Abstract

Different versions of polyhedral outer approximation are used by many algorithms for mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP). While it has been demonstrated that such methods work well for convex MINLP, extending them to solve nonconvex problems has traditionally been challenging. The Supporting Hyperplane Optimization Toolkit (SHOT) is a solver based on polyhedral approximations of the nonlinear feasible set of MINLP problems. SHOT is an open source COIN-OR project, and is currently one of the most efficient global solvers for convex MINLP. In this paper, we discuss some extensions to SHOT that significantly extend its applicability to nonconvex problems. The functionality include utilizing convexity detection for selecting the nonlinearities to linearize, lifting reformulations for special classes of functions, feasibility relaxations for infeasible subproblems and adding objective cuts to force the search for better feasible solutions. This functionality is not unique to SHOT, but can be implemented in other similar methods as well. In addition to discussing the new nonconvex functionality of SHOT, an extensive benchmark of deterministic solvers for nonconvex MINLP is performed that provides a snapshot of the current state of nonconvex MINLP.

Highlights

  • Mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) is one of the most versatile optimization paradigms with many applications across engineering, manufacturing and the natural sci-Journal of Global Optimization ences [7,21,27,42,67]

  • We present some heuristic techniques that have recently been added to Supporting Hyperplane Optimization Toolkit (SHOT) to improve its performance on nonconvex MINLP problems; some of these improvements were briefly mentioned in the conference paper [48]

  • We have described some new features added to the SHOT solver

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) is one of the most versatile optimization paradigms with many applications across engineering, manufacturing and the natural sci-. Gurobi recently introduced functionality to globally optimize nonconvex mixed-integer quadratically constrained quadratic programming (MIQCQP) problems [31]. These global solvers mainly rely on spatial branch and bound, where convex understimators and concave overestimators are refined in nodes of a branching tree. Sometimes optimization software users are mainly interested in finding a good-enough feasible solution to the optimization problem within a reasonable computation time In such situations a local MINLP solver, or a heuristic MINLP technique [13,45], might be the best option. Solvers based on a POA technique solve a sequence of linear relaxations of the MINLP problem, where cutting or supporting hyperplanes form an outer approximation of the nonlinear feasible set.

Automatic reformulations:
Background
Polyhedral approximation
The SHOT solver
Utilizing subsolvers for the MIP subproblems
Primal heuristics
Automatic convexity detection
Verifying lower bounds for nonconvex problems
Adding integer cuts
Handling nonlinear equality constraints
Reformulations for special terms
Reformulating bilinear terms with at least one binary variable
Reformulating bilinear terms of at least one discrete variable
Comparing the convex and nonconvex strategies in SHOT
Efficiency of finding primal solutions
Conclusions

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.