不等式约束二次规划的一新算法

文献[1]提出了一般等式约束非线性规划问题一种求解途径．文献[2]应用这一途径给出了等式约束二次规划问题的一种算法，本文在文献[1]和[2]的基础上对不等式约束二次规划问题提出了一种新算法．     

Stationarity Conditions and Their Reformulations for Mathematical Programs with Vertical Complementarity Constraints

We consider the mathematical program with vertical complementarity constraints. We show that the min-max-min problems and the problems with max-min constraints can be reformulated as the above problem. As a complement of the work of Scheel and Scholtes in 2000, we derive the Mordukhovich-type stationarity conditions for the considered problem. We further reformulate various popular stationarity systems as nonlinear equations with simple constraints. A modified Levenberg–Marquardt method is employed to solve these constrained equations.     

Limit vector variational inequality problems via scalarization

This paper presents a global optimization approach for solving signomial geometric programming (SGP) problems. We employ an accelerated extended cutting plane (ECP) approach integrated with piecewise linear (PWL) approximations to solve the global optimization of SGP problems. In this approach, we separate the feasible regions determined by the constraints into convex and nonconvex ones in the logarithmic domain. In the nonconvex feasible regions, the corresponding constraint functions are converted into mixed integer linear constraints using PWL approximations, while the other constraints with convex feasible regions are handled by the ECP method. We also use pre-processed initial cuts and batched cuts to accelerate the proposed algorithm. Numerical results show that the proposed approach can solve the global optimization of SGP problems efficiently and effectively.     

Linearly Constrained Global Optimization and Stochastic Differential Equations

A stochastic algorithm is proposed for the global optimization of nonconvex functions subject to linear constraints. Our method follows the trajectory of an appropriately defined Stochastic Differential Equation (SDE). The feasible set is assumed to be comprised of linear equality constraints, and possibly box constraints. Feasibility of the trajectory is achieved by projecting its dynamics onto the set defined by the linear equality constraints. A barrier term is used for the purpose of forcing the trajectory to stay within the box constraints. Using Laplace’s method we give a characterization of a probability measure (Π) that is defined on the set of global minima of the problem. We then study the transition density associated with the projected diffusion process and show that its weak limit is given by Π. Numerical experiments using standard test problems from the literature are reported. Our results suggest that the method is robust and applicable to large-scale problems.     

Approximation of optimal control problems with state constraints

We study the approximation of control problems governed by elliptic partial differential equations with pointwise state constraints. For a finite dimensional approximation of the control set and for suitable perturbations of the state constraints, we prove that the corresponding sequence of discrete control problems converges to a relaxed problem. A similar analysis is carried out for problems in which the state equation is discretized by a finite element method.     

Efficient approximate linear programming for factored MDPs

Factored Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) provide a compact representation for modeling sequential decision making problems with many variables. Approximate linear programming (LP) is a prominent method for solving factored MDPs. However, it cannot be applied to models with large treewidth due to the exponential number of constraints. This paper proposes a novel and efficient approximate method to represent the exponentially many constraints. We construct an augmented junction graph from the factored MDP, and represent the constraints using a set of cluster constraints and separator constraints, where the cluster constraints play the role of reducing the number of constraints, and the separator constraints enforce the consistency of neighboring clusters so as to improve the accuracy. In the case where the junction graph is tree-structured, our method provides an equivalent representation to the original constraints. In other cases, our method provides a good trade-off between computation and accuracy. Experimental results on different models show that our algorithm performs better than other approximate linear programming algorithms on computational cost or expected reward.     

On the analytic representation of the Leximin ordering and its application to flexible constraint propagation

We discuss the basic formulation of constraint propagation problems and extend it to the flexible constraint propagation environment where constraints are represented as fuzzy subsets. Some methods for ordering alternative solutions with respect to a collection of flexible constraints are discussed along with their drawbacks. Among the methods introduced is the Leximin method where we note its lack of an analytic formulation. With the aid of the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operator we suggest an analytic formulation for the Leximin method. Some properties of this formulation are provided. We then describe the application of this new formulation for the Leximin method to situations in which the constraints are describable in a linear fashion. We show how we can use mixed integer programming techniques to find an optimal solution.     

An objective hyperplane search procedure for solving the general all-integer linear programming (ILP) problem

We describe an objective hyperplane search method for solving a class of integer linear programming (ILP) problems. We formulate the search as a bounded knapsack problem and develop requisite theory for formulating knapsack problems with composite constraints and composite objective functions that facilitate convergence to an ILP solution. A heuristic solution algorithm was developed and used to solve a variety of test problems found in the literature. The method obtains optimal or near-optimal solutions in acceptable ranges of computational effort.     

