Convergence and Error Bound of a Method for Solving Variational Inequality Problems via the Generalized D-Gap Function

The variational inequality problem (VIP) can be reformulated as an unconstrained minimization problem through the generalized D-gap function. Recently, a hybrid Newton-type method was proposed by Peng and Fukushima for minimizing a special form of the generalized D-gap function. In this paper, the hybrid Newton-type algorithm is extended to minimize the general form g of the generalized D-gap function. It is shown that the algorithm has nice convergence properties. Under some reasonable conditions, it is proved that the algorithm is locally and globally convergent. Moreover, it is proved that the function g has bounded level sets for strongly monotone VIP. An error bound of the algorithm is obtained.     

Unconstrained Optimization Reformulations of Variational Inequality Problems

Recently, Peng considered a merit function for the variational inequality problem (VIP), which constitutes an unconstrained differentiable optimization reformulation of VIP. In this paper, we generalize the merit function proposed by Peng and study various properties of the generalized function. We call this function the D-gap function. We give conditions under which any stationary point of the D-gap function is a solution of VIP and conditions under which it provides a global error bound for VIP. We also present a descent method for solving VIP based on the D-gap function.     

Conditions ensuring the applicability of cutting-plane methods for solving variational inequalities

Let VIP(F,C) denote the variational inequality problem associated with the mapping F and the closed convex set C. In this paper we introduce weak conditions on the mapping F that allow the development of a convergent cutting-plane framework for solving VIP(F,C). In the process we introduce, in a natural way, new and useful notions of generalized monotonicity for which first order characterizations are presented. Received: September 25, 1997 / Accepted: March 2, 1999?Published online July 20, 2000     

An algorithm based on the generalized D-gap function for equilibrium problems

The equilibrium problem (EP) can be reformulated as an unconstrained minimization problem through the generalized D-gap function. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for minimizing the problem and analyze some convergence properties of the proposed algorithm. Under some reasonable conditions, we show that the iteration sequence generated by the algorithm is globally convergent and converges to a solution to the EP and the generalized D-gap function provides a global error bound for the algorithm.     

D-Gap Functions for Nonsmooth Variational Inequality Problems

We study the Clarke generalized gradient of the D-gap functions for the variational inequality problem (VIP) defined by a locally Lipschitz, but not necessarily differentiable, function in an Euclidean space. Using these results, we study the relationship between minimizing sequences and stationary sequences of the D-gap function, regardless of the existence of solutions of (VIP).     

Feasible descent algorithms for mixed complementarity problems

In this paper we consider a general algorithmic framework for solving nonlinear mixed complementarity problems. The main features of this framework are: (a) it is well-defined for an arbitrary mixed complementarity problem, (b) it generates only feasible iterates, (c) it has a strong global convergence theory, and (d) it is locally fast convergent under standard regularity assumptions. This framework is applied to the PATH solver in order to show viability of the approach. Numerical results for an appropriate modification of the PATH solver indicate that this framework leads to substantial computational improvements. Received April 9, 1998 / Revised version received November 23, 1998?Published online March 16, 1999     

Failure of global convergence for a class of interior point methods for nonlinear programming

Using a simple analytical example, we demonstrate that a class of interior point methods for general nonlinear programming, including some current methods, is not globally convergent. It is shown that those algorithms produce limit points that are neither feasible nor stationary points of some measure of the constraint violation, when applied to a well-posed problem. Received: December 1999 / Accepted: May 2000?Published online August 18, 2000     

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 non-interior continuation method for generalized linear complementarity problems

In this paper, we propose a non-interior continuation method for solving generalized linear complementarity problems (GLCP) introduced by Cottle and Dantzig. The method is based on a smoothing function derived from the exponential penalty function first introduced by Kort and Bertsekas for constrained minimization. This smoothing function can also be viewed as a natural extension of Chen-Mangasarian’s neural network smooth function. By using the smoothing function, we approximate GLCP as a family of parameterized smooth equations. An algorithm is presented to follow the smoothing path. Under suitable assumptions, it is shown that the algorithm is globally convergent and local Q-quadratically convergent. Few preliminary numerical results are also reported. Received September 3, 1997 / Revised version received April 27, 1999?Published online July 19, 1999     

