A parallel algorithm for constrained two-staged two-dimensional cutting problems

In this paper, we solve the two-staged two-dimensional cutting problem using a parallel algorithm. The proposed approach combines two main features: beam search (BS) and strip generation solution procedures (SGSP). BS employs a truncated tree-search, where a selected subset of generated nodes are retuned for further search. SGSP, a constructive procedure, combines a (sub)set of strips for providing both partial lower and complementary upper bounds. The algorithm explores in parallel a subset of selected nodes following the master-slave paradigm. The master processor serves to guide the search-resolution and each slave processor develops its proper way, trying a global convergence. The aim of such an approach is to show how the parallelism is able to efficiently solve large-scale instances, by providing new solutions within a consistently reduced runtime. Extensive computational testing on instances, taken from the literature, shows the effectiveness of the proposed approach. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.