用非线性方程组求解等式约束非线性规划问题的降维算法

本文研究线性和非线性等式约束非线性规划问题的降维算法.首先,利用一般等式约束问题的降维方法,将线性等式约束非线性规划问题转换成一个非线性方程组,解非线性方程组即得其解;然后,对线性和非线性等式约束非线性规划问题用Lagrange乘子法,将非线性约束部分和目标函数构成增广的Lagrange函数,并保留线性等式约束,这样便得到一个线性等式约束非线性规划序列,从而,又将问题转化为求解只含线性等式约束的非线性规划问题.     

A modified SLP algorithm and its global convergence

This paper concerns a filter technique and its application to the trust region method for nonlinear programming (NLP) problems. We used our filter trust region algorithm to solve NLP problems with equality and inequality constraints, instead of solving NLP problems with just inequality constraints, as was introduced by Fletcher et al. [R. Fletcher, S. Leyffer, Ph.L. Toint, On the global converge of an SLP-filter algorithm, Report NA/183, Department of Mathematics, Dundee University, Dundee, Scotland, 1999]. We incorporate this filter technique into the traditional trust region method such that the new algorithm possesses nonmonotonicity. Unlike the tradition trust region method, our algorithm performs a nonmonotone filter technique to find a new iteration point if a trial step is not accepted. Under mild conditions, we prove that the algorithm is globally convergent.     

A Mixed Logarithmic Barrier-Augmented Lagrangian Method for Nonlinear Optimization

We present a primal–dual algorithm for solving a constrained optimization problem. This method is based on a Newtonian method applied to a sequence of perturbed KKT systems. These systems follow from a reformulation of the initial problem under the form of a sequence of penalized problems, by introducing an augmented Lagrangian for handling the equality constraints and a log-barrier penalty for the inequalities. We detail the updating rules for monitoring the different parameters (Lagrange multiplier estimate, quadratic penalty and log-barrier parameter), in order to get strong global convergence properties. We show that one advantage of this approach is that it introduces a natural regularization of the linear system to solve at each iteration, for the solution of a problem with a rank deficient Jacobian of constraints. The numerical experiments show the good practical performances of the proposed method especially for degenerate problems.     

Search Heuristics for Resource Constrained Project Scheduling

We develop a search procedure for project scheduling problems with multiple resource constraints as well as precedence constraints. The procedure is applied to three popular search heuristics, simulated annealing, tabu search and genetic algorithms. In the heuristics, a solution is represented with a string of numbers each of which denotes priority of each activity. The priorities are used to select an activity for scheduling among competing ones. The search heuristics with this encoding method can always generate feasible neighbourhood solutions for a given solution. Moreover, this encoding method is very flexible in that problems with objective functions of a general functional form (such as a nonlinear function) and complex constraints can be considered without much difficulty. Results of computational tests on the performance of the search heuristics showed that the search heuristics, especially the simulated annealing and tabu search algorithms worked better than existing heuristics.     

Solving Vehicle Routing Problems Using Constraint Programming and Metaheuristics

Constraint Programming typically uses the technique of depth-first branch and bound as the method of solving optimization problems. Although this method can give the optimal solution, for large problems, the time needed to find the optimal can be prohibitive. This paper introduces a method for using local search techniques within a Constraint Programming framework, and applies this technique to vehicle routing problems. We introduce a Constraint Programming model for vehicle routing, and a system for integrating Constraint Programming and local search techniques. We then describe how the method can be accelerated by handling core constraints using fast local checks, while other more complex constraints are left to the constraint propagation system. We have coupled our local search method with a meta-heuristic to avoid the search being trapped in local minima. Several meta-heuristics are investigated ranging from a simple Tabu Search method to Guided Local Search. An empirical study over benchmark problems shows the relative merits of these techniques. Investigations indicate that the specific long-term memory technique used by Guided Local Search can be used as a diversification method for Tabu Search, resulting in significant benefit. Several new best solutions on the Solomon problems are found in relatively few iterations of our algorithm.     

Proximal Point Method on Finslerian Manifolds and the “Effort–Accuracy” Trade-off

In this paper, we consider minimization problems with constraints. We show that, if the set of constraints is a Finslerian manifold of non-positive flag curvature, and the objective function is differentiable and satisfies the Kurdyka-Lojasiewicz property, then the proximal point method can be naturally extended to solve this class of problems. We prove that the sequence generated by our method is well defined and converges to a critical point. We show how tools of Finslerian geometry, specifically non-symmetrical metrics, can be used to solve non-convex constrained problems in Euclidean spaces. As an application, we give one result regarding decision-making speed and costs related to change.     