On the superlinear convergence of the variable metric proximal point algorithm using Broyden and BFGS matrix secant updating

In previous work, the authors provided a foundation for the theory of variable metric proximal point algorithms in Hilbert space. In that work conditions are developed for global, linear, and super–linear convergence. This paper focuses attention on two matrix secant updating strategies for the finite dimensional case. These are the Broyden and BFGS updates. The BFGS update is considered for application in the symmetric case, e.g., convex programming applications, while the Broyden update can be applied to general monotone operators. Subject to the linear convergence of the iterates and a quadratic growth condition on the inverse of the operator at the solution, super–linear convergence of the iterates is established for both updates. These results are applied to show that the Chen–Fukushima variable metric proximal point algorithm is super–linearly convergent when implemented with the BFGS update. Received: September 12, 1996 / Accepted: January 7, 2000?Published online March 15, 2000     

一类变分不等式问题的信赖域算法

基于J.M.Peng研究一类变分不等式问题（简记为VIP）时所提出的价值函数，本文提出了求解强单调的VIP的一个新的信赖域算法。和已有的处理VIP的信赖域方法不同的是：它在每步迭代时，不必求解带信赖域界的子问题，仅解一线性方程组而求得试验步。这样，计算的复杂性一般来说可降低。在通常的假设条件下，文中还证明了算法的整体收敛性。最后，在梯度是半光滑和约束是矩形域的假设下，该算法还是超线性收敛的。     

Some Methods Based on the D-Gap Function for Solving Monotone Variational Inequalities

The D-gap function has been useful in developing unconstrained descent methods for solving strongly monotone variational inequality problems. We show that the D-gap function has certain properties that are useful also for monotone variational inequality problems with bounded feasible set. Accordingly, we develop two unconstrained methods based on them that are similar in spirit to a feasible method of Zhu and Marcotte based on the regularized-gap function. We further discuss a third method based on applying the D-gap function to a regularized problem. Preliminary numerical experience is also reported.     

Finiteness of conical algorithms with ω-subdivisions

In this paper the problem of finding the global optimum of a concave function over a polytope is considered. A well-known class of algorithms for this problem is the class of conical algorithms. In particular, the conical algorithm based on the so called ω-subdivision strategy is considered. It is proved that, for any given accuracy ε>0, this algorithm stops in a finite time by returning an ε-optimal solution for the problem, while it is convergent for ε=0. Received January 24, 1996 / Revised version received December 9, 1998 Published online June 11, 1999     

Theoretical and numerical investigation of the D-gap function for box constrained variational inequalities

The D-gap function, recently introduced by Peng and further studied by Yamashita et al., allows a smooth unconstrained minimization reformulation of the general variational inequality problem. This paper is concerned with the D-gap function for variational inequality problems over a box or, equivalently, mixed complementarity problems. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First we investigate theoretical properties in depth of the D-gap function, such as the optimality of stationary points, bounded level sets, global error bounds and generalized Hessians. Next we present a nonsmooth Gauss-Newton type algorithm for minimizing the D-gap function, and report extensive numerical results for the whole set of problems in the MCPLIB test problem collection. The work of this author was supported in part by the Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, Japan.     

