DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING: IIT DELHI

QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

TUTORIAL SHEET -1

1. Solve graphically the following linear optimization problem.

Maximize 5P1 + 6P2

Subject to: 0.2P1 + 0.3P2 1.8
0.2P1 + 0.1P2  1.2
0.3P1 + 0.3P2  2.4
and P1 0 , P2  0

2. Apply simplex algorithm (algebraically) to solve the following,

Maximize 15x1 +6x2 + 9x3 + 2x4

Subject to: 2x1 + x2 + 5x3 + 0.6x4  20
3x1 + x2 + 3x3 + 0.25x4  24
7x1 + x4  70
every xj 0

3. A cement company blends clinker, fly ash and granulated blast furnace slag (gbfs) in two types of
blended cements. The relative profit associated with per kg of clinker used in cement 1 and cement
2 are Rs.1/- and 80 paise respectively. Similarly the same for use of flyash are Re 0.3 and Re 0.5
respectively and those for gbfs are: Re 0.4 and Re 0.4 respectively. The total available quantity of
clinker, flyash and gbfs per day are 120 tons, 40 tons and 100 tons respectively. To satisfy the
customer demand the company must produce 100 tons of each cement. The maximum proportions
of fly ash in any cement is restricted to 20% and minimum clinker content in cement 1 is 60 % and
that in cement 2 is 40%. Formulate the L.P. problem and solve.

4. A concrete mix is to be designed for M35 grade concrete, with 20 mm mean size aggregate. From
workability and cost point of view minimum water-cement ratio has been specified as 0.3. The cost
of cement is Rs 120 per bag (50 kg). The cost of coarse and fine aggregate may be considered as Re
0.15/kg and Re 0.18/kg respectively. The compressive strength of the concrete can be considered
to be a linear function of W/C ratio, based upon the aggregate size, which yields in this particular
case, for the target mean strength. Maximum water-cement ratio is 0.42. From grading point of
view, the maximum fine aggregate content of the mix may be 50% and the minimum fine
aggregate content of the total aggregate is 20%. Workability of the concrete depends on the
aggregate type, its grading, the aggregate cement ratio and the water content of the mix. However,
all other ranges being specified, the maximum aggregate-cement ratio, which will ensure proper
workability, is 5.88. From workability requirement the minimum water content required is 190
kg/m3 of concrete. The minimum cement content specified is 300 kg/m3of concrete from durability
point. Formulate the problem as linear programming problem, and analyses whether there is a
basic feasible solution and if there is one, obtain the proportions in the mix for minimum cost.
Assume density of wet concrete = 2400 kg/m3.

5. A contractor has been assigned the excavation work of a canal and of the headworks on a project.
In order to ensure a balanced progress on the entire work, the management has imposed certain
conditions on the working. The excavation of the canals is more profitable than that of the
headworks, but he has to abide by the conditions of the contract. In addition he has his own
limitations on manpower and equipment. It is desired to find the optimum amount of excavation
on the two works, which he should undertake so that his profits are maximized and he satisfies the
constraints of the contract and of resources. These constraints are given below:

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 a) The difference between the quantities executed on two works does not exceed 2 units in a
day.
b) The difference between the quantity of canal excavation and of twice the headwork
excavation does not exceed 1 unit in a day.
c) Each unit of canal excavation done in a day requires 1 unit of manpower and 1 unit of
machine, and each unit of headwork requires 2 units of manpower and 1 unit of machine.
d) Maximum available manpower is 10 units and maximum available machine is 6 units.
e) The profit in canal excavation is double of that in headwork excavation.

Solve the problem by simplex method.

6. A concrete product manufacturer makes two types of building blocks: Type A and Type B. The ratio
of profit for a set of 100 of each type of blocks is 5 and 8 respectively for Type A and B. To remain
in business, the manufacturer must produce at least 300 blocks in total. It takes one hour to make
100 Type A blocks and three hours to make 100 Type B blocks. Each day 10 hours are available for
block manufacture. A set of 100 Type A blocks requires 2 units of cement and 3 units of river sand
and 4 units of coarse aggregate, whereas Type B requires 1 unit of cement and 6 units of coarse
aggregate. Each day 18 units of cement and 24 units of coarse aggregate are available. Fine
aggregate is available without restriction. How many numbers of type A and Type B blocks must be
manufactured for profit maximization. Solve the problem by method of Big M.

