Optimal Bucket¶

Principles learned¶

Add float decision variables
Maximize a non-linear objective

Create a constraint on a non-linear expression

Problem¶

What is the optimal shape for a bucket?

If you were designing a bucket, what shape would you select so that it maximizes the fluid it can hold based on the material used to make the bucket?

For more details, see DataGenetics

Download the example

Program¶

We have a flat disk of Radius R=1. The surface of material needed to build this disk is S=π. Without using more material than this amount, we try to build a bucket that holds the largest volume.

A bucket is defined by the radius of the bottom disc r, the radius of the top opening R, and the height h. These are the 3 variables of the model. The surface of material used to build this bucket is the bottom disc and the sides: S = π*r² + π(R+r)sqrt((R-r)²+h²). It is constrained to be lower than π. Then, the volume V = (π*h)/3 * (R²+Rr+r²) is maximized.

Hexaly Modeler
Python
C++
C#
Java

Execution:: hexaly optimal_bucket.hxm [hxTimeLimit=] [solFileName=]

use io;

/* Declare the optimization model */
function model() {
    PI = 3.14159265359;

    // Numerical decisions
    R <- float(0, 1);
    r <- float(0, 1);
    h <- float(0, 1);

    // Surface must not exceed the surface of the plain disc
    surface <- PI * pow(r, 2) + PI * (R + r) * sqrt(pow(R - r, 2) + pow(h, 2));
    constraint surface <= PI;

    // Maximize the volume
    volume <- PI * h / 3 * (pow(R, 2) + R * r + pow(r, 2));
    maximize volume;
}

/* Parametrize the solver */
function param() {
    if (hxTimeLimit == nil) hxTimeLimit = 2;
}

/* Write the solution in a file with the following format:
 *  - surface and volume of the bucket
 *  - values of R, r and h */
function output() {
    if (solFileName == nil) return;
    local solFile = io.openWrite(solFileName);
    solFile.println(surface.value, "  ", volume.value);
    solFile.println(R.value, "  ", r.value, "  ", h.value);
}

Execution (Windows): set PYTHONPATH=%HX_HOME%\bin\python

python optimal_bucket.py

Execution (Linux): export PYTHONPATH=/opt/hexaly_13_0/bin/python

python optimal_bucket.py

import hexaly.optimizer
import sys

with hexaly.optimizer.HexalyOptimizer() as optimizer:
    PI = 3.14159265359

    #
    # Declare the optimization model
    #
    m = optimizer.model

    # Numerical decisions
    R = m.float(0, 1)
    r = m.float(0, 1)
    h = m.float(0, 1)

    # Surface must not exceed the surface of the plain disc
    surface = PI * r ** 2 + PI * (R + r) * m.sqrt((R - r) ** 2 + h ** 2)
    m.constraint(surface <= PI)

    # Maximize the volume
    volume = PI * h / 3 * (R ** 2 + R * r + r ** 2)
    m.maximize(volume)

    m.close()

    #
    # Parametrize the optimizer
    #
    if len(sys.argv) >= 3:
        optimizer.param.time_limit = int(sys.argv[2])
    else:
        optimizer.param.time_limit = 2

    optimizer.solve()

    #
    # Write the solution in a file with the following format:
    #  - surface and volume of the bucket
    #  - values of R, r and h
    #
    if len(sys.argv) >= 2:
        with open(sys.argv[1], 'w') as f:
            f.write("%f %f\n" % (surface.value, volume.value))
            f.write("%f %f %f\n" % (R.value, r.value, h.value))

Compilation / Execution (Windows): cl /EHsc optimal_bucket.cpp -I%HX_HOME%\include /link %HX_HOME%\bin\hexaly130.lib

optimal_bucket

Compilation / Execution (Linux): g++ optimal_bucket.cpp -I/opt/hexaly_13_0/include -lhexaly130 -lpthread -o optimal_bucket

optimal_bucket

#include "optimizer/hexalyoptimizer.h"
#include <fstream>
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

using namespace hexaly;
using namespace std;

class OptimalBucket {
public:
    // Hexaly Optimizer
    HexalyOptimizer optimizer;

