A Frank-Wolfe Based Branch-and-Bound Algorithm for Mean-Risk Optimization

We present an exact algorithm for mean-risk optimization subject to a budget constraint, where decision variables may be continuous or integer. The risk is measured by the covariance matrix and weighted by an arbitrary monotone function, which allows to model risk-aversion in a very individual way. We address this class of convex mixed-integer minimization problems … Read more

Min-max-min Robust Combinatorial Optimization

The idea of k-adaptability in two-stage robust optimization is to calculate a fixed number k of second-stage policies here-and-now. After the actual scenario is revealed, the best of these policies is selected. This idea leads to a min-max-min problem. In this paper, we consider the case where no first stage variables exist and propose to … Read more

A Fast Branch-and-Bound Algorithm for Non-convex Quadratic Integer Optimization Subject To Linear Constraints Using Ellipsoidal Relaxations

We propose two exact approaches for non-convex quadratic integer minimization subject to linear constraints where lower bounds are computed by considering ellipsoidal relaxations of the feasible set. In the first approach, we intersect the ellipsoids with the feasible linear subspace. In the second approach we penalize exactly the linear constraints. We investigate the connection between … Read more

On the Quadratic Shortest Path Problem

Finding the shortest path in a directed graph is one of the most important combinatorial optimization problems, having applications in a wide range of fields. In its basic version, however, the problem fails to represent situations in which the value of the objective function is determined not only by the choice of each single arc, … Read more

Lower Bounding Procedures for the Single Allocation Hub Location Problem

This paper proposes a new lower bounding procedure for the Uncapacitated Single Allocation p-Hub Median Problem based on Lagrangean relaxation. For solving the resulting Lagrangean subproblem, the given problem structure is exploited: it can be decomposed into smaller subproblems that can be solved efficiently by combinatorial algorithms. Our computational experiments for some benchmark instances demonstrate … Read more

A Compact Linearisation of Euclidean Single Allocation Hub Location Problems

Hub location problems are strategic network planning problems. They formalise the challenge of mutually exchanging shipments between a large set of depots. The aim is to choose a set of hubs (out of a given set of possible hubs) and connect every depot to a hub so that the total transport costs for exchanging shipments … Read more

Min-max-min robustness: a new approach to combinatorial optimization under uncertainty based on multiple solutions

In the classical min-max approach to robust combinatorial optimization, a single feasible solution is computed that optimizes the worst case over a given set of considered scenarios. As is well known, this approach is very conservative, leading to solutions that in the average case are far from being optimal. In this paper, we present a … Read more

A Lagrangean Decomposition Approach for Robust Combinatorial Optimization

We address robust versions of combinatorial optimization problems, specializing on the discrete scenario case and the uncorrelated ellipsoidal uncertainty case. We present a branch and bound-algorithm for the min-max variant of these problems which uses lower bounds obtained from Lagrangean decomposition, allowing to separate the uncertainty aspect in the objective function from the combinatorial structure … Read more

A Feasible Active Set Method with Reoptimization for Convex Quadratic Mixed-Integer Programming

We propose a feasible active set method for convex quadratic programming problems with non-negativity constraints. This method is specifically designed to be embedded into a branch-and-bound algorithm for convex quadratic mixed integer programming problems. The branch-and-bound algorithm generalizes the approach for unconstrained convex quadratic integer programming proposed by Buchheim, Caprara and Lodi to the presence … Read more

Lagrangean Decomposition for Mean-Variance Combinatorial Optimization

We address robust versions of combinatorial optimization problems, focusing on the uncorrelated ellipsoidal uncertainty case, which corresponds to so-called mean-variance optimization. We present a branch and bound-algorithm for such problems that uses lower bounds obtained from Lagrangean decomposition. This approach allows to separate the uncertainty aspect in the objective function from the combinatorial structure of … Read more