Superlinearly Convergent Norm-Relaxed SQP Method Based on Active Set Identification and New Line Search for Constrained Minimax Problems

In this paper, the minimax problems with inequality constraints are discussed, and an alternative fast convergent method for the discussed problems is proposed. Compared with the previous work, the proposed method has the following main characteristics. First, the active set identification which can reduce the scale and the computational cost is adopted to construct the direction finding subproblems. Second, the master direction and high-order correction direction are computed by solving a new type of norm-relaxed quadratic programming subproblem and a system of linear equations, respectively. Third, the step size is yielded by a new line search which combines the method of strongly sub-feasible direction with the penalty method. Fourth, under mild assumptions without any strict complementarity, both the global convergence and rate of superlinear convergence can be obtained. Finally, some numerical results are reported.     

A Sequential Quadratically Constrained Quadratic Programming Method of Feasible Directions

In this paper, a sequential quadratically constrained quadratic programming method of feasible directions is proposed for the optimization problems with nonlinear inequality constraints. At each iteration of the proposed algorithm, a feasible direction of descent is obtained by solving only one subproblem which consist of a convex quadratic objective function and simple quadratic inequality constraints without the second derivatives of the functions of the discussed problems, and such a subproblem can be formulated as a second-order cone programming which can be solved by interior point methods. To overcome the Maratos effect, an efficient higher-order correction direction is obtained by only one explicit computation formula. The algorithm is proved to be globally convergent and superlinearly convergent under some mild conditions without the strict complementarity. Finally, some preliminary numerical results are reported. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (No. 10261001), Guangxi Science Foundation (Nos. 0236001, 064001), and Guangxi University Key Program for Science and Technology Research (No. 2005ZD02) of China.     

Feasible generalized monotone line search SQP algorithm for nonlinear minimax problems with inequality constraints

In this paper, the nonlinear minimax problems with inequality constraints are discussed, and a sequential quadratic programming (SQP) algorithm with a generalized monotone line search is presented. At each iteration, a feasible direction of descent is obtained by solving a quadratic programming (QP). To avoid the Maratos effect, a high order correction direction is achieved by solving another QP. As a result, the proposed algorithm has global and superlinear convergence. Especially, the global convergence is obtained under a weak Mangasarian–Fromovitz constraint qualification (MFCQ) instead of the linearly independent constraint qualification (LICQ). At last, its numerical effectiveness is demonstrated with test examples.     

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.     

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 Superlinearly Convergent Implicit Smooth SQP Algorithm for Mathematical Programs with Nonlinear Complementarity Constraints

This paper discusses a special class of mathematical programs with nonlinear complementarity constraints, its goal is to present a globally and superlinearly convergent algorithm for the discussed problems. We first reformulate the complementarity constraints as a standard nonlinear equality and inequality constraints by making use of a class of generalized smoothing complementarity functions, then present a new SQP algorithm for the discussed problems. At each iteration, with the help of a pivoting operation, a master search direction is yielded by solving a quadratic program, and a correction search direction for avoiding the Maratos effect is generated by an explicit formula. Under suitable assumptions, without the strict complementarity on the upper-level inequality constraints, the proposed algorithm converges globally to a B-stationary point of the problems, and its convergence rate is superlinear.AMS Subject Classification: 90C, 49MThis work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (10261001) and the Guangxi Province Science Foundation (0236001, 0249003) of China.     

带非线性不等式约束优化问题的信赖域算法

借助于KKT条件和NCP函数,提出了求解带非线性不等式约束优化问题的信赖域算法.该算法在每一步迭代时,不必求解带信赖域界的二次规划子问题,仅需求一线性方程组系统.在适当的假设条件下,它还是整体收敛的和局部超线性收敛的.数值实验结果表明该方法是有效的.     

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.     

Dynamic Programming Method for Constrained Discrete-Time Optimal Control

A dynamic programming method is presented for solving constrained, discrete-time, optimal control problems. The method is based on an efficient algorithm for solving the subproblems of sequential quadratic programming. By using an interior-point method to accommodate inequality constraints, a modification of an existing algorithm for equality constrained problems can be used iteratively to solve the subproblems. Two test problems and two application problems are presented. The application examples include a rest-to-rest maneuver of a flexible structure and a constrained brachistochrone problem.     

A Truncated Newton Method for the Solution of Large-Scale Inequality Constrained Minimization Problems

A new active set Newton-type algorithm for the solution of inequality constrained minimization problems is proposed. The algorithm possesses the following favorable characteristics: (i) global convergence under mild assumptions; (ii) superlinear convergence of primal variables without strict complementarity; (iii) a Newton-type direction computed by means of a truncated conjugate gradient method. Preliminary computational results are reported to show viability of the approach in large scale problems having only a limited number of constraints.     

不等式约束极大极小问题的一个新型模松弛强次可行SQCQP算法

针对带不等式约束的极大极小问题,借鉴一般约束优化问题的模松弛强次可行SQP算法思想,提出了求解不等式约束极大极小问题的一个新型模松弛强次可行SQCQP算法.首先,通过在QCQP子问题中选取合适的罚函数,保证了算法的可行性以及目标函数F(x)的下降性,同时简化QCQP子问题二次约束项参数α_k的选取,可保证算法的可行性和收敛性.其次,算法步长的选取合理简单.最后,在适当的假设条件下证明了算法具有全局收敛性及强收敛性.初步的数值试验结果表明算法是可行有效的.     

