Firefly penalty-based algorithm for bound constrained mixed-integer nonlinear programming

In this article, we aim to extend the firefly algorithm (FA) to solve bound constrained mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problems. An exact penalty continuous formulation of the MINLP problem is used. The continuous penalty problem comes out by relaxing the integrality constraints and by adding a penalty term to the objective function that aims to penalize integrality constraint violation. Two penalty terms are proposed, one is based on the hyperbolic tangent function and the other on the inverse hyperbolic sine function. We prove that both penalties can be used to define the continuous penalty problem, in the sense that it is equivalent to the MINLP problem. The solutions of the penalty problem are obtained using a variant of the metaheuristic FA for global optimization. Numerical experiments are given on a set of benchmark problems aiming to analyze the quality of the obtained solutions and the convergence speed. We show that the firefly penalty-based algorithm compares favourably with the penalty algorithm when the deterministic DIRECT or the simulated annealing solvers are invoked, in terms of convergence speed.     

A filled function method for constrained global optimization

In this paper, a filled function method for solving constrained global optimization problems is proposed. A filled function is proposed for escaping the current local minimizer of a constrained global optimization problem by combining the idea of filled function in unconstrained global optimization and the idea of penalty function in constrained optimization. Then a filled function method for obtaining a global minimizer or an approximate global minimizer of the constrained global optimization problem is presented. Some numerical results demonstrate the efficiency of this global optimization method for solving constrained global optimization problems.     

Exactness and algorithm of an objective penalty function

Penalty function is an important tool in solving many constrained optimization problems in areas such as industrial design and management. In this paper, we study exactness and algorithm of an objective penalty function for inequality constrained optimization. In terms of exactness, this objective penalty function is at least as good as traditional exact penalty functions. Especially, in the case of a global solution, the exactness of the proposed objective penalty function shows a significant advantage. The sufficient and necessary stability condition used to determine whether the objective penalty function is exact for a global solution is proved. Based on the objective penalty function, an algorithm is developed for finding a global solution to an inequality constrained optimization problem and its global convergence is also proved under some conditions. Furthermore, the sufficient and necessary calmness condition on the exactness of the objective penalty function is proved for a local solution. An algorithm is presented in the paper in finding a local solution, with its convergence proved under some conditions. Finally, numerical experiments show that a satisfactory approximate optimal solution can be obtained by the proposed algorithm.     

非线性约束优化的光滑化平方根罚函数

介绍一种非线性约束优化的不可微平方根罚函数,为这种非光滑罚函数提出了一个新的光滑化函数和对应的罚优化问题,获得了原问题与光滑化罚优化问题目标之间的误差估计. 基于这种罚函数,提出了一个算法和收敛性证明,数值例子表明算法对解决非线性约束优化具有有效性.     

Augmented Lagrangian Objective Penalty Function

Augmented Lagrangian function is one of the most important tools used in solving some constrained optimization problems. In this article, we study an augmented Lagrangian objective penalty function and a modified augmented Lagrangian objective penalty function for inequality constrained optimization problems. First, we prove the dual properties of the augmented Lagrangian objective penalty function, which are at least as good as the traditional Lagrangian function's. Under some conditions, the saddle point of the augmented Lagrangian objective penalty function satisfies the first-order Karush-Kuhn-Tucker condition. This is especially so when the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker condition holds for convex programming of its saddle point existence. Second, we prove the dual properties of the modified augmented Lagrangian objective penalty function. For a global optimal solution, when the exactness of the modified augmented Lagrangian objective penalty function holds, its saddle point exists. The sufficient and necessary stability conditions used to determine whether the modified augmented Lagrangian objective penalty function is exact for a global solution is proved. Based on the modified augmented Lagrangian objective penalty function, an algorithm is developed to find a global solution to an inequality constrained optimization problem, and its global convergence is also proved under some conditions. Furthermore, the sufficient and necessary calmness condition on the exactness of the modified augmented Lagrangian objective penalty function is proved for a local solution. An algorithm is presented in finding a local solution, with its convergence proved under some conditions.     

Simulated annealing with asymptotic convergence for nonlinear constrained optimization

In this paper, we present constrained simulated annealing (CSA), an algorithm that extends conventional simulated annealing to look for constrained local minima of nonlinear constrained optimization problems. The algorithm is based on the theory of extended saddle points (ESPs) that shows the one-to-one correspondence between a constrained local minimum and an ESP of the corresponding penalty function. CSA finds ESPs by systematically controlling probabilistic descents in the problem-variable subspace of the penalty function and probabilistic ascents in the penalty subspace. Based on the decomposition of the necessary and sufficient ESP condition into multiple necessary conditions, we present constraint-partitioned simulated annealing (CPSA) that exploits the locality of constraints in nonlinear optimization problems. CPSA leads to much lower complexity as compared to that of CSA by partitioning the constraints of a problem into significantly simpler subproblems, solving each independently, and resolving those violated global constraints across the subproblems. We prove that both CSA and CPSA asymptotically converge to a constrained global minimum with probability one in discrete optimization problems. The result extends conventional simulated annealing (SA), which guarantees asymptotic convergence in discrete unconstrained optimization, to that in discrete constrained optimization. Moreover, it establishes the condition under which optimal solutions can be found in constraint-partitioned nonlinear optimization problems. Finally, we evaluate CSA and CPSA by applying them to solve some continuous constrained optimization benchmarks and compare their performance to that of other penalty methods.     