Stochastic multiobjective problems with complementarity constraints and applications in healthcare management

We consider a class of stochastic multiobjective problems with complementarity constraints (SMOPCCs) in this paper. We derive the first-order optimality conditions including the Clarke/Mordukhovich/strong-type stationarity in the Pareto sense for the SMOPCC. Since these first-order optimality systems involve some unknown index sets, we reformulate them as nonlinear equations with simple constraints. Then, we introduce an asymptotic method to solve these constrained equations. Furthermore, we apply this methodology results to a patient allocation problem in healthcare management.     

An Adaptive Dual Parametrization Algorithm for Quadratic Semi-infinite Programming Problems

The so called dual parametrization method for quadratic semi-infinite programming (SIP) problems is developed recently for quadratic SIP problems with a single infinite constraint. A dual parametrization algorithm is also proposed for numerical solution of such problems. In this paper, we consider quadratic SIP problems with positive definite objective and multiple linear infinite constraints. All the infinite constraints are supposed to be continuously dependent on their index variable on a compact set which is defined by a number equality and inequalities. We prove that in the multiple infinite constraint case, the minimu parametrization number, just as in the single infinite constraint case, is less or equal to the dimension of the SIP problem. Furthermore, we propose an adaptive dual parametrization algorithm with convergence result. Compared with the previous dual parametrization algorithm, the adaptive algorithm solves subproblems with much smaller number of constraints. The efficiency of the new algorithm is shown by solving a number of numerical examples.     

Verification of Second-Order Sufficient Optimality Conditions for Semilinear Elliptic and Parabolic Control Problems

We study optimal control problems for semilinear parabolic equations subject to control constraints and for semilinear elliptic equations subject to control and state constraints. We quote known second-order sufficient optimality conditions (SSC) from the literature. Both problem classes, the parabolic one with boundary control and the elliptic one with boundary or distributed control, are discretized by a finite difference method. The discrete SSC are stated and numerically verified in all cases providing an indication of optimality where only necessary conditions had been studied before.     

Mathematical Programs with Vanishing Constraints: Optimality Conditions,Sensitivity, and a Relaxation Method

We consider a class of optimization problems with switch-off/switch-on constraints, which is a relatively new problem model. The specificity of this model is that it contains constraints that are being imposed (switched on) at some points of the feasible region, while being disregarded (switched off) at other points. This seems to be a potentially useful modeling paradigm, that has been shown to be helpful, for example, in optimal topology design. The fact that some constraints “vanish” from the problem at certain points, gave rise to the name of mathematical programs with vanishing constraints (MPVC). It turns out that such problems are usually degenerate at a solution, but are structurally different from the related class of mathematical programs with complementarity constraints (MPCC). In this paper, we first discuss some known first- and second-order necessary optimality conditions for MPVC, giving new very short and direct justifications. We then derive some new special second-order sufficient optimality conditions for these problems and show that, quite remarkably, these conditions are actually equivalent to the classical/standard second-order sufficient conditions in optimization. We also provide a sensitivity analysis for MPVC. Finally, a relaxation method is proposed. For this method, we analyze constraints regularity and boundedness of the Lagrange multipliers in the relaxed subproblems, derive a sufficient condition for local uniqueness of solutions of subproblems, and give convergence estimates. Research of the first author was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research Grants 07-01-00270, 07-01-00416 and 07-01-90102-Mong, and by RF President’s Grant NS-9344.2006.1 for the support of leading scientific schools. The second author was supported in part by CNPq Grants 301508/2005-4, 490200/2005-2 and 550317/2005-8, by PRONEX-Optimization, and by FAPERJ.     

An improved solution methodology for the arsenal exchange model (AEM)

We develop an iterative approach for solving a linear programming problem with prioritized goals. We tailor our approach to preemptive goal programming problems and take advantage of the fact that at optimality, most constraints are not binding. To overcome the problems posed by redundant constraints, our procedure ensures redundant constraints are not present in the problems we solve. We apply our approach to the arsenal exchange model (AEM). AEM allocates weapons to targets using linear programs (LPs) formulated by the model. Our methodology solves a subproblem using a specific subset of the constraints generated by AEM. Violated constraints are added to the original subproblem and redundant constraints are not included in any of the subproblems. Our methodology was used to solve five test cases. In four of the five test cases, our methodology produced an optimal integer solution. In all five test cases, solution quality was maintained or improved.