Modular Design—A Special Case in Nonlinear Programming

Abstract

The optimal design of a module under a special set of circumstances is considered. These circumstances prevail in the design of a module for logistical applications and sometimes in modular equipment design in electronic technology. Mathematically, the problem considered is given R αβ ≧ 0, find positive B α , m β such that B α m β ≧ R αβ , α = 1, 2, …, n , β = 1, 2, …, k and such that W = ∑ β m β ∑ α B α is a minimum. It is attacked by first examining the primal problem, then finding a dual problem, and finally finding an algorithm for solving the dual.