    // Hexaly Program variables
    HxExpression R;
    HxExpression r;
    HxExpression h;

    HxExpression surface;
    HxExpression volume;

    void solve(int limit) {
        hxdouble PI = 3.14159265359;

        // Declare the optimization model
        HxModel model = optimizer.getModel();

        // Numerical decisions
        R = model.floatVar(0.0, 1.0);
        r = model.floatVar(0.0, 1.0);
        h = model.floatVar(0.0, 1.0);

        // Surface must not exceed the surface of the plain disc
        surface = PI * model.pow(r, 2) + PI * (R + r) * model.sqrt(model.pow(R - r, 2) + model.pow(h, 2));
        model.constraint(model.leq(surface, PI));

        // Maximize the volume
        volume = PI * h / 3 * (model.pow(R, 2) + R * r + model.pow(r, 2));
        model.maximize(volume);

        model.close();

        // Parametrize the optimizer
        optimizer.getParam().setTimeLimit(limit);

        optimizer.solve();
    }

    /* Write the solution in a file with the following format:
     *  - surface and volume of the bucket
     *  - values of R, r and h */
    void writeSolution(const string& fileName) {
        ofstream outfile;
        outfile.exceptions(ofstream::failbit | ofstream::badbit);
        outfile.open(fileName.c_str());

        outfile << surface.getDoubleValue() << " " << volume.getDoubleValue() << endl;
        outfile << R.getDoubleValue() << " " << r.getDoubleValue() << " " << h.getDoubleValue() << endl;
    }
};

int main(int argc, char** argv) {
    const char* solFile = argc > 1 ? argv[1] : NULL;
    const char* strTimeLimit = argc > 2 ? argv[2] : "2";

    try {
        OptimalBucket model;
        model.solve(atoi(strTimeLimit));
        if (solFile != NULL)
            model.writeSolution(solFile);
        return 0;
    } catch (const exception& e) {
        cerr << "An error occurred:" << e.what() << endl;
        return 1;
    }
}

Compilation / Execution (Windows): copy %HX_HOME%\bin\Hexaly.NET.dll .

csc OptimalBucket.cs /reference:Hexaly.NET.dll

OptimalBucket

using System;
using System.IO;
using Hexaly.Optimizer;

public class OptimalBucket : IDisposable
{
    // Hexaly Optimizer
    HexalyOptimizer optimizer;

    // Hexaly Program variables
    HxExpression R;
    HxExpression r;
    HxExpression h;

    HxExpression surface;
    HxExpression volume;

    public OptimalBucket()
    {
        optimizer = new HexalyOptimizer();
    }

    public void Dispose()
    {
        if (optimizer != null)
            optimizer.Dispose();
    }

    public void Solve(int limit)
    {
        // Declare the optimization model
        HxModel model = optimizer.GetModel();

        // Numerical decisions
        R = model.Float(0, 1);
        r = model.Float(0, 1);
        h = model.Float(0, 1);

        // Surface must not exceed the surface of the plain disc
        surface =
            Math.PI * model.Pow(r, 2)
            + Math.PI * (R + r) * model.Sqrt(model.Pow(R - r, 2) + model.Pow(h, 2));
        model.AddConstraint(surface <= Math.PI);

        // Maximize the volume
        volume = Math.PI * h / 3 * (model.Pow(R, 2) + R * r + model.Pow(r, 2));
        model.Maximize(volume);

        model.Close();

        // Parametrize the optimizer
        optimizer.GetParam().SetTimeLimit(limit);

        optimizer.Solve();
    }

    // Write the solution in a file with the following format:
    //  - surface and volume of the bucket
    //  - values of R, r and h
    public void WriteSolution(string fileName)
    {
        using (StreamWriter output = new StreamWriter(fileName))
        {
            output.WriteLine(surface.GetDoubleValue() + " " + volume.GetDoubleValue());
            output.WriteLine(
                R.GetDoubleValue() + " " + r.GetDoubleValue() + " " + h.GetDoubleValue()
            );
        }
    }