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.     

求解约束优化问题的两个微分方程算法

本文给出求解具有等式约束和不等式约束的非线性优化问题的一阶信息和二阶信息的两个微分方程系统,问题的局部最优解是这两个微分方程系统的渐近稳定的平衡点,给出了这两个微分方程系统的Euler离散迭代格式并证明了它们的收敛性定理,用龙格库塔法分别求解两个微分方程系统．我们构造了搜索方向由两个微分系统计算,步长采用Armijo线搜索的算法分别求解这个约束最优化问题,在局部Lipschitz条件下基于二阶信息的微分方程系统的迭代方法具有二阶的收敛速度。我们给出的数值结果表明龙格库塔的微分方程算法具有较好的稳定性和更高的精确度,求解二阶信息的微分方程系统的方法具有更快的收敛速度．     

非线性约束最优化一族超线性收敛的可行方法

本文建立求解非线性不等式约束最优化一族含参数的可行方法．算法每次迭代仅需解一个规模较小的二次规划．在一定的假设条件下,证明了算法族的全局收敛性和超线性收敛性．     

线性等式约束优化的既约预条件共轭梯度路径法

采用既约预条件共轭梯度路径结合非单调技术解线性等式约束的非线性优化问题.基于广义消去法将原问题转化为等式约束矩阵的零空间中的一个无约束优化问题,通过一个增广系统获得既约预条件方程,并构造共轭梯度路径解二次模型,从而获得搜索方向和迭代步长.基于共轭梯度路径的良好性质,在合理的假设条件下,证明了算法不仅具有整体收敛性,而且保持快速的超线性收敛速率.进一步,数值计算表明了算法的可行性和有效性.     

A sequential quadratically constrained quadratic programming method with an augmented Lagrangian line search function

Based on an augmented Lagrangian line search function, a sequential quadratically constrained quadratic programming method is proposed for solving nonlinearly constrained optimization problems. Compared to quadratic programming solved in the traditional SQP methods, a convex quadratically constrained quadratic programming is solved here to obtain a search direction, and the Maratos effect does not occur without any other corrections. The “active set” strategy used in this subproblem can avoid recalculating the unnecessary gradients and (approximate) Hessian matrices of the constraints. Under certain assumptions, the proposed method is proved to be globally, superlinearly, and quadratically convergent. As an extension, general problems with inequality and equality constraints as well as nonmonotone line search are also considered.     

不等式约束优化的非单调可行信赖域-SQP算法

本文讨论不等式约束优化问题,给出一个信赖域方法与SQP方法相结合的新的可行算法,算法中采用了压缩技术,使得QP子问题产生的搜索方向尽可能为可行方向,并且采用了高阶校正的方法来克服算法产生的Maratos效应现象.在适当的条件下,证明了算法的全局收敛性和超线性收敛性.数值结果表明算法是有效的.     

Sequential quadratically constrained quadratic programming norm-relaxed algorithm of strongly sub-feasible directions

In this paper, we present a sequential quadratically constrained quadratic programming (SQCQP) norm-relaxed algorithm of strongly sub-feasible directions for the solution of inequality constrained optimization problems. By introducing a new unified line search and making use of the idea of strongly sub-feasible direction method, the proposed algorithm can well combine the phase of finding a feasible point (by finite iterations) and the phase of a feasible descent norm-relaxed SQCQP algorithm. Moreover, the former phase can preserve the “sub-feasibility” of the current iteration, and control the increase of the objective function. At each iteration, only a consistent convex quadratically constrained quadratic programming problem needs to be solved to obtain a search direction. Without any other correctional directions, the global, superlinear and a certain quadratic convergence (which is between 1-step and 2-step quadratic convergence) properties are proved under reasonable assumptions. Finally, some preliminary numerical results show that the proposed algorithm is also encouraging.     

A norm-relaxed method of feasible directions for finely discretized problems from semi-infinite programming

In this paper, a class of finely discretized Semi-Infinite Programming (SIP) problems is discussed. Combining the idea of the norm-relaxed Method of Feasible Directions (MFD) and the technique of updating discretization index set, we present a new algorithm for solving the Discretized Semi-Infinite (DSI) problems from SIP. At each iteration, the iteration point is feasible for the discretized problem and an improved search direction is computed by solving only one direction finding subproblem, i.e., a quadratic program, and some appropriate constraints are chosen to reduce the computational cost. A high-order correction direction can be obtained by solving another quadratic programming subproblem with only equality constraints. Under weak conditions such as Mangasarian–Fromovitz Constraint Qualification (MFCQ), the proposed algorithm possesses weak global convergence. Moreover, the superlinear convergence is obtained under Linearly Independent Constraint Qualification (LICQ) and other assumptions. In the end, some elementary numerical experiments are reported.     

A reduced Hessian SQP method for inequality constrained optimization

This paper develops a reduced Hessian method for solving inequality constrained optimization problems. At each iteration, the proposed method solves a quadratic subproblem which is always feasible by introducing a slack variable to generate a search direction and then computes the steplength by adopting a standard line search along the direction through employing the l _∞ penalty function. And a new update criterion is proposed to generate the quasi-Newton matrices, whose dimensions may be variable, approximating the reduced Hessian of the Lagrangian. The global convergence is established under mild conditions. Moreover, local R-linear and superlinear convergence are shown under certain conditions.