A New approach in the maximum flow problem

Abstract

In this study, we tried to approach the maximum flow problem from a different point of view. This effort has led us to the development of a new maximum flow algorithm. The algorithm is based on the idea that when initial quasi-flow on each edge of the graph is equated to the upper capacity of the edge, it violates node balance equations, while satisfying capacity and non-negativity constraints. In order to obtain a feasible and optimum flow, quasi-flow on some of the edges have to be reduced. Given an initial quasi-flow, positive and negative excess, and, balanced nodes are determined. Algorithm reduces excesses of unbalanced nodes to zero by finding residual paths joining positive excess nodes to negative excess nodes and sending excesses along these paths. Minimum cut is determined first, and then maximum flow of the given cut is found. Time complexity of the algorithm is o(n^m). The application of the modified version of the Dynamic Tree structure of Sleator and Tarjan reduces it to o(nmlogn).