GDPopt logic-based solver

The GDPopt solver in Pyomo allows users to solve nonlinear Generalized Disjunctive Programming (GDP) models using logic-based decomposition approaches, as opposed to the conventional approach via reformulation to a Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming (MINLP) model.

The main advantage of these techniques is their ability to solve subproblems in a reduced space, including nonlinear constraints only for True logical blocks. As a result, GDPopt is most effective for nonlinear GDP models.

Three algorithms are available in GDPopt:

  1. Logic-based outer approximation (LOA) [Turkay & Grossmann, 1996]
  2. Global logic-based outer approximation (GLOA) [Lee & Grossmann, 2001]
  3. Logic-based branch-and-bound (LBB) [Lee & Grossmann, 2001]

Usage and implementation details for GDPopt can be found in the PSE 2018 paper (Chen et al., 2018), or via its preprint.

Credit for prototyping and development can be found in the GDPopt class documentation, below.

GDPopt can be used to solve a Pyomo.GDP concrete model in two ways. The simplest is to instantiate the generic GDPopt solver and specify the desired algorithm as an argument to the solve method:

>>> SolverFactory('gdpopt').solve(model, algorithm='LOA')

The alternative is to instantiate an algorithm-specific GDPopt solver:

>>> SolverFactory('gdpopt.loa').solve(model)

In the above examples, GDPopt uses the GDPopt-LOA algorithm. Other algorithms may be used by specifying them in the algorithm argument when using the generic solver or by instantiating the algorithm-specific GDPopt solvers. All GDPopt options are listed below.

Note

The generic GDPopt solver allows minimal configuration outside of the arguments to the solve method. To avoid repeatedly specifying the same configuration options to the solve method, use the algorithm-specific solvers.

Logic-based Outer Approximation (LOA)

Chen et al., 2018 contains the following flowchart, taken from the preprint version:

../_images/gdpopt_flowchart.png

An example that includes the modeling approach may be found below.

Required imports
>>> from pyomo.environ import *
>>> from pyomo.gdp import *

Create a simple model
>>> model = ConcreteModel(name='LOA example')

>>> model.x = Var(bounds=(-1.2, 2))
>>> model.y = Var(bounds=(-10,10))
>>> model.c = Constraint(expr= model.x + model.y == 1)

>>> model.fix_x = Disjunct()
>>> model.fix_x.c = Constraint(expr=model.x == 0)

>>> model.fix_y = Disjunct()
>>> model.fix_y.c = Constraint(expr=model.y == 0)

>>> model.d = Disjunction(expr=[model.fix_x, model.fix_y])
>>> model.objective = Objective(expr=model.x + 0.1*model.y, sense=minimize)

Solve the model using GDPopt
>>> results = SolverFactory('gdpopt.loa').solve(
...     model, mip_solver='glpk') 

Display the final solution
>>> model.display()
Model LOA example

  Variables:
    x : Size=1, Index=None
        Key  : Lower : Value : Upper : Fixed : Stale : Domain
        None :  -1.2 :   0.0 :     2 : False : False :  Reals
    y : Size=1, Index=None
        Key  : Lower : Value : Upper : Fixed : Stale : Domain
        None :   -10 :   1.0 :    10 : False : False :  Reals

  Objectives:
    objective : Size=1, Index=None, Active=True
        Key  : Active : Value
        None :   True :   0.1

  Constraints:
    c : Size=1
        Key  : Lower : Body : Upper
        None :   1.0 :  1.0 :   1.0

Note

When troubleshooting, it can often be helpful to turn on verbose output using the tee flag.

>>> SolverFactory('gdpopt.loa').solve(model, tee=True)

Global Logic-based Outer Approximation (GLOA)

The same algorithm can be used to solve GDPs involving nonconvex nonlinear constraints by solving the subproblems globally:

>>> SolverFactory('gdpopt.gloa').solve(model)

Warning

The nlp_solver option must be set to a global solver for the solution returned by GDPopt to also be globally optimal.

Relaxation with Integer Cuts (RIC)

Instead of outer approximation, GDPs can be solved using the same MILP relaxation as in the previous two algorithms, but instead of using the subproblems to generate outer-approximation cuts, the algorithm adds only no-good cuts for every discrete solution encountered:

>>> SolverFactory('gdpopt.ric').solve(model)

Again, this is a global algorithm if the subproblems are solved globally, and is not otherwise.

Note

The RIC algorithm will not necessarily enumerate all discrete solutions as it is possible for the bounds to converge first. However, full enumeration is not uncommon.

