Models are used in science and engineering for experimentation,
analysis, diagnosis or design. In some cases, they can be considered
as numeric constraint satisfaction problems (NCSP). Many models
are symmetrical NCSP. The consideration of symmetries ensures that
NCSP-solver will find solutions if they exist on a smaller search space.
Our work proposes a strategy to perform it. We transform the symmetrical
NCSP into a newNCSP by means of addition of symmetry-breaking
constraints before the search begins. The specification of a library of possible
symmetries for numeric constraints allows an easy choice of these
new constraints. The summarized results of the studied cases show the
suitability of the symmetry-breaking constraints to improve the solving
process of certain types of symmetrical NCSP. Their possible speedup
facilitates the application of modelling and solving larger and more
realistic problems.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología DIP2003-0666-02-