7. The fixed-base rectangular portal frame ABCD shown in the figure below is subjected to vertical
load V at the centre of the beam BC and a horizontal load H at the top of the column CD. The
Frame is to be designed for minimum weight using plastic hinge method. The problem can be
formulated as below. Sole it by formulating the dual.
Given x1 Plastic moment of column.
x2 Plastic moment of Beam.
lc length of column = 1 unit
lb length of the beam = 2 units
Formulation
Minimise Z = 2lcx1 + lbx2
Subject to, 4x2 ≥Vlb/2
2x1 + 2x2 ≥ Vlb/2
2x1 + 2x2 ≥ Hlc
4x1 ≥ Hlc
2x1 + 4x2 ≥ Hlc + Vlb/2
4x1 + 2x2 ≥ Hlc + Vlb/2
and the non-negativity condition, x1 ≥ 0, x2 ≥ 0 V= H= 1 T
V
H

1 Unit

2
Units

Figure : Rectangular fixed base portal frame

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8. A contracting agency engaged on construction has to do some earthwork and some concreting. The
earthwork requires 6 men per unit while concreting requires 3 men per unit. Available machinery
limits concreting to 12 units per day and there is no machinery constraint for earthwork. There is a
permanent labour strength of 30 employees with the agency, while it is possible for them to
employ up to a maximum of 10 additional persons. The permanent employees must be kept
employed. The profit that the agency expects to earn is Rs 20 for each unit of concreting and Rs 10
for each unit of earthwork.

Determine the optimum quantities of earthwork and concreting that agency must do each day to
maximize the profit. Also find the maximum profit earned.

9. Minimize Z = 15x1 +120x2 + 100x3

Subject to 1x1 + 7x2 + 3x3 ≥4

1x1 + 5x2 + 5x3 ≥5
1x1 + 3x2 + 10x3 ≥9
1x1 + 2x2 + 15x3 ≥ 11

Given that, x1, x2, x3  0

Solve the primal and obtain the solution of its dual. Compare the optimal value of the objective
function in both the cases. Also compare the values of cost coefficients of the objective function in
final iteration of the primal with the available resources in constraint equations of the dual and
vice-versa.

10. Singleton concrete products company plans production of three of there products A, B and C. The
profits on these products expressed in $100 units are 2, 3 and 1 respectively and they require two
resources, labour and materials. The company's production manager formulates the following Lp
model for the determining the optimal product mix.

Maximize Z = 2x1 + 3x2 + x3

Subject to 1/3 x1 + 1/3 x2 + 1/3 x3  1 labour constraint
1/3 x1 + 4/3 x2 + 7/3 x3 3 material constraint
x1, x2, x3  0
where, x1, x2, x3 are the number of products A, B and C produced. This problem is converted to its
canonical form and treated as a minimization problem. The optimal solution is given in the
following table in which x4 and x5 are slack variables.

Basis x1 x2 x3 x4 x5 Values

x1 1 0 -1 4 -1 1

x2 0 1 2 -1 1 2

Row 0 0 0 3 5 1 8

a) Interpret the optimal solution from above table

b) If the profit on product C is increased from 1 to 6, what is the new optimal solution?
c) How many additional units of labour must be made available in order to change the current
optimal product mix?

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11. Consider the problem :
Maximize Z = -2x1 -1x2 + 3x3 -2x4
Subject to -x1 +3x2 -x3 +2x4  7 Resource A
-x1 -2x2 +4x3  12 Resource B
-x1 -4x2 +3x3 +8x4  10 Resource C
every xj  0

If you add x5, x6, x7 as slack variables, you have at the final iteration of the simplex method.