Logic-based Branch-and-Bound (LBB)

The GDPopt-LBB solver branches through relaxed subproblems with inactive disjunctions. It explores the possibilities based on best lower bound, eventually activating all disjunctions and presenting the globally optimal solution.

To use the GDPopt-LBB solver, define your Pyomo GDP model as usual:

Required imports
>>> from pyomo.environ import *
>>> from pyomo.gdp import Disjunct, Disjunction

Create a simple model
>>> m = ConcreteModel()
>>> m.x1 = Var(bounds = (0,8))
>>> m.x2 = Var(bounds = (0,8))
>>> m.obj = Objective(expr=m.x1 + m.x2, sense=minimize)
>>> m.y1 = Disjunct()
>>> m.y2 = Disjunct()
>>> m.y1.c1 = Constraint(expr=m.x1 >= 2)
>>> m.y1.c2 = Constraint(expr=m.x2 >= 2)
>>> m.y2.c1 = Constraint(expr=m.x1 >= 3)
>>> m.y2.c2 = Constraint(expr=m.x2 >= 3)
>>> m.djn = Disjunction(expr=[m.y1, m.y2])

Invoke the GDPopt-LBB solver
>>> results = SolverFactory('gdpopt.lbb').solve(m)

>>> print(results)  
>>> print(results.solver.status)
ok
>>> print(results.solver.termination_condition)
optimal

>>> print([value(m.y1.indicator_var), value(m.y2.indicator_var)])
[True, False]

GDPopt implementation and optional arguments

Warning

GDPopt optional arguments should be considered beta code and are subject to change.

class pyomo.contrib.gdpopt.GDPopt.GDPoptSolver[source]

Decomposition solver for Generalized Disjunctive Programming (GDP) problems.

The GDPopt (Generalized Disjunctive Programming optimizer) solver applies a variety of decomposition-based approaches to solve Generalized Disjunctive Programming (GDP) problems. GDP models can include nonlinear, continuous variables and constraints, as well as logical conditions.

These approaches include:

  • Logic-based outer approximation (LOA)
  • Logic-based branch-and-bound (LBB)
  • Partial surrogate cuts [pending]
  • Generalized Bender decomposition [pending]

This solver implementation was developed by Carnegie Mellon University in the research group of Ignacio Grossmann.

For nonconvex problems, LOA may not report rigorous lower/upper bounds.

Questions: Please make a post at StackOverflow and/or contact Qi Chen <https://github.com/qtothec> or David Bernal <https://github.com/bernalde>.

Several key GDPopt components were prototyped by BS and MS students:

  • Logic-based branch and bound: Sunjeev Kale
  • MC++ interface: Johnny Bates
  • LOA set-covering initialization: Eloy Fernandez
  • Logic-to-linear transformation: Romeo Valentin
available(exception_flag=True)[source]

Solver is always available. Though subsolvers may not be, they will raise an error when the time comes.

solve(model, **kwds)[source]

Solve the model.

Parameters:

model (Block) – a Pyomo model or block to be solved

Keyword Arguments:
 
  • iterlim – Iteration limit.
  • time_limit – Seconds allowed until terminated. Note that the time limit can currently only be enforced between subsolver invocations. You may need to set subsolver time limits as well.
  • tee – Stream output to terminal.
  • logger – The logger object or name to use for reporting.
version()[source]

Return a 3-tuple describing the solver version.

class pyomo.contrib.gdpopt.loa.GDP_LOA_Solver(**kwds)[source]

The GDPopt (Generalized Disjunctive Programming optimizer) logic-based outer approximation (LOA) solver.

Accepts models that can include nonlinear, continuous variables and constraints, as well as logical conditions. For nonconvex problems, LOA may not report rigorous dual bounds.

class pyomo.contrib.gdpopt.gloa.GDP_GLOA_Solver(**kwds)[source]

The GDPopt (Generalized Disjunctive Programming optimizer) global logic-based outer approximation (GLOA) solver.

Accepts models that can include nonlinear, continuous variables and constraints, as well as logical conditions.

class pyomo.contrib.gdpopt.ric.GDP_RIC_Solver(**kwds)[source]

The GDPopt (Generalized Disjunctive Programming optimizer) relaxation with integer cuts (RIC) solver.

Accepts models that can include nonlinear, continuous variables and constraints, as well as logical conditions. For non-convex problems, RIC will not be exact unless the NLP subproblems are solved globally.

class pyomo.contrib.gdpopt.branch_and_bound.GDP_LBB_Solver(**kwds)[source]

The GDPopt (Generalized Disjunctive Programming optimizer) logic-based branch and bound (LBB) solver.

Accepts models that can include nonlinear, continuous variables and constraints, as well as logical conditions.