Some remarks on time-dependent variational problems and their asymptotic behaviour

The subject matter of this paper is the asymptotic behaviour of quasi-static variational inequalities, as regards physical parameters like the friction coefficient, compliance coefficient, etc. By convex duality, the quasi-static problems can be recast into the forms of standard evolution problems, whose study relies on well-known methods. In this framework the stability with respect to small friction coefficients reduces to long time behaviour for evolution problems.     

A method for the approximate solution of quasi-static problems for hardening bodies

A method for the approximate solution of quasi-static problems for hardening elastoplastic bodies is proposed. The constitutive relation of the model is taken in the form of a variational inequality. An approximate solution of the initial problem is constructed in time steps and, by means of the finite element method, is reduced to the solution of a system of two variational inequalities in corresponding finite-dimensional space. It is shown that the solution of this system is equivalent to finding the saddle point of the corresponding quadratic functional. To find the saddle point, Udzawa's algorithm is used, by means of which the process of finding the velocity vector and stress tensor reduces to the successive calculation of these quantities: the velocity vector is determined from the variational inequality corresponding to the equilibrium equation, and the stress tensor is determined from the variational inequality corresponding to the constitutive relation. The latter inequality is reduced to a certain non-linear equation containing the operation of projection onto a closed convex set corresponding to the elastic strains of the medium. In turn, the solution of the non-linear equation is constructed using the method of successive approximations. To illustrate the use of the proposed method, the one-dimensional problem of the quasi-static deformation of a cylindrical tube under a load applied to its internal surface is considered.     

Weighted Variational Inequalities

In this paper, we introduce weighted variational inequalities over product of sets and system of weighted variational inequalities. It is noted that the weighted variational inequality problem over product of sets and the problem of system of weighted variational inequalities are equivalent. We give a relationship between system of weighted variational inequalities and systems of vector variational inequalities. We define several kinds of weighted monotonicities and establish several existence results for the solution of the above-mentioned problems under these weighted monotonicities. We introduce also the weighted generalized variational inequalities over product of sets, that is, weighted variational inequalities for multivalued maps and systems of weighted generalized variational inequalities. Extensions of weighted monotonicities for multivalued maps are also considered. The existence of a solution of weighted generalized variational inequalities over product of sets is also studied. The existence results for a solution of weighted generalized variational inequality problem give also the existence of solutions of systems of generalized vector variational inequalities. The first and third author express their thanks to the Department of Mathematical Sciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia for providing excellent research facilities. The authors are also grateful to the referees for comments and suggestions improving the final draft of this paper.     

Generalized solutions of quasi variational inequalities

This paper deals with multivalued quasi variational inequalities with pseudo-monotone and monotone maps. The primary objective of this work is to show that the notion of generalized solutions can be employed to investigate multivalued pseudo-monotone quasi variational inequalities. It is a well-known fact that a quasi variational inequality can conveniently be posed as a fixed point problem through the so-called variational selection. For pseudo-monotone maps, the associated variational selection is a nonconvex map, and the fixed point theorems can only be applied under restrictive assumptions on the data of quasi variational inequalities. On the other hand, the generalized solutions are defined by posing a minimization problem which can be solved by a variant of classical Weierstrass theorem. It turns out that far less restrictive assumptions on the data are needed in this case. To emphasis on the strong difference between a classical solution and a generalized solution, we also give a new existence theorem for quasi variational inequalities with monotone maps. The main existence result is proved under a milder coercivity condition. We also relax a few other conditions from the monotone map. Due to its flexibility, it seems that the notion of generalized solutions can be employed to study quasi variational inequalities for other classes of maps as well.     

Global optimization numerical strategies for rate-independent processes

This paper presents an approach to numerical solution of problems posed in the framework of quasi-static rate-independent processes. As soon as a problem allows for an energetic formulation there are known methods of its time discretization by time incremental minimization problems, which demand for global optimization of a non-convex functional. Moreover the two-sided energy inequality, a necessary condition for optimization, can be formulated. Here we present an algorithm for finding solutions of rate-independent processes that verifies this condition and uses the strategy of backtracking if it is violated. We present the selectivity of the mentioned necessary condition in general and give numerical examples of the efficiency of such an algorithm, but also of situations that are beyond its limits. For those we propose a second strategy relying on wisely chosen combinations of spatial discretizations.     

