On Approximately Star-Shaped Functions and Approximate Vector Variational Inequalities

In this paper, we consider a vector optimization problem involving approximately star-shaped functions. We formulate approximate vector variational inequalities in terms of Fréchet subdifferentials and solve the vector optimization problem. Under the assumptions of approximately straight functions, we establish necessary and sufficient conditions for a solution of approximate vector variational inequality to be an approximate efficient solution of the vector optimization problem. We also consider the corresponding weak versions of the approximate vector variational inequalities and establish various results for approximate weak efficient solutions.     

Higher‐order generalized invexity in variational problems

We introduce higher‐order duality (Mangasarian type and Mond–Wier type) of variational problems. Under higher‐order generalized invexity assumptions on functions that compose the primal problem, higher‐order duality results (weak duality, strong duality, and converse duality) are derived for this pair of problems. Also, we establish many examples and counter‐examples to support our investigation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Error bounds for finite element solutions of mildly nonlinear elliptic boundary value problems

Summary The equivalence in a Hilbert space of variational and weak formulations of linear elliptic boundary value problems is well known. This same equivalence is proved here for mildly nonlinear problems where the right hand side of the differential equation involves the solution function. A finite element approximation to the solution of the weak problem ina finite dimensional subspace of the original Hilbert space is defined. An inequality bounding the error in this approximation over all functions of the space is derived, and in particular this holds for an interpolant to the weak solution. Thus this inequality, together with previously known, interpolation error bounds, produces a bound on the finite element solution to this nonlinear problem. An example of a mildly nonlinear Poisson problem is given.     

The solvability of a coupled thermoviscoelastic contact problem with small Coulomb friction and linearized growth of frictional heat

A coupled thermoviscoelastic frictional contact problem is investigated. The contact is modelled by the Signorini condition for the displacement velocities and the friction by the Coulomb law. The heat generated by friction is described by a non‐linear boundary condition with at most linear growth. The weak formulation of the problem consists of a variational inequality for the elasticity part and a variational equation for the heat conduction part. In order to prove the existence of a solution to this problem we first use an approximation of the Signorini condition by the penalty method. The existence of a solution for the approximate problem is shown using the fixed‐point theorem of Schauder. This theorem is applied to the composition of the solution operator for the contact problem with given temperature field and the solution operator for the heat equation problem with known displacement field. To obtain this proof, the unique solvability of both problems is necessary. Due to this reason it is necessary to introduce the penalty method. While the penalized contact problem has a unique solution, this is not clear for the original contact problem. The solvability of the original frictional contact problem is verified by an investigation of the limit for vanishing penalty parameter. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exceptional Family of Elements for a Variational Inequality Problem and its Applications

This paper introduces a new concept of exceptional family of elements (abbreviated, exceptional family) for a finite-dimensional nonlinear variational inequality problem. By using this new concept, we establish a general sufficient condition for the existence of a solution to the problem. Such a condition is used to develop several new existence theorems. Among other things, a sufficient and necessary condition for the solvability of pseudo-monotone variational inequality problem is proved. The notion of coercivity of a function and related classical existence theorems for variational inequality are also generalized. Finally, a solution condition for a class of nonlinear complementarity problems with so-called P _* -mappings is also obtained.     

Investigation of the behavior of weak waves in the solution of a vector variational wave equation

We consider nonsmooth solutions of the system of Euler-Lagrange equations corresponding to a variational problem with several unknown functions of several variables and with a quadratic functional. The propagation of weak discontinuities is described by the equations of the method of singular characteristics developed by Melikyan. The onset and interaction of weak discontinuities of the solution caused by nonsmooth initial conditions are studied by numerical-analytic methods. We develop two computer programs for shock-fitting and shock-capturing computations. The approach was earlier applied by the authors to the analysis of a variational wave equation, namely, to the solution of the Euler-Lagrange equation for a variational problem with a single unknown function.     

Vector complementarity and minimal element problems

In this paper, vector complementarity problems are introduced as weak versions of vector variational inequalities in ordered Banach spaces. New dual cones are introduced and proved to be closed. In the sense of efficient point, we prove that the minimal element problem is solvable if a vector variational inequality is solvable; we also prove that any solution of a strong vector variational inequality or positive vector complementarity problem is a solution of the minimal element problem.This work was done while the author was with the Chongqing Institute of Architecture and Engineering, Chongqing, P. R. China.     