    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        string outputFile = args.Length > 0 ? args[0] : null;
        string strTimeLimit = args.Length > 1 ? args[1] : "2";

        using (OptimalBucket model = new OptimalBucket())
        {
            model.Solve(int.Parse(strTimeLimit));
            if (outputFile != null)
                model.WriteSolution(outputFile);
        }
    }
}

Compilation / Execution (Windows): javac OptimalBucket.java -cp %HX_HOME%\bin\hexaly.jar

java -cp %HX_HOME%\bin\hexaly.jar;. OptimalBucket

Compilation / Execution (Linux): javac OptimalBucket.java -cp /opt/hexaly_13_0/bin/hexaly.jar

java -cp /opt/hexaly_13_0/bin/hexaly.jar:. OptimalBucket

import java.io.*;
import com.hexaly.optimizer.*;

public class OptimalBucket {
    private static final double PI = 3.14159265359;

    // Hexaly Optimizer
    private final HexalyOptimizer optimizer;

    // Hexaly Program variables
    private HxExpression R;
    private HxExpression r;
    private HxExpression h;

    private HxExpression surface;
    private HxExpression volume;

    private OptimalBucket(HexalyOptimizer optimizer) {
        this.optimizer = optimizer;
    }

    private void solve(int limit) {
        // Declare the optimization model
        HxModel model = optimizer.getModel();
        HxExpression piConst = model.createConstant(PI);

        // Numerical decisions
        R = model.floatVar(0, 1);
        r = model.floatVar(0, 1);
        h = model.floatVar(0, 1);

        // surface = PI*r^2 + PI*(R+r)*sqrt((R - r)^2 + h^2)
        HxExpression s1 = model.prod(piConst, r, r);
        HxExpression s2 = model.pow(model.sub(R, r), 2);
        HxExpression s3 = model.pow(h, 2);
        HxExpression s4 = model.sqrt(model.sum(s2, s3));
        HxExpression s5 = model.sum(R, r);
        HxExpression s6 = model.prod(piConst, s5, s4);
        surface = model.sum(s1, s6);

        // Surface must not exceed the surface of the plain disc
        model.addConstraint(model.leq(surface, PI));

        HxExpression v1 = model.pow(R, 2);
        HxExpression v2 = model.prod(R, r);
        HxExpression v3 = model.pow(r, 2);

        // volume = PI*h/3*(R^2 + R*r + r^2)
        volume = model.prod(piConst, model.div(h, 3), model.sum(v1, v2, v3));

        // Maximize the volume
        model.maximize(volume);

        model.close();

        // Parametrize the optimizer
        optimizer.getParam().setTimeLimit(limit);

        optimizer.solve();
    }

    /* Write the solution in a file with the following format:
     * - surface and volume of the bucket
     * - values of R, r and h */
    private void writeSolution(String fileName) throws IOException {
        try (PrintWriter output = new PrintWriter(fileName)) {
            output.println(surface.getDoubleValue() + " " + volume.getDoubleValue());
            output.println(R.getDoubleValue() + " " + r.getDoubleValue() + " " + h.getDoubleValue());
        }
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        String outputFile = args.length > 0 ? args[0] : null;
        String strTimeLimit = args.length > 1 ? args[1] : "2";

        try (HexalyOptimizer optimizer = new HexalyOptimizer()) {
            OptimalBucket model = new OptimalBucket(optimizer);
            model.solve(Integer.parseInt(strTimeLimit));
            if (outputFile != null) {
                model.writeSolution(outputFile);
            }
        } catch (Exception ex) {
            System.err.println(ex);
            ex.printStackTrace();
            System.exit(1);
        }
    }
}