Projection iterative methods for extended general variational inequalities

In this paper, we introduce and study a new class of variational inequalities involving three operators, which is called the extended general variational inequality. Using the projection technique, we show that the extended general variational inequalities are equivalent to the fixed point and the extended general Wiener-Hopf equations. This equivalent formulation is used to suggest and analyze a number of projection iterative methods for solving the extended general variational inequalities. We also consider the convergence of these new methods under some suitable conditions. Since the extended general variational inequalities include general variational inequalities and related optimization problems as special cases, results proved in this paper continue to hold for these problems.     

Inégalités de Poincaré cinétiques

In this Note we prove Poincaré type inequalities for a family of kinetic equations. We apply this inequality to the variational solution of a linear kinetic model by generalizing the STILS method (Azerad, 1996 [1]; Azerad and Pousin, 1996 [2]) to a kinetic setting.     

Well-posedness of a general class of elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequalities

In this paper, well-posedness of a general class of elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequalities is studied. This general class includes several classes of the previously studied elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequalities as special cases. Moreover, our approach of the well-posedness analysis is easily accessible, unlike those in the published papers on elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequalities so far. First, prior theoretical results are recalled for a class of elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequalities featured by the presence of a potential operator. Then the well-posedness results are extended through a Banach fixed-point argument to the same class of inequalities without the potential operator assumption. The well-posedness results are further extended to a more general class of elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequalities through another application of the Banach fixed-point argument. The theoretical results are illustrated in the study of a contact problem. For comparison, the contact problem is studied both as an elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequality and as an elliptic variational–hemivariational inequality.     

Projection Method Approach for General Regularized Non-convex Variational Inequalities

In this paper, we investigate or analyze non-convex variational inequalities and general non-convex variational inequalities. Two new classes of non-convex variational inequalities, named regularized non-convex variational inequalities and general regularized non-convex variational inequalities, are introduced, and the equivalence between these two classes of non-convex variational inequalities and the fixed point problems are established. A projection iterative method to approximate the solutions of general regularized non-convex variational inequalities is suggested. Meanwhile, the existence and uniqueness of solution for general regularized non-convex variational inequalities is proved, and the convergence analysis of the proposed iterative algorithm under certain conditions is studied.     

On General Mixed Variational Inequalities

In this paper, we introduce and consider a new class of mixed variational inequalities, which is called the general mixed variational inequality. Using the resolvent operator technique, we establish the equivalence between the general mixed variational inequalities and the fixed-point problems as well as resolvent equations. We use this alternative equivalent formulation to suggest and analyze some iterative methods for solving the general mixed variational inequalities. We study the convergence criteria of the suggested iterative methods under suitable conditions. Using the resolvent operator technique, we also consider the resolvent dynamical systems associated with the general mixed variational inequalities. We show that the trajectory of the dynamical system converges globally exponentially to the unique solution of the general mixed variational inequalities. Our methods of proofs are very simple as compared with others’ techniques. Results proved in this paper may be viewed as a refinement and important generalizations of the previous known results.     

Stopping Problems of Certain Multiplicative Functionals and Optimal Investment with Transaction Costs

Optimal stopping and impulse control problems with certain multiplicative functionals are considered. The stopping problems are solved by showing the unique existence of the solutions of relevant variational inequalities. However, since functions defining the multiplicative costs change the signs, some difficulties arise in solving the variational inequalities. Through gauge transformation we rewrite the variational inequalities in different forms with the obstacles which grow exponentially fast but with positive killing rates. Through the analysis of such variational inequalities we construct optimal stopping times for the problems. Then optimal strategies for impulse control problems on the infinite time horizon with multiplicative cost functionals are constructed from the solutions of the risk-sensitive variational inequalities of "ergodic type" as well. Application to optimal investment with fixed ratio transaction costs is also considered.     

Iterative algorithms for a new class of extended general nonconvex set-valued variational inequalities

Some new classes of extended general nonconvex set-valued variational inequalities and the extended general Wiener-Hopf inclusions are introduced. By the projection technique, equivalence between the extended general nonconvex set-valued variational inequalities and the fixed point problems as well as the extended general nonconvex Wiener-Hopf inclusions is proved. Then by using this equivalent formulation, we discuss the existence of solutions of the extended general nonconvex set-valued variational inequalities and construct some new perturbed finite step projection iterative algorithms with mixed errors for approximating the solutions of the extended general nonconvex set-valued variational inequalities. We also verify that the approximate solutions obtained by our algorithms converge to the solutions of the extended general nonconvex set-valued variational inequalities. The results presented in this paper extend and improve some known results from the literature.     

Self-adaptive methods for general variational inequalities

It is well known that the general variational inequalities are equivalent to the fixed point problems and the Wiener-Hopf equations. In this paper, we use these alternative equivalent formulations to suggest and analyze some new self-adaptive iterative methods for solving the general variational inequalities. Our results can be viewed as a significant extension of the previously known results for variational inequalities. An example is given to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed method.     

