A Float-Path Theory and Its Application to the Time-Cost Tradeoff Problem
Activity floats are vital for project scheduling, such as total floats which determine the maximum permissible delays of activities. Moreover, activity paths in activity networks present essences of many project scheduling problems; for example, the time-cost tradeoff is to shorten long paths at low...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Applied Mathematics |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/539374 |
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| author | Zhi-xiong Su Jian-xun Qi Han-ying Wei |
| author_facet | Zhi-xiong Su Jian-xun Qi Han-ying Wei |
| author_sort | Zhi-xiong Su |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Activity floats are vital for project scheduling, such as total floats which determine the maximum permissible delays of activities. Moreover, activity paths in activity networks present essences of many project scheduling problems; for example, the time-cost tradeoff is to shorten long paths at lower costs. We discovered relationships between activity floats and paths and established a float-path theory. The theory helps to compute path lengths using activity floats and analyze activity floats using paths, which helps to transmute a problem into the other simpler one. We discussed applications of the float-path theory and applied it to solve the time-cost tradeoff problem (TCTP), especially the nonlinear and discrete versions. We proposed a simplification from an angle of path as a preprocessing technique for the TCTP. The simplification is a difficult path problem, but we transformed it into a simple float problem using the float-path theory. We designed a polynomial algorithm for the simplification, and then the TCTP may be solved more efficiently. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e40041ea1fef4ed58d76d1a6357fbed7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1110-757X 1687-0042 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Applied Mathematics |
| spelling | doaj-art-e40041ea1fef4ed58d76d1a6357fbed72025-02-03T05:52:04ZengWileyJournal of Applied Mathematics1110-757X1687-00422015-01-01201510.1155/2015/539374539374A Float-Path Theory and Its Application to the Time-Cost Tradeoff ProblemZhi-xiong Su0Jian-xun Qi1Han-ying Wei2Business Administration College, Nanchang Institute of Technology, Nanchang 330099, ChinaSchool of Economics and Management, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, ChinaBusiness Administration College, Nanchang Institute of Technology, Nanchang 330099, ChinaActivity floats are vital for project scheduling, such as total floats which determine the maximum permissible delays of activities. Moreover, activity paths in activity networks present essences of many project scheduling problems; for example, the time-cost tradeoff is to shorten long paths at lower costs. We discovered relationships between activity floats and paths and established a float-path theory. The theory helps to compute path lengths using activity floats and analyze activity floats using paths, which helps to transmute a problem into the other simpler one. We discussed applications of the float-path theory and applied it to solve the time-cost tradeoff problem (TCTP), especially the nonlinear and discrete versions. We proposed a simplification from an angle of path as a preprocessing technique for the TCTP. The simplification is a difficult path problem, but we transformed it into a simple float problem using the float-path theory. We designed a polynomial algorithm for the simplification, and then the TCTP may be solved more efficiently.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/539374 |
| spellingShingle | Zhi-xiong Su Jian-xun Qi Han-ying Wei A Float-Path Theory and Its Application to the Time-Cost Tradeoff Problem Journal of Applied Mathematics |
| title | A Float-Path Theory and Its Application to the Time-Cost Tradeoff Problem |
| title_full | A Float-Path Theory and Its Application to the Time-Cost Tradeoff Problem |
| title_fullStr | A Float-Path Theory and Its Application to the Time-Cost Tradeoff Problem |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Float-Path Theory and Its Application to the Time-Cost Tradeoff Problem |
| title_short | A Float-Path Theory and Its Application to the Time-Cost Tradeoff Problem |
| title_sort | float path theory and its application to the time cost tradeoff problem |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/539374 |
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