Numerical Solution of Optimal Control Problems with Discrete-Valued System Parameters

In this paper, we propose a new approach to solve a class of optimal control problems involving discrete-valued system parameters. The basic idea is to formulate a problem of this type as a combination of a discrete global optimization problem and a standard optimal control problem, and then solve it using a two-level approach. Numerical results show that the proposed method is efficient and capable of finding optimal or near optimal solutions.     

解带有二次约束非凸二次规划问题的一个分枝缩减方法

在这篇论文里,有机地把外逼近方法与分枝定界技术结合起来,提出了解带有二次约束非凸二次规划问题的一个分枝缩减方法;给出了原问题的一个新的线性规划松弛,以便确定它在超矩形上全局最优值的一个下界;利用超矩形的一个深度二级剖分方法,以及超矩形的缩减和删除技术,提高算法的收敛速度;证明了在知道原问题可行点的条件下,该算法在有限步里就可以获得原问题的一个全局最优化解,并且用一个例子说明了该算法是有效的.     

Stackelberg solutions for fuzzy random two-level linear programming through level sets and fractile criterion optimization

This paper considers Stackelberg solutions for two-level linear programming problems under fuzzy random environments. To deal with the formulated fuzzy random two-level linear programming problem, an α-stochastic two-level linear programming problem is defined through the introduction of α-level sets of fuzzy random variables. Taking into account vagueness of judgments of decision makers, fuzzy goals are introduced and the α-stochastic two-level linear programming problem is transformed into the problem to maximize the satisfaction degree for each fuzzy goal. Through fractile criterion optimization in stochastic programming, the transformed stochastic two-level programming problem can be reduced to a deterministic two-level programming problem. An extended concept of Stackelberg solution is introduced and a numerical example is provided to illustrate the proposed method.     

A General Hybrid Optimization Strategy for Curve Fitting in the Non-uniform Rational Basis Spline Framework

In this paper, a general methodology to approximate sets of data points through Non-uniform Rational Basis Spline (NURBS) curves is provided. The proposed approach aims at integrating and optimizing the full set of design variables (both integer and continuous) defining the shape of the NURBS curve. To this purpose, a new formulation of the curve fitting problem is required: it is stated in the form of a constrained nonlinear programming problem by introducing a suitable constraint on the curvature of the curve. In addition, the resulting optimization problem is defined over a domain having variable dimension, wherein both the number and the value of the design variables are optimized. To deal with this class of constrained nonlinear programming problems, a global optimization hybrid tool has been employed. The optimization procedure is split in two steps: firstly, an improved genetic algorithm optimizes both the value and the number of design variables by means of a two-level Darwinian strategy allowing the simultaneous evolution of individuals and species; secondly, the optimum solution provided by the genetic algorithm constitutes the initial guess for the subsequent gradient-based optimization, which aims at improving the accuracy of the fitting curve. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is proven through some mathematical benchmarks as well as a real-world engineering problem.     

一类非线性两级整数规划问题的全局优化方法

本文研究了整数规划连续化的途径,对一类非线性两级整数规划问题的上级规划连续化以后采用模拟退火算法;其对应的下级规划问题采用离散搜索法求解,从而给出了求解一类非线性两级整数规划问题的一种全局优化算法,并通过算例验证了该算法是有效的.     

Bandwidth packing problem with queueing delays: modelling and exact solution approach

In this paper we develop a general but smooth global optimization strategy for nonlinear multilevel programming problems with polyhedral constraints. At each decision level successive convex relaxations are applied over the non-convex terms in combination with a multi-parametric programming approach. The proposed algorithm reaches the approximate global optimum in a finite number of steps through the successive subdivision of the optimization variables that contribute to the non-convexity of the problem and partitioning of the parameter space. The method is implemented and tested for a variety of bilevel, trilevel and fifth level problems which have non-convexity formulation at their inner levels.     

Global optimization algorithm for sum of generalized polynomial ratios problem

In this paper, a global optimization algorithm is proposed for solving sum of generalized polynomial ratios problem (P) which arises in various practical problems. Due to its intrinsic difficulty, less work has been devoted to globally solve the problem (P). For such problems, we present a branch and bound algorithm. In this method, by utilizing exponent transformation and new three-level linear relaxation method, a sequence of linear relaxation programming of the initial nonconvex programming problem (P) are derived which are embedded in a branch and bound algorithm. The proposed method need not introduce new variables and constraints and it is convergent to the global minimum of prime problem by means of the subsequent solutions of a series of linear programming problems. Several numerical examples in the literatures are tested to demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can systematically solve these examples to find the approximate ?-global optimum.     

