An improved sequential quadratic programming algorithm for solving general nonlinear programming problems

In this paper, a class of general nonlinear programming problems with inequality and equality constraints is discussed. Firstly, the original problem is transformed into an associated simpler equivalent problem with only inequality constraints. Then, inspired by the ideals of the sequential quadratic programming (SQP) method and the method of system of linear equations (SLE), a new type of SQP algorithm for solving the original problem is proposed. At each iteration, the search direction is generated by the combination of two directions, which are obtained by solving an always feasible quadratic programming (QP) subproblem and a SLE, respectively. Moreover, in order to overcome the Maratos effect, the higher-order correction direction is obtained by solving another SLE. The two SLEs have the same coefficient matrices, and we only need to solve the one of them after a finite number of iterations. By a new line search technique, the proposed algorithm possesses global and superlinear convergence under some suitable assumptions without the strict complementarity. Finally, some comparative numerical results are reported to show that the proposed algorithm is effective and promising.     

A method combining norm-relaxed QP subproblems with systems of linear equations for constrained optimization

Based on the ideas of norm-relaxed sequential quadratic programming (SQP) method and the strongly sub-feasible direction method, we propose a new SQP algorithm for the solution of nonlinear inequality constrained optimization. Unlike the previous work, at each iteration, the norm-relaxed quadratic programming subproblem (NRQPS) in our algorithm only consists of the constraints corresponding to an estimate of the active set, and the high-order correction direction (used to avoid the Maratos effect) is obtained by solving a system of linear equations (SLE) which also only consists of such a subset of constraints and gradients. Moreover, the line search technique can effectively combine the initialization process with the optimization process, and therefore (if the starting point is not feasible) the iteration points always get into the feasible set after a finite number of iterations. The global convergence is proved under the Mangasarian–Fromovitz constraint qualification (MFCQ), and the superlinear convergence is obtained without assuming the strict complementarity. Finally, the numerical experiments show that the proposed algorithm is effective and promising for the test problems.     

A superlinearly convergent method of quasi-strongly sub-feasible directions with active set identifying for constrained optimization

Combining the norm-relaxed sequential quadratic programming (SQP) method and the idea of method of quasi-strongly sub-feasible directions (MQSSFD) with active set identification technique, a new SQP algorithm for solving nonlinear inequality constrained optimization is proposed. Unlike the previous work, at each iteration of the proposed algorithm, the norm-relaxed quadratic programming (QP) subproblem only consists of the constraints corresponding to an active identification set. Moreover, the high-order correction direction (used to avoid the Maratos effect) is yielded by solving a system of linear equations (SLE) which also includes only the constraints and their gradients corresponding to the active identification set, therefore, the scale and the computation cost of the high-order correction directions are further decreased. The arc search in our algorithm can effectively combine the initialization processes with the optimization processes, and the iteration points can get into the feasible set after a finite number of iterations. Furthermore, the arc search conditions are weaker than the previous work, and the computation cost is further reduced. The global convergence is proved under the Mangasarian–Fromovitz constraint qualification (MFCQ). If the strong second-order sufficient conditions are satisfied, then the active constraints are exactly identified by the identification set. Without the strict complementarity, superlinear convergence can be obtained. Finally, some elementary numerical results are reported.     

Simple Sequential Quadratically Constrained Quadratic Programming Feasible Algorithm with Active Identification Sets for Constrained Minimax Problems

In this paper, the nonlinear minimax problems with inequality constraints are discussed. Based on the idea of simple sequential quadratically constrained quadratic programming algorithm for smooth constrained optimization, an alternative algorithm for solving the discussed problems is proposed. Unlike the previous work, at each iteration, a feasible direction of descent called main search direction is obtained by solving only one subprogram which is composed of a convex quadratic objective function and simple quadratic inequality constraints without the second derivatives of the constrained functions. Then a high-order correction direction used to avoid the Maratos effect is computed by updating the main search direction with a system of linear equations. The proposed algorithm possesses global convergence under weak Mangasarian–Fromovitz constraint qualification and superlinear convergence under suitable conditions with the upper-level strict complementarity. At last, some preliminary numerical results are reported.     

A Robust SQP Method for Mathematical Programs with Linear Complementarity Constraints

The relationship between the mathematical program with linear complementarity constraints (MPLCC) and its inequality relaxation is studied. Based on this relationship, a new sequential quadratic programming (SQP) method is presented for solving the MPLCC. A certain SQP technique is introduced to deal with the possible infeasibility of quadratic programming subproblems. Global convergence results are derived without assuming the linear independence constraint qualification for MPEC, the nondegeneracy condition, and any feasibility condition of the quadratic programming subproblems. Preliminary numerical results are reported. Research is partially supported by Singapore-MIT Alliance and School of Business, National University of Singapore.     