Second-Order Smoothing Objective Penalty Function for Constrained Optimization Problems

In this article, a novel objective penalty function as well as its second-order smoothing is introduced for constrained optimization problems (COP). It is shown that an optimal solution to the second-order smoothing objective penalty optimization problem is an optimal solution to the original optimization problem under some mild conditions. Based on the second-order smoothing objective penalty function, an algorithm that has better convergence is introduced. Numerical examples illustrate that this algorithm is efficient in solving COP.     

不等式约束优化问题的低阶精确罚函数的光滑化算法

对不等式约束优化问题提出了一个低阶精确罚函数的光滑化算法. 首先给出了光滑罚问题、非光滑罚问题及原问题的目标函数值之间的误差估计,进而在弱的假
设之下证明了光滑罚问题的全局最优解是原问题的近似全局最优解. 最后给出了一个基于光滑罚函数的求解原问题的算法,证明了算法的收敛性,并给出数值算例说明算法的可行性.     

An improved penalty function method for solving constrained parameter optimization problems

An effective algorithm is described for solving the general constrained parameter optimization problem. The method is quasi-second-order and requires only function and gradient information. An exterior point penalty function method is used to transform the constrained problem into a sequence of unconstrained problems. The penalty weightr is chosen as a function of the pointx such that the sequence of optimization problems is computationally easy. A rank-one optimization algorithm is developed that takes advantage of the special properties of the augmented performance index. The optimization algorithm accounts for the usual difficulties associated with discontinuous second derivatives of the augmented index. Finite convergence is exhibited for a quadratic performance index with linear constraints; accelerated convergence is demonstrated for nonquadratic indices and nonlinear constraints. A computer program has been written to implement the algorithm and its performance is illustrated in fourteen test problems.     

On the Smoothing of the Square-Root Exact Penalty Function for Inequality Constrained Optimization

In this paper we propose two methods for smoothing a nonsmooth square-root exact penalty function for inequality constrained optimization. Error estimations are obtained among the optimal objective function values of the smoothed penalty problem, of the nonsmooth penalty problem and of the original optimization problem. We develop an algorithm for solving the optimization problem based on the smoothed penalty function and prove the convergence of the algorithm. The efficiency of the smoothed penalty function is illustrated with some numerical examples, which show that the algorithm seems efficient.     

A second-order smooth penalty function algorithm for constrained optimization problems

This paper introduces a second-order differentiability smoothing technique to the classical l ₁ exact penalty function for constrained optimization problems(COP). Error estimations among the optimal objective values of the nonsmooth penalty problem, the smoothed penalty problem and the original optimization problem are obtained. Based on the smoothed problem, an algorithm for solving COP is proposed and some preliminary numerical results indicate that the algorithm is quite promising.     

Algorithm of Barrier Objective Penalty Function

In this paper, an algorithm of barrier objective penalty function for inequality constrained optimization is studied and a conception–the stability of barrier objective penalty function is presented. It is proved that an approximate optimal solution may be obtained by solving a barrier objective penalty function for inequality constrained optimization problem when the barrier objective penalty function is stable. Under some conditions, the stability of barrier objective penalty function is proved for convex programming. Specially, the logarithmic barrier function of convex programming is stable. Based on the barrier objective penalty function, an algorithm is developed for finding an approximate optimal solution to an inequality constrained optimization problem and its convergence is also proved under some conditions. Finally, numerical experiments show that the barrier objective penalty function algorithm has better convergence than the classical barrier function algorithm.     

An Approach to Finding a Global Minimization with Equality and Inequality Constraints

We give an approach for finding a global minimization with equality and inequality Constraints.Our approach is to construct an exact penalty function, and prove that the global minimal points of this exact penalty function are the primal constrained global minimal points. Thus we convert the problem of global constrained optimization into a problem of global unconstrained optimization. Furthermore, the integral approach for finding a global minimization for a class of discontinuous functions is used and an implementable algorithm is given.     

