Kurt M. Anstreicher

Solving large quadratic assignment problems on computational grids

Abstract.The quadratic assignment problem (QAP) is among the hardest combinatorial optimization problems. Some instances of size n = 30 have remained unsolved for decades. The solution of these problems requires both improvements in mathematical programming algorithms and the utilization of powerful computational platforms. In this article we describe a novel approach to solve QAPs using a state-of-the-art branch-and-bound algorithm running on a federation of geographically distributed resources known as a computational grid. Solution of QAPs of unprecedented complexity, including the nug30, kra30b, and tho30 instances, is reported.

Semidefinite programming versus the reformulation-linearization technique for nonconvex quadratically constrained quadratic programming

We consider relaxations for nonconvex quadratically constrained quadratic programming (QCQP) based on semidefinite programming (SDP) and the reformulation-linearization technique (RLT). From a theoretical standpoint we show that the addition of a semidefiniteness condition removes a substantial portion of the feasible region corresponding to product terms in the RLT relaxation. On test problems we show that the use of SDP and RLT constraints together can produce bounds that are substantially better than either technique used alone. For highly symmetric problems we also consider the effect of symmetry-breaking based on tightened bounds on variables and/or order constraints.

Recent advances in the solution of quadratic assignment problems

Abstract. The quadratic assignment problem (QAP) is notoriously difficult for exact solution methods. In the past few years a number of long-open QAPs, including those posed by Steinberg (1961), Nugent et al. (1968) and Krarup (1972) were solved to optimality for the first time. The solution of these problems has utilized both new algorithms and novel computing structures. We describe these developments, as well as recent work which is likely to result in the solution of even more difficult instances.

On Lagrangian Relaxation of Quadratic Matrix Constraints

Quadratically constrained quadratic programs (QQPs) play an important modeling role for many diverse problems. These problems are in general NP hard and numerically intractable. Lagrangian relaxations often provide good approximate solutions to these hard problems. Such relaxations are equivalent to semidefinite programming relaxations. For several special cases of QQP, e.g., convex programs and trust region subproblems, the Lagrangian relaxation provides the exact optimal value, i.e., there is a zero duality gap. However, this is not true for the general QQP, or even the QQP with two convex constraints, but a nonconvex objective. In this paper we consider a certain QQP where the quadratic constraints correspond to the matrix orthogonality condition XXT=I. For this problem we show that the Lagrangian dual based on relaxing the constraints XXT=I and the seemingly redundant constraints XT X=I has a zero duality gap. This result has natural applications to quadratic assignment and graph partitioning problems, as well as the problem of minimizing the weighted sum of the largest eigenvalues of a matrix. We also show that the technique of relaxing quadratic matrix constraints can be used to obtain a strengthened semidefinite relaxation for the max-cut problem.

A monotonic projective algorithm for fractional linear programming

We demonstrate that Karmarkars projective algorithm is fundamentally an algorithm for fractional linear programming on the simplex. Convergence for the latter problem is established assuming only an initial lower bound on the optimal objective value. We also show that the algorithm can be easily modified so as to assure monotonicity of the true objective values, while retaining all global convergence properties. Finally, we show how the monotonic algorithm can be used to obtain an initial lower bound when none is otherwise available.

A new bound for the quadratic assignment problem based on convex quadratic programming

Abstract.We describe a new convex quadratic programming bound for the quadratic assignment problem (QAP). The construction of the bound uses a semidefinite programming representation of a basic eigenvalue bound for QAP. The new bound dominates the well-known projected eigenvalue bound, and appears to be competitive with existing bounds in the trade-off between bound quality and computational effort.

On convex relaxations for quadratically constrained quadratic programming

We consider convex relaxations for the problem of minimizing a (possibly nonconvex) quadratic objective subject to linear and (possibly nonconvex) quadratic constraints. Let

Solving quadratic assignment problems using convex quadratic programming relaxations

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