A feasible SQP method for nonlinear programming

In this paper, a new SQP algorithm is presented to solve the general nonlinear programs with mixed equality and inequality constraints. Quoted from P. Spellucci (see [9]), this method maybe be named sequential equality constrained quadratic programming (SECQP) algorithm. Per single iteration, based on an active set strategy ( see [9]), this SECQP algorithm requires only to solve equality constrained quadratic programming subproblems or system of linear equations. The theoretical analysis shows that global and superlinear convergence can be induced under some suitable conditions.     

An algorithm of sequential systems of linear equations for nonlinear optimization problems with arbitrary initial point

For current sequential quadratic programming (SQP) type algorithms, there exist two problems: (i) in order to obtain a search direction, one must solve one or more quadratic programming subproblems per iteration, and the computation amount of this algorithm is very large. So they are not suitable for the large-scale problems; (ii) the SQP algorithms require that the related quadratic programming subproblems be solvable per iteration, but it is difficult to be satisfied. By using ε-active set procedure with a special penalty function as the merit function, a new algorithm of sequential systems of linear equations for general nonlinear optimization problems with arbitrary initial point is presented. This new algorithm only needs to solve three systems of linear equations having the same coefficient matrix per iteration, and has global convergence and local superlinear convergence. To some extent, the new algorithm can overcome the shortcomings of the SQP algorithms mentioned above. Project partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Tianyuan Foundation of China.     

On the rate of convergence of sequential quadratic programming with nondifferentiable exact penalty function in the presence of constraint degeneracy

We analyze the convergence of a sequential quadratic programming (SQP) method for nonlinear programming for the case in which the Jacobian of the active constraints is rank deficient at the solution and/or strict complementarity does not hold for some or any feasible Lagrange multipliers. We use a nondifferentiable exact penalty function, and we prove that the sequence generated by an SQP using a line search is locally R-linearly convergent if the matrix of the quadratic program is positive definite and constant over iterations, provided that the Mangasarian-Fromovitz constraint qualification and some second-order sufficiency conditions hold. Received: April 28, 1998 / Accepted: June 28, 2001?Published online April 12, 2002     

A new inexact SQP algorithm for nonlinear systems of mixed equalities and inequalities

Traditional inexact SQP algorithm can only solve equality constrained optimization (Byrd et al. Math. Program. 122, 273–299 2010). In this paper, we propose a new inexact SQP algorithm with affine scaling technique for nonlinear systems of mixed equalities and inequalities, which arise in complementarity and variational inequalities. The nonlinear systems are transformed into a special nonlinear optimization with equality and bound constraints, and then we give a new inexact SQP algorithm for solving it. The new algorithm equipped with affine scaling technique does not require a quadratic programming subproblem with inequality constraints. The search direction is computed by solving one linear system approximately using iterative linear algebra techniques. Under mild assumptions, we discuss the global convergence. The preliminary numerical results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.     

最优化两个拓广的SQP和SSLE算法模型及其超线性和二次收敛性

给出一般约束最优化的序列二次规划（SQP）和序列线性方程组（SSLE）算法两个拓广的模型,详细分析和论证两个模型的局部超线性收敛性及二次收敛性条件,其中并不需要严格互补条件,拓广的模型及其收敛速度结果具有更广泛的适用性,为SQP和SSLE算法收敛速度的研究提供了更为完善和便利的理论基础。     

A Globally Convergent Sequential Quadratic Programming Algorithm for Mathematical Programs with Linear Complementarity Constraints

This paper presents a sequential quadratic programming algorithm for computing a stationary point of a mathematical program with linear complementarity constraints. The algorithm is based on a reformulation of the complementarity condition as a system of semismooth equations by means of Fischer-Burmeister functional, combined with a classical penalty function method for solving constrained optimization problems. Global convergence of the algorithm is established under appropriate assumptions. Some preliminary computational results are reported.     

A nonmonotone smoothing Newton method for circular cone programming

The circular cone programming (CCP) problem is to minimize or maximize a linear function over the intersection of an affine space with the Cartesian product of circular cones. In this paper, we study nondegeneracy and strict complementarity for the CCP, and present a nonmonotone smoothing Newton method for solving the CCP. We reformulate the CCP as a second-order cone programming (SOCP) problem using the algebraic relation between the circular cone and the second-order cone. Then based on a one parametric class of smoothing functions for the SOCP, a smoothing Newton method is developed for the CCP by adopting a new nonmonotone line search scheme. Without restrictions regarding its starting point, our algorithm solves one linear system of equations approximately and performs one line search at each iteration. Under mild assumptions, our algorithm is shown to possess global and local quadratic convergence properties. Some preliminary numerical results illustrate that our nonmonotone smoothing Newton method is promising for solving the CCP.     