Gap functions and global error bounds for set-valued variational inequalities

The set-valued variational inequality problem is very useful in economics theory and nonsmooth optimization. In this paper, we introduce some gap functions for set-valued variational inequality problems under suitable assumptions. By using these gap functions we derive global error bounds for the solution of the set-valued variational inequality problems. Our results not only generalize the previously known results for classical variational inequalities from single-valued case to set-valued, but also present a way to construct gap functions and derive global error bounds for set-valued variational inequality problems.     

Auxiliary problem principles for equilibria

The auxiliary problem principle allows solving a given equilibrium problem (EP) through an equivalent auxiliary problem with better properties. The paper investigates two families of auxiliary EPs: the classical auxiliary problems, in which a regularizing term is added to the equilibrium bifunction, and the regularized Minty EPs. The conditions that ensure the equivalence of a given EP with each of these auxiliary problems are investigated exploiting parametric definitions of different kinds of convexity and monotonicity. This analysis leads to extending some known results for variational inequalities and linear EPs to the general case together with new equivalences. Stationarity and convexity properties of gap functions are investigated as well in this framework. Moreover, both new results on the existence of a unique solution and new error bounds based on gap functions with good convexity properties are obtained under weak quasimonotonicity or weak concavity assumptions.     

On the Gap Functions of Prevariational Inequalities

Gap functions play a crucial role in transforming a variational inequality problem into an optimization problem. Then, methods solving an optimization problem can be exploited for finding a solution of a variational inequality problem. It is known that the so-called prevariational inequality is closely related to some generalized convex functions, such as linear fractional functions. In this paper, gap functions for several kinds of prevariational inequalities are investigated. More specifically, prevariational inequalities, extended prevariational inequalities, and extended weak vector prevariational inequalities are considered. Furthermore, a class of gap functions for inequality constrained prevariational inequalities is investigated via a nonlinear Lagrangian.     

Mayer and optimal stopping stochastic control problems with discontinuous cost

We study two classes of stochastic control problems with semicontinuous cost: the Mayer problem and optimal stopping for controlled diffusions. The value functions are introduced via linear optimization problems on appropriate sets of probability measures. These sets of constraints are described deterministically with respect to the coefficient functions. Both the lower and upper semicontinuous cases are considered. The value function is shown to be a generalized viscosity solution of the associated HJB system, respectively, of some variational inequality. Dual formulations are given, as well as the relations between the primal and dual value functions. Under classical convexity assumptions, we prove the equivalence between the linearized Mayer problem and the standard weak control formulation. Counter-examples are given for the general framework.     

A variational approach to transonic potential flow problems

This paper continues considerations of transonic potential flow problems by variational methods. A functional which is associated with a boundary value problem for the (full) potential equation and which possesses a real physical meaning is minimized over a class of admissible functions. These functions have to satisfy a non‐linear local entropy condition and a certain boundness constraint. Though this class is not a compact set of the underlying Hilbert space and though the functional need not be convex, the existence of a solution to the established variational problem can be proved by direct methods of the calculus of variations. Furthermore, some properties of minimizers concerning uniqueness, relation to the potential equation, and behaviour on supersonic regions are derived. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A dynamic viscoelastic contact problem with normal compliance,finite penetration and nonmonotone slip rate dependent friction

We consider a mathematical model which describes the dynamic evolution of a viscoelastic body in frictional contact with an obstacle. The contact is modelled with normal compliance and unilateral constraint, associated to a rate slip-dependent version of Coulomb’s law of dry friction. In order to approximate the contact conditions, we consider a regularized problem wherein the contact is modelled by a standard normal compliance condition without finite penetrations. For each problem, we derive a variational formulation and an existence result of the weak solution of the regularized problem is obtained. Next, we prove the convergence of the weak solution of the regularized problem to the weak solution of the initial nonregularized problem. Then, we introduce a fully discrete approximation of the variational problem based on a finite element method and on a second order time integration scheme. The solution of the resulting nonsmooth and nonconvex frictional contact problems is presented, based on approximation by a sequence of nonsmooth convex programming problems. Finally, some numerical simulations are provided in order to illustrate both the behaviour of the solution related to the frictional contact conditions and the convergence result.     

