Networks with unicyclic connected components and without short cycles

This paper focuses on the design of networks with unicyclic connected components. The size of each cycle should not be less than a given number. A polyhedral study is proposed. Many facets and valid inequalities are derived. Some of them can be exactly separated in polynomial time. Then the network design problem is solved by a cutting plane algorithm based on these inequalities and using a compact formulation issued from the transversality of the bicircular matroid.