一种新的求解带约束的有限极大极小问题的精确罚函数

提出了一种新的精确光滑罚函数求解带约束的极大极小问题．仅仅添加一个额外的变量,利用这个精确光滑罚函数,将带约束的极大极小问题转化为无约束优化问题． 证明了在合理的假设条件下,当罚参数充分大,罚问题的极小值点就是原问题的极小值点．进一步,研究了局部精确性质．数值结果表明这种罚函数算法是求解带约束有限极大极小问题的一种有效算法．     

基于增广Lagrange函数的RQP方法

Recursive quadratic programming is a family of techniques developd by Bartholomew-Biggs and other authors for solving nonlinear programming problems.This paperdescribes a new method for constrained optimization which obtains its search di-rections from a quadratic programming subproblem based on the well-known aug-mented Lagrangian function.It avoids the penalty parameter to tend to infinity.We employ the Fletcher‘s exact penalty function as a merit function and the use of an approximate directional derivative of the function that avoids the need toevaluate the second order derivatives of the problem functions.We prove that thealgorithm possesses global and superlinear convergence properties.At the sametime, numerical results are reported.     

A smoothing augmented Lagrangian method for solving simple bilevel programs

In this paper, we design a numerical algorithm for solving a simple bilevel program where the lower level program is a nonconvex minimization problem with a convex set constraint. We propose to solve a combined problem where the first order condition and the value function are both present in the constraints. Since the value function is in general nonsmooth, the combined problem is in general a nonsmooth and nonconvex optimization problem. We propose a smoothing augmented Lagrangian method for solving a general class of nonsmooth and nonconvex constrained optimization problems. We show that, if the sequence of penalty parameters is bounded, then any accumulation point is a Karush-Kuch-Tucker (KKT) point of the nonsmooth optimization problem. The smoothing augmented Lagrangian method is used to solve the combined problem. Numerical experiments show that the algorithm is efficient for solving the simple bilevel program.     

The exact penalty principle

The exact penalty approach aims at replacing a constrained optimization problem by an equivalent unconstrained optimization problem. Most results in the literature of exact penalization are mainly concerned with finding conditions under which a solution of the constrained optimization problem is a solution of an unconstrained penalized optimization problem, and the reverse property is rarely studied. In this paper, we study the reverse property. We give the conditions under which the original constrained (single and/or multiobjective) optimization problem and the unconstrained exact penalized problem are exactly equivalent. The main conditions to ensure the exact penalty principle for optimization problems include the global and local error bound conditions. By using variational analysis, these conditions may be characterized by using generalized differentiation.     

The use of QP-free algorithm in the limit analysis of slope stability

In many mountainous areas, landslides and slope instabilities frequently occur after heavy rainfall and earthquake, and result in enormous casualties and huge economic losses. In order to mitigate the landslides hazard efficiently, a method is required for a better understanding of stability analysis. Fortunately, upper bound theorem of limit analysis provides a practical and effective upper bound approach to evaluate the stability of slopes. And in this approach, the search for the minimum factor of safety can be formulated as a nonlinear constrained optimization. In general, the SQP-type algorithms are used to solve this optimization problem. However, it is quite time consuming and difficult to search the optimum from an arbitrary starting point based on the SQP-type algorithms. Fortunately, a QP-free algorithm based on penalty function and active-set strategy can be globally convergent toward the KKT points with arbitrary starting point, and the rate of convergence is local superlinear or even quadratic. Two classical problems of slope stability are solved by this QP-free algorithm. The results show that the QP-free algorithm would be the better choice than SQP-type algorithms for solving the nonlinear constrained optimization problem which is derived from the upper bound limit analysis of slope stability.     

采用增广拉格朗日乘子形式的罚函数作线性搜索的递归等式约束二次逼近算法

1.引言 本文所讨论的问题如下: Min f(x) x∈R~n, s.t. c_i(x)=0,i=1,…,q,(1.1) c_i(x)≤0,i=q+1,…,p.解此问题的递归等式约束二次逼近算法,是由Murry(1969)提出,而后由Biggs(1972)发展的.此项研究是从罚函数的轨迹出发,建立一个只包含等式约束的二次规划子问题,从而可用代数的方法求得搜索方向.并沿该方向作线性搜索而完成一次迭代过程.Biggs将二次罚函数作为效应函数用于线性搜索,并证明了该算法具有全局收敛性和局部超线     

On the role of continuously differentiable exact penalty functions in constrained global optimization

The aim of this paper is to show that the new continuously differentiable exact penalty functions recently proposed in literature can play an important role in the field of constrained global optimization. In fact they allow us to transfer ideas and results proposed in unconstrained global optimization to the constrained case.First, by drawing our inspiration from the unconstrained case and by using the strong exactness properties of a particular continuously differentiable penalty function, we propose a sufficient condition for a local constrained minimum point to be global.Then we show that every constrained local minimum point satisfying the second order sufficient conditions is an attraction point for a particular implementable minimization algorithm based on the considered penalty function. This result can be used to define new classes of global algorithms for the solution of general constrained global minimization problems. As an example, in this paper we describe a simulated annealing algorithm which produces a sequence of points converging in probability to a global minimum of the original constrained problem.