Analysis of a smoothing Newton method for second-order cone complementarity problem

In this paper, we consider the second-order cone complementarity problem with P ₀-property. By introducing a smoothing parameter into the Fischer-Burmeister function, we present a smoothing Newton method for the second-order cone complementarity problem. The proposed algorithm solves only a linear system of equations and performs only one line search at each iteration. At the same time, the algorithm does not have restrictions on its starting point and has global convergence. Under the assumption of nonsingularity, we establish the locally quadratic convergence of the algorithm without strict complementarity condition. Preliminary numerical results show that the algorithm is promising.     

A New Superlinearly Convergent Strongly Subfeasible Sequential Quadratic Programming Algorithm for Inequality-Constrained Optimization

Combining the ideas of generalized projection and the strongly subfeasible sequential quadratic programming (SQP) method, we present a new strongly subfeasible SQP algorithm for nonlinearly inequality-constrained optimization problems. The algorithm, in which a new unified step-length search of Armijo type is introduced, starting from an arbitrary initial point, produces a feasible point after a finite number of iterations and from then on becomes a feasible descent SQP algorithm. At each iteration, only one quadratic program needs to be solved, and two correctional directions are obtained simply by explicit formulas that contain the same inverse matrix. Furthermore, the global and superlinear convergence results are proved under mild assumptions without strict complementarity conditions. Finally, some preliminary numerical results show that the proposed algorithm is stable and promising.     

超线性与二次收敛序列线性方程组算法

本文,在无严格互补条件下,对非线性不等式约束最优化问题提出了一个新的序列线性方程组(简称SSLE)算法．算法有两个重要特征:首先,每次迭代,只须求解一个线性方程组或一个广义梯度投影阵,且线性方程组可以无解．其次,初始点可以任意选取．在无严格互补条件下,算法仍有全局收敛性、强收敛性、超线性收敛性及二次收敛性．文章的最后,还对算法进行了初步的数值实验．     

垂直线性互补问题的一步全局线性和局部二次收敛光滑Newton法

基于凝聚函数,提出一个求解垂直线性互补问题的光滑Newton法.该算法具有以下优点:(i)每次迭代仅需解一个线性系统和实施一次线性搜索;(ⅱ)算法对垂直分块P0矩阵的线性互补问题有定义且迭代序列的每个聚点都是它的解.而且,对垂直分块P₀+R₀矩阵的线性互补问题,算法产生的迭代序列有界且其任一聚点都是它的解;(ⅲ)在无严格互补条件下证得算法即具有全局线性收敛性又具有局部二次收敛性.许多已存在的求解此问题的光滑Newton法都不具有性质(ⅲ).     

A new one‐step smoothing newton method for the second‐order cone complementarity problem

In this paper, we present a new one‐step smoothing Newton method for solving the second‐order cone complementarity problem (SOCCP). Based on a new smoothing function, the SOCCP is approximated by a family of parameterized smooth equations. At each iteration, the proposed algorithm only need to solve one system of linear equations and perform only one Armijo‐type line search. The algorithm is proved to be convergent globally and superlinearly without requiring strict complementarity at the SOCCP solution. Moreover, the algorithm has locally quadratic convergence under mild conditions. Numerical experiments demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of the new algorithm. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Global convergence on an active set SQP for inequality constrained optimization

Sequential quadratic programming (SQP) has been one of the most important methods for solving nonlinearly constrained optimization problems. In this paper, we present and study an active set SQP algorithm for inequality constrained optimization. The active set technique is introduced which results in the size reduction of quadratic programming (QP) subproblems. The algorithm is proved to be globally convergent. Thus, the results show that the global convergence of SQP is still guaranteed by deleting some “redundant” constraints.     

Stabilized Sequential Quadratic Programming

Recently, Wright proposed a stabilized sequential quadratic programming algorithm for inequality constrained optimization. Assuming the Mangasarian-Fromovitz constraint qualification and the existence of a strictly positive multiplier (but possibly dependent constraint gradients), he proved a local quadratic convergence result. In this paper, we establish quadratic convergence in cases where both strict complementarity and the Mangasarian-Fromovitz constraint qualification do not hold. The constraints on the stabilization parameter are relaxed, and linear convergence is demonstrated when the parameter is kept fixed. We show that the analysis of this method can be carried out using recent results for the stability of variational problems.     

一般约束优化基于识别函数的模松弛算法

借助于半罚函数和产生工作集的识别函数以及模松弛SQP算法思想, 本文建立了求解带等式及不等式约束优化的一个新算法. 每次迭代中, 算法的搜索方向由一个简化的二次规划子问题及一个简化的线性方程组产生. 算法在不包含严格互补性的温和条件下具有全局收敛性和超线性收敛性. 最后给出了算法初步的数值试验报告.