Capacitated, unbalanced p-median problems on a chain graph with a continuum of link demands

This study is concerned with the problem of locating p capacitated facilities on a chain graph, and simultaneously determining the allocation of their supplies in order to satisfy a continuum of demand which is characterized by some weighted probability density function defined on the chain graph. The objective is to minimize the total (expected) transportation cost. This location-allocation problem is also referred to as the capacitated p-median problem on a chain graph. Two unbalanced cases of this problem are considered, namely, the over-capacitated case when total supply exceeds total demand, and the deficit capacity case when total supply is less than total demand. Both these problems are nonconvex, and are shown to be NP-hard even if the demand density function is piecewise uniform and positive. We provide a first-order characterization of optimality for these two problems, and prescribe an enumerative algorithm based on a partitioning of the dual space in order to optimally solve them. An extension of these algorithms for solving the capacitated, unbalanced 2-median problem on a tree graph is also given.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Industrial Engineering and Operations Research

Department dc:contributor.department

Industrial Engineering and Operations Research

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1986

Author dc:creator

• Rizzo, Thomas Philip

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/91146

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/91146