On a system of general mixed variational inequalities

In this paper, we introduce and consider a new system of general mixed variational inequalities involving three different operators. Using the resolvent operator technique, we establish the equivalence between the general mixed variational inequalities and the fixed point problems. We use this equivalent formulation to suggest and analyze some new explicit iterative methods for this system of general mixed variational inequalities. We also study the convergence analysis of the new iterative method under certain mild conditions. Since this new system includes the system of mixed variational inequalities involving two operators, variational inequalities and related optimization problems as special cases, results obtained in this paper continue to hold for these problems. Our results can be viewed as a refinement and improvement of the previously known results for variational inequalities.     

Projection iterative methods for solving some systems of general nonconvex variational inequalities

In this article, we introduce and consider a new system of general nonconvex variational inequalities involving four different operators. We use the projection operator technique to establish the equivalence between the system of general nonconvex variational inequalities and the fixed points problem. This alternative equivalent formulation is used to suggest and analyse some new explicit iterative methods for this system of nonconvex variational inequalities. We also study the convergence analysis of the new iterative method under certain mild conditions. Since this new system includes the system of nonconvex variational inequalities, variational inequalities and related optimization problems as special cases, results obtained in this article continue to hold for these problems. Our results can be viewed as a refinement and an improvement of the previously known results for variational inequalities.     

Existence results for Stampacchia and Minty type vector variational inequalities

In this article, we consider the general forms of Stampacchia and Minty type vector variational inequalities for bifunctions and establish the existence of their solutions in the setting of topological vector spaces. We extend these vector variational inequalities for set-valued maps and prove the existence of their solutions in the setting of Banach spaces as well as topological vector spaces. We point out that our vector variational inequalities extend and generalize several vector variational inequalities that appeared in the literature. As applications, we establish some existence results for a solution of the vector optimization problem by using Stampacchia and Minty type vector variational inequalities.     

一般多值混合隐拟变分不等式的解的存在性与算法

引入了实Hilbert空间中一类新的一般多值混合隐拟变分不等式.它概括了丁协平教授引入与研究过的熟知的广义混合隐拟变分不等式类成特例.运用辅助变分原理技巧来解这类一般多值混合隐拟变分不等式.首先,定义了具真凸下半连续的二元泛函的新的辅助变分不等式,并选取了一适当的泛函,使得其唯一的最小值点等价于此辅助变分不等式的解.其次,利用此辅助变分不等式,构造了用于计算一般多值混合隐拟变分不等式逼近解的新的迭代算法.在此,等价性保证了算法能够生成一列逼近解.最后,证明了一般多值混合隐拟变分不等式解的存在性与逼近解的收敛性.而且,给算法提供了新的收敛判据.因此,结果对M.A.Noor提出的公开问题给出了一个肯定答案,并推广和改进了关于各种变分不等式与补问题的早期与最近的结果,包括最近文献中涉及单值与集值映象的有关混合变分不等式、混合拟变不等式与拟补问题的相应结果.     

Projection algorithms for solving a system of general variational inequalities

In this paper, we introduce and consider a new system of general variational inequalities involving four different operators. Using the projection operator technique, we suggest and analyze some new explicit iterative methods for this system of variational inequalities. We also study the convergence analysis of the new iterative method under certain mild conditions. Since this new system includes the system of variational inequalities involving three operators, variational inequalities and related optimization problems as special cases, results obtained in this paper continue to hold for these problems. Our results can be viewed as a refinement and improvement of the previously known results for variational inequalities.     

Weak Sharp Solutions for Nonsmooth Variational Inequalities

In this paper, we study the weak sharp solutions for nonsmooth variational inequalities and give a characterization in terms of error bound. Some characterizations of solution set of nonsmooth variational inequalities are presented. Under certain conditions, we prove that the sequence generated by an algorithm for finding a solution of nonsmooth variational inequalities terminates after a finite number of iterates provided that the solutions set of a nonsmooth variational inequality is weakly sharp. We also study the finite termination property of the gradient projection method for solving nonsmooth variational inequalities under weak sharpness of the solution set.     

Merit functions for general variational inequalities

In this paper, we consider some classes of merit functions for general variational inequalities. Using these functions, we obtain error bounds for the solution of general variational inequalities under some mild conditions. Since the general variational inequalities include variational inequalities, quasivariational inequalities and complementarity problems as special cases, results proved in this paper hold for these problems. In this respect, results obtained in this paper represent a refinement of previously known results for classical variational inequalities.