A BFGS-IP algorithm for solving strongly convex optimization problems with feasibility enforced by an exact penalty approach

This paper introduces and analyses a new algorithm for minimizing a convex function subject to a finite number of convex inequality constraints. It is assumed that the Lagrangian of the problem is strongly convex. The algorithm combines interior point methods for dealing with the inequality constraints and quasi-Newton techniques for accelerating the convergence. Feasibility of the iterates is progressively enforced thanks to shift variables and an exact penalty approach. Global and q-superlinear convergence is obtained for a fixed penalty parameter; global convergence to the analytic center of the optimal set is ensured when the barrier parameter tends to zero, provided strict complementarity holds. Received: December 21, 2000 / Accepted: July 13, 2001?Published online February 14, 2002     

Models and algorithms for the 2-dimensional cell suppression problem in statistical disclosure control

Lagrangean dualization and subgradient optimization techniques are frequently used within the field of computational optimization for finding approximate solutions to large, structured optimization problems. The dual subgradient scheme does not automatically produce primal feasible solutions; there is an abundance of techniques for computing such solutions (via penalty functions, tangential approximation schemes, or the solution of auxiliary primal programs), all of which require a fair amount of computational effort. We consider a subgradient optimization scheme applied to a Lagrangean dual formulation of a convex program, and construct, at minor cost, an ergodic sequence of subproblem solutions which converges to the primal solution set. Numerical experiments performed on a traffic equilibrium assignment problem under road pricing show that the computation of the ergodic sequence results in a considerable improvement in the quality of the primal solutions obtained, compared to those generated in the basic subgradient scheme. Received February 11, 1997 / Revised version received June 19, 1998?Published online June 28, 1999     

On the convergence of the DFP algorithm for unconstrained optimization when there are only two variables

Let the DFP algorithm for unconstrained optimization be applied to an objective function that has continuous second derivatives and bounded level sets, where each line search finds the first local minimum. It is proved that the calculated gradients are not bounded away from zero if there are only two variables. The new feature of this work is that there is no need for the objective function to be convex. Received: June 16, 1999 / Accepted: December 24, 1999?Published online March 15, 2000     

Unconstrained optimization reformulations of equilibrium problems

We generalize the D-gap function developed in the literature for variational inequalities to a general equilibrium problem （EP）. Through the D-gap function, the equilibrium problem is cast as an unconstrained minimization problem. We give conditions under which any stationary point of the D-gap function is a solution of EP and conditions under which it provides a global error bound for EP. Finally, these results are applied to box-constrained EP and then weaker conditions are established to obtain the desired results for box-constrained EP.     

Solving a class of semidefinite programs via nonlinear programming

In this paper, we introduce a transformation that converts a class of linear and nonlinear semidefinite programming (SDP) problems into nonlinear optimization problems. For those problems of interest, the transformation replaces matrix-valued constraints by vector-valued ones, hence reducing the number of constraints by an order of magnitude. The class of transformable problems includes instances of SDP relaxations of combinatorial optimization problems with binary variables as well as other important SDP problems. We also derive gradient formulas for the objective function of the resulting nonlinear optimization problem and show that both function and gradient evaluations have affordable complexities that effectively exploit the sparsity of the problem data. This transformation, together with the efficient gradient formulas, enables the solution of very large-scale SDP problems by gradient-based nonlinear optimization techniques. In particular, we propose a first-order log-barrier method designed for solving a class of large-scale linear SDP problems. This algorithm operates entirely within the space of the transformed problem while still maintaining close ties with both the primal and the dual of the original SDP problem. Global convergence of the algorithm is established under mild and reasonable assumptions. Received: January 5, 2000 / Accepted: October 2001?Published online February 14, 2002     

A note on Faigle and Kern’s dual greedy polyhedra

U. Faigle and W. Kern have recently extended the work of their earlier paper and of M. Queyranne, F. Spieksma and F. Tardella and have shown that a dual greedy algorithm works for a system of linear inequalities with {:0,1}-coefficients defined in terms of antichains of an underlying poset and a submodular function on the set of ideals of the poset under some additional condition on the submodular function.?In this note we show that Faigle and Kern’s dual greedy polyhedra belong to a class of submodular flow polyhedra, i.e., Faigle and Kern’s problem is a special case of the submodular flow problem that can easily be solved by their greedy algorithm. Received: February 1999 / Accepted: December 1999?Published online February 23, 2000