Second-order duality for the variational problems

A dual problem associated with a class of variational problems is formulated that involves second derivatives of the functions. Under the invexity assumptions on the functions that compose the primal problems, second-order duality results (weak duality, strong duality and converse duality) are derived for this pair of problems.     

Weak minimizers,minimizers and variational inequalities for set-valued functions. A blooming wreath?

Recently, necessary and sufficient conditions in terms of variational inequalities have been introduced to characterize minimizers of convex set-valued functions. Similar results have been proved for a weaker concept of minimizers and weaker variational inequalities. The implications are proved using scalarization techniques that eventually provide original problems, not fully equivalent to the set-valued counterparts. Therefore, we try, in the course of this note, to close the network among the various notions proposed. More specifically, we prove that a minimizer is always a weak minimizer, and a solution to the stronger variational inequality always also a solution to the weak variational inequality of the same type. As a special case, we obtain a complete characterization of efficiency and weak efficiency in vector optimization by set-valued variational inequalities and their scalarizations. Indeed, this might eventually prove the usefulness of the set optimization approach to renew the study of vector optimization.     

Decompositions of the Sobolev-Clifford modules and nonlinear variational problems

We establish a general direct decomposition of modules and then, using this decomposition, prove representations of the Sobolev-Clifford modules as the sums of submodules of monogenic and comonogenic functions. We also show how the decompositions obtained can be applied to solving Stokes-type nonlinear variational problems.     

Convergence of Rothe scheme for a class of dynamic variational inequalities involving Clarke subdifferential

In the first part of the paper we deal with a second-order evolution variational inequality involving a multivalued term generated by a Clarke subdifferential of a locally Lipschitz potential. For this problem we construct a time-semidiscrete approximation, known as the Rothe scheme. We study a sequence of solutions of the semidiscrete approximate problems and provide its weak convergence to a limit element that is a solution of the original problem. Next, we show that the solution is unique and the convergence is strong. In the second part of the paper, we consider a dynamic visco-elastic problem of contact mechanics. We assume that the contact process is governed by a normal damped response condition with a unilateral constraint and the body is non-clamped. The mechanical problem in its weak formulation reduces to a variational–hemivariational inequality that can be solved by finding a solution of a corresponding abstract problem related to one studied in the first part of the paper. Hence, we apply obtained existence result to provide the weak solvability of contact problem.     

Impulsive boundary value problems for p(t)-Laplacian’s via critical point theory

In this paper we investigate the existence of solutions to impulsive problems with a p(t)-Laplacian and Dirichlet boundary value conditions. We introduce two types of solutions, namely a weak and a classical one which coincide because of the fundamental lemma of the calculus of variations. Firstly we investigate the existence of solution to the linear problem, i.e. a problem with a fixed rigth hand side. Then we use a direct variational method and next a mountain pass approach in order to get the existence of at least one weak solution to the nonlinear problem.     

The system of generalized vector equilibrium problems with applications

In this paper, we introduce the system of generalized vector equilibrium problems which includes as special cases the system of generalized implicit vector variational inequality problems, the system of generalized vector variational and variational-like inequality problems and the system of vector equilibrium problems. By using a maximal element theorem, we establish existence results for a solution of these systems. As an application, we derive existence results for a solution of a more general Nash equilibrium problem for vector-valued functions.     

Semicontinuity and convergence for vector optimization problems with approximate equilibrium constraints

This paper mainly intends to present some semicontinuity and convergence results for perturbed vector optimization problems with approximate equilibrium constraints. We establish the lower semicontinuity of the efficient solution mapping for the vector optimization problem with perturbations of both the objective function and the constraint set. The constraint set is the set of approximate weak efficient solutions of the vector equilibrium problem. Moreover, upper Painlevé–Kuratowski convergence results of the weak efficient solution mapping are showed. Finally, some applications to the optimization problems with approximate vector variational inequality constraints and the traffic network equilibrium problems are also given. Our main results are different from the ones in the literature.