Two basic problems in reliability-based structural optimization

Optimization of structures with respect to performance, weight or cost is a well-known application of mathematical optimization theory. However optimization of structures with respect to weight or cost under probabilistic reliability constraints or optimization with respect to reliability under cost/weight constraints has been subject of only very few studies. The difficulty in using probabilistic constraints or reliability targets lies in the fact that modern reliability methods themselves are formulated as a problem of optimization. In this paper two special formulations based on the so-called first-order reliability method (FORM) are presented. It is demonstrated that both problems can be solved by a one-level optimization problem, at least for problems in which structural failure is characterized by a single failure criterion. Three examples demonstrate the algorithm indicating that the proposed formulations are comparable in numerical effort with an approach based on semi-infinite programming but are definitely superior to a two-level formulation.     

Logic-Based Modeling and Solution of Nonlinear Discrete/Continuous Optimization Problems

This paper presents a review of advances in the mathematical programming approach to discrete/continuous optimization problems. We first present a brief review of MILP and MINLP for the case when these problems are modeled with algebraic equations and inequalities. Since algebraic representations have some limitations such as difficulty of formulation and numerical singularities for the nonlinear case, we consider logic-based modeling as an alternative approach, particularly Generalized Disjunctive Programming (GDP), which the authors have extensively investigated over the last few years. Solution strategies for GDP models are reviewed, including the continuous relaxation of the disjunctive constraints. Also, we briefly review a hybrid model that integrates disjunctive programming and mixed-integer programming. Finally, the global optimization of nonconvex GDP problems is discussed through a two-level branch and bound procedure.     

Solving some optimal control problems using the barrier penalty function method

In this paper we present a new approach to solve a two-level optimization problem arising from an approximation by means of the finite element method of optimal control problems governed by unilateral boundary-value problems. The problem considered is to find a minimum of a functional with respect to the control variablesu. The minimized functional depends on control variables and state variablesx. The latter are the optimal solution of an auxiliary quadratic programming problem, whose parameters depend onu.Our main idea is to replace this QP problem by its dual and then apply the barrier penalty method to this dual QP problem or to the primal one if it is in an appropriate form. As a result we obtain a problem approximating the original one. Its good property is the differentiable dependence of state variables with respect to the control variables. Furthermore, we propose a method for finding an approximate solution of a penalized lower-level problem if the optimal solution of the original QP problem is known. We apply the result obtained to some optimal shape design problems governed by the Dirichlet-Signorini boundary-value problem.This research was supported by the Academy of Finland and the Systems Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences.     

一类具有连续变量的全局最优化问题的凸化方法

本文研究了一类非凸最优化问题的凸化方法与最优性条件的问题.利用构造含有参数的函数变换方法,将具有次正定性质的目标函数凸化,并获得了这一类非凸优化问题全局最优解的充要条件,推广了凸化方法在求解全局最优化问题方面的应用.     

Solving air traffic conflict problems via local continuous optimization

This paper first introduces an original trajectory model using B-splines and a new semi-infinite programming formulation of the separation constraint involved in air traffic conflict problems. A new continuous optimization formulation of the tactical conflict-resolution problem is then proposed. It involves very few optimization variables in that one needs only one optimization variable to determine each aircraft trajectory. Encouraging numerical experiments show that this approach is viable on realistic test problems. Not only does one not need to rely on the traditional, discretized, combinatorial optimization approaches to this problem, but, moreover, local continuous optimization methods, which require relatively fewer iterations and thereby fewer costly function evaluations, are shown to improve the performance of the overall global optimization of this non-convex problem.     

A decomposition approach for global optimum search in QP,NLP and MINLP problems

Nonconvex programming problems are frequently encountered in engineering and operations research. A large variety of global optimization algorithms have been proposed for the various classes of programming problems. A new approach for global optimum search is presented in this paper which involves a decomposition of the variable set into two sets —complicating and noncomplicating variables. This results in a decomposition of the constraint set leading to two subproblems. The decomposition of the original problem induces special structure in the resulting subproblems and a series of these subproblems are then solved, using the Generalized Benders' Decomposition technique, to determine the optimal solution. The key idea is to combine a judicious selection of the complicating variables with suitable transformations leading to subproblems which can attain their respective global solutions at each iteration. Mathematical properties of the proposed approach are presented. Even though the proposed approach cannot guarantee the determination of the global optimum, computational experience on a number of nonconvex QP, NLP and MINLP example problems indicates that a global optimum solution can be obtained from various starting points.     

