A Heuristic ADMM-based Approach for Tree-Constrained Optimization

Abstract: This paper presents centralized and distributed Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) frameworks for solving large-scale nonconvex optimization problems with binary decision variables subject to spanning tree or rooted arborescence constraints. We address the combinatorial complexity by introducing a continuous relaxation of the binary variables and enforcing agreement through an augmented Lagrangian formulation. The algorithms alternate between solving a convex continuous subproblem and projecting onto the tree-feasible set, reducing to a Minimum Spanning Tree or Minimum Weight Rooted Arborescence problem, both solvable in polynomial time. The distributed algorithm enables agents to cooperate via local communication, enhancing scalability and robustness. We apply the framework to multicommodity flow design with hop-constrained spanning trees. Numerical experiments demonstrate that our methods yield high-quality feasible solutions, achieving near-optimal performance with significant computational savings compared to the commercial solver Gurobi.