X0 +7/5x1 +12/5x4 +1/5x5 +4/5x6 = 11 Row 0

3/10x1 +x2 +4/5x4 +2/5x5 +1/10x6 =4 Row 1
-1/10x1 +x3 +2/5x4 +1/5x5 +3/10x6 =5 Row 2
1/2x1 +10x4 +x5 -1/2x6 +x7 = 11 Row 3

a) State optimal values for each xj and the objective function. Is the optimal solution unique?
b) For each non-basic variable, hive an interval for its objective function coefficient such that
basic solution in part (a) remains optimal?
c) Answer part (b) for each basic variable.
d) Assume the coefficient of x2 in the objective function is (-1+P2) and similarly, the coefficient
of x3 is (3+ P3). Derive a set of inequalities for the pair (P2, P3), such that the basic solution in
part (a) remains optimal provided it satisfies all these inequalities. Draw a graph of the
region implied by the set of inequalities.
e) Give an interval for each RHS constant, such that the basic solution in part (remains optimal.
f) Assume that the RHS constant for Resource A constraint is (7+A) and for Resource B
constraint is (12+B). Derive a set of inequalities for the pair (A, B) such that the solution in
part (b) remains feasible, provided the pair satisfies all these inequalities. Draw a graph of
the region implied by these inequalities.
g) Write the dual problem, indicate optimal values for the dual variables and calculate the
associated value of the dual objective function.
h) Write an economic interpretation of each dual variable and illustrate your interpretation
with numerical examples.
i) For each non-basic variable, use the associated dual restriction to deprive an interval of its
objective function coefficient such that the solution in part (a) remains optimal. Suppose 2
new variables x8 and x9 are added to the model. Assume the coefficients for x8 in constraint
for resources A, B and C as 5, -3, and 1 respectively and the objective function coefficient is
2. Assume that the coefficients for x9 in constraints are -2, 10 and 12 and the objective
function coefficient is -4. Can the solution in part (a) be improved?

12. Consider the problem 11 again, for part (j). Find the coefficient of x8 and x9 in all rows
including the objective function in the final iteration.

a) Suppose the coefficient of x1 in the resource A constraint is (1 + A1), how small or how
large A1 can be for the solution to remain optimal.
b) Repeat the same for above coefficient of x1 being (-1 + A2).
c) Repeat B and C for x4.

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 13. Suppose at some iteration in solving a linear programming model, you arrive at the relations
shown below. Note that x0 is being maximized and the variables x4, x5 and x6 are the slacks in
the constraints for resources A, B and C respectively. Find an optimal solution and indicate
whether it is unique. State how much an additional unit of each resource is worth. Give
optimal values for the dual variables.

Objective Function : x0 - 0x1 - 4x2 - 0x3 + 0x5- 2x6 = 150

Resource A, -1x2 +6x4 + 1x5 + 3x6 = 12
Resource B, 1x1 + 5x2 +10x4 + 6x6 = 15
Resource C, 1x2 + 1x3 +1x4 +10x6 = 10

14. Consider the problem

Maximise -1x1 +7x2 - 5x3 + 14x4
Subject to, 3x1 +4x2 +5x3 + 5x4  60
-1x1 +1x2 - 2x3 +2x4 10
every xj  0

a) Write the dual problem and verify that a feasible solution is Y1 = 1 and Y2 = 4.
b) Use the information in part (a) to derive an optimal solution to both the primal and dual
problem.
c) Suppose the constraint x1 + x2 + x3 + x4  6 is imposed on the above problem. Find optimal
primal and Dual solution.

15. The ADH Construction Company uses two classes of workers, A and B. Work can be classified into
three major types: 1, 2 and 3. Type 1 work can be performed by class A workers alone, or by
teams of one class A and two class B workers. Type 2 work can be performed by either class A or
class B people working alone. Type 3 work requires teams formed by five class B workers or
teams of one class A man supervising three class B workers.

Wages are Rs 20 and Rs 10 per hour for class A and B workers, respectively. Everybody works 40
hours per week, but A and B workers actually yield the weekly equivalent of 40 and 30 productive
hours respectively. The company requires a weekly total of 8000 productive hours of type 1 work,
12000 productive hours of type 2 work, and 20000 productive hours of type 3 work to fulfill its
construction schedules. Labour shortages restrict hiring to no more than 400 class A and 800 class
B workers. Compute the number of workers of each class that should be employed to minimize
the total labour cost per week.

a) Develop the model.

b) Set up the simplex tableau and perform the first iteration only.
Note: Data on teams is summarized in the table given below.

Team Number of Class A Number of Class B Work

workers worker type
1 1 0 1
2 1 2 1
3 1 0 2
4 0 1 2
5 0 5 3
6 1 3 3