Dynamic Programming Approach for the Uncapacitated Single-Source Minimum Concave Cost Network Flow Problem in Acyclic Networks

  • Published:
Journal of Global Optimization Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We consider minimum concave cost flow problems in acyclic, uncapacitated networks with a single source. For these problems a dynamic programming scheme is developed. It is shown that the concave cost functions on the arcs can be approximated by linear functions. Thus the considered problem can be solved by a series of linear programs. This approximation method, whose convergence is shown, works particularly well, if the nodes of the network have small degrees. Computational results on several classes of networks are reported.

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.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Erickson, R.E., Monma, C.L. and Veinott Jr., A.F. (1987), Send-and-split method for minimumconcave-cost network flows, Mathematics of Operations Research 12: 634–664.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Falk, J.E. and Hoffman, K.L. (1976), A successive underestimation method for concave minimization problems, Mathematics of Operations Research 1: 251–259.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ford Jr., L.R. and Fulkerson, D.R. (1962), Flows in Networks, Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gallo, G., Sandi, C. and Sodini, C. (1980), An algorithm for the min concave cost flow problem, European Journal of Operational Research 4: 248–259.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Guisewite, G.M. and Pardalos, P.M. (1990), Minimum concave-cost network flow problems: applications, complexity, and algorithms, Annals of Operations Research 25: 75–100.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Guisewite, G.M. and Pardalos, P.M. (1991), Algorithms for the single-source uncapacitated minimum concave-cost network flow problem. Journal of Global Optimization 1: 245–265.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Holmqvist, K., Migdalas, A. and Pardalos, P.M. (1998), A GRASP algorithm for the single source uncapacitated minimum concave-cost network flow problem, DIMACS Series in Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science, 40: 131–142.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kim, D. and Pardalos, P.M. (1999), A solution approach to the fixed charge network flow problem using a dynamic slope scaling procedure, Operations Research Letters 24: 195–203.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kim, D. and Pardalos, P.M. (2000), Dynamic slope scaling and trust interval techniques for solving concave piecewise linear network flow problems, Networks 35: 216–222.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Klinz, B. and Tuy, H. (1993), Minimum concave-cost network flow problems with a single nonlinear arc cost, in: P. Pardalos and D. Du (eds.), Network Optimization Problems, World Scientific, pp. 125–143.

  11. Tuy, H. (2000), The minimum concave-cost network flow problem with a fixed number of nonlinear arc costs: complexity and approximation, in: P.M. Pardalos (ed.), Approximation and Complexity in Numerical Optimization: Continuous and Discrete Problems, Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 383-402.

  12. Tuy, H., Ghannadan, S., Migdalas, A. and Värbrand, P. (1996), A strongly polynomial algorithm for a concave production-transportation problem with a fixed number of nonlinear variables, Mathematical Programming 72: 229–258.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Wagner, H.M. (1975), Principles of Operations Research, 2nd edition, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Zangwill, W.I. (1968), Minimum concave cost flows in certain networks, Management Science 14: 429–450.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Burkard, R.E., Dollani, H. & Thach, P.T. Linear Approximations in a Dynamic Programming Approach for the Uncapacitated Single-Source Minimum Concave Cost Network Flow Problem in Acyclic Networks. Journal of Global Optimization 19, 121–139 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008379621400

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008379621400

Navigation