A note on approximating the survivable network design problem in hypergraphs

We consider to design approximation algorithms for the survivable network design problem in hypergraphs (SNDPHG) based on algorithms developed for the survivable network design problem in graphs (SNDP) or the element connectivity problem in graphs (ECP). Given an instance of the SNDPHG, by replacing each hyperedge e = {v1,, vk} with a new vertex weand k edges {we, v1},, {we, vk}, we define an SNDP or ECP in the resulting graph. We show that by approximately solving the SNDP or ECP defined in this way, several approximation algorithms for the SNDPHG can be obtained. One of our results is a dmax+-approximation algorithm for the SNDPHG with dmax≤ 3, where dmax(resp. dmax+) is the maximum degree of hyperedges (resp. hyperedges with positive cost). Another is a dmax+H(rmax)-approximation algorithm for the SNDHPG, where H(i) = Σj = 1ij/1 is the harmonic function and rmaxis the maximum connectivity requirement.