Hierarchical generating method for large-scale multiobjective systems

Abstract

This paper investigates large-scale multiobjective systems in the context of a general hierarchical generating method which considers the problem of how to find the set of all noninferior solutions by decomposition and coordination. A new, unified framework of the hierarchical generating method is developed by integrating the envelope analysis approach and the duality theory that is used in multiobjective programming. In this scheme, the vector-valued Lagrangian and the duality theorem provide the basis of a decomposition of the overall multiobjective system into several multiobjective subsystems, and the envelope analysis gives an efficient approach to deal with the coordination at a high level. The following decomposition-coordination schemes for different problems are developed: (i) a spatial decomposition and envelope coordination algorithm for large-scale multiobjective static systems; (ii) a temporal decomposition and envelope coordination algorithm for multiobjective dynamic systems; and (iii) a three-level structure algorithm for large-scale multiobjective dynamic systems.