Global optimality conditions and optimization methods for quadratic integer programming problems

In this paper, we first establish some sufficient and some necessary global optimality conditions for quadratic integer programming problems. Then we present a new local optimization method for quadratic integer programming problems according to its necessary global optimality conditions. A new global optimization method is proposed by combining its sufficient global optimality conditions, local optimization method and an auxiliary function. The numerical examples are also presented to show that the proposed optimization methods for quadratic integer programming problems are very efficient and stable.     

A filled function method for optimal discrete-valued control problems

In this paper, we present a new approach to solve a class of optimal discrete-valued control problems. This type of problem is first transformed into an equivalent two-level optimization problem involving a combination of a discrete optimization problem and a standard optimal control problem. The standard optimal control problem can be solved by existing optimal control software packages such as MISER 3.2. For the discrete optimization problem, a discrete filled function method is developed to solve it. A numerical example is solved to illustrate the efficiency of our method.     

On optimality and duality theorems of nonlinear disjunctive fractional minmax programs

This paper is concerned with the study of optimality conditions for disjunctive fractional minmax programming problems in which the decision set can be considered as a union of a family of convex sets. Dinkelbach’s global optimization approach for finding the global maximum of the fractional programming problem is discussed. Using the Lagrangian function definition for this type of problem, the Kuhn–Tucker saddle point and stationary-point problems are established. In addition, via the concepts of Mond–Weir type duality and Schaible type duality, a general dual problem is formulated and some weak, strong and converse duality theorems are proven.     

Characterization of vector strict global minimizers of order 2 in differentiable vector optimization problems under a new approximation method

In this paper, a new approximation method is introduced to characterize a so-called vector strict global minimizer of order 2 for a class of nonlinear differentiable multiobjective programming problems with (F,ρ)-convex functions of order 2. In this method, an equivalent vector optimization problem is constructed by a modification of both the objectives and the constraint functions in the original multiobjective programming problem at the given feasible point. In order to prove the equivalence between the original multiobjective programming problem and its associated F-approximated vector optimization problem, the suitable (F,ρ)-convexity of order 2 assumption is imposed on the functions constituting the considered vector optimization problem.     

Maximization of the Ratio of Two Convex Quadratic Functions over a Polytope

In this paper, we will develop an algorithm for solving a quadratic fractional programming problem which was recently introduced by Lo and MacKinlay to construct a maximal predictability portfolio, a new approach in portfolio analysis. The objective function of this problem is defined by the ratio of two convex quadratic functions, which is a typical global optimization problem with multiple local optima. We will show that a well-designed branch-and-bound algorithm using (i) Dinkelbach's parametric strategy, (ii) linear overestimating function and (iii) -subdivision strategy can solve problems of practical size in an efficient way. This algorithm is particularly efficient for Lo-MacKinlay's problem where the associated nonconvex quadratic programming problem has low rank nonconcave property.     

A new local and global optimization method for mixed integer quadratic programming problems

In this paper, a new local optimization method for mixed integer quadratic programming problems with box constraints is presented by using its necessary global optimality conditions. Then a new global optimization method by combining its sufficient global optimality conditions and an auxiliary function is proposed. Some numerical examples are also presented to show that the proposed optimization methods for mixed integer quadratic programming problems with box constraints are very efficient and stable.     

Two-level value function approach to non-smooth optimistic and pessimistic bilevel programs

ABSTRACT

The authors' paper in Dempe et al. [Necessary optimality conditions in pessimistic bilevel programming. Optimization. 2014;63:505–533], was the first one to provide detailed optimality conditions for pessimistic bilevel optimization. The results there were based on the concept of the two-level optimal value function introduced and analysed in Dempe et al. [Sensitivity analysis for two-level value functions with applications to bilevel programming. SIAM J. Optim. 22 (2012), 1309–1343], for the case of optimistic bilevel programs. One of the basic assumptions in both of these papers is that the functions involved in the problems are at least continuously differentiable. Motivated by the fact that many real-world applications of optimization involve functions that are non-differentiable at some points of their domain, the main goal of the current paper is to extend the two-level value function approach by deriving new necessary optimality conditions for both optimistic and pessimistic versions in bilevel programming with non-smooth data.