Bound Constrained Smooth Optimization for Solving Variational Inequalities and Related Problems

Variational inequalities and related problems may be solved via smooth bound constrained optimization. A comprehensive discussion of the important features involved with this strategy is presented. Complementarity problems and mathematical programming problems with equilibrium constraints are included in this report. Numerical experiments are commented. Conclusions and directions of future research are indicated.     

Generalization of an Existence Theorem for Variational Inequalities

By using the concept of exceptional family of elements, Zhao proposed a new existence theorem for variational inequalities over a general nonempty closed convex set (Ref. 1, Theorem 2.3), which is a generalization of the well-known Moré's existence theorem for nonlinear complementarity problems. The proof of Theorem 2.3 in Ref. 1 depends strongly on the condition 0∈K. Since this condition is rather strict for a general variational inequality, Zhao proposed an open question at the end of Ref. 1: Can the condition 0∈K in Theorem 2.3 be removed? In this paper, we answer this open question. Furthermore, we present the new notion of exceptional family of elements and establish a theorem of the alternative, by which we develop two new existence theorems for variational inequalities. Our results generalize the Zhao existence result.     

Modified Extragradient Method for Variational Inequalities and Verification of Solution Existence

In this paper, we propose a modified extragradient method for solving variational inequalities (VI) which has the following nice features: (i) The generated sequence possesses an expansion property with respect to the starting point; (ii) the existence of the solution to a VI problem can be verified through the behavior of the generated sequence from the fact that the iterative sequence diverges to infinity if and only if the solution set is empty. Global convergence of the method is guaranteed under mild conditions. Our preliminary computational experience is also reported.     

Exceptional Families of Elements for Variational Inequalities in Banach Spaces

In keeping with very recent efforts to establish a useful concept of an exceptional family of elements for variational inequality problems rather than complementarity problems as in the past, we propose such a concept. It generalizes previous ones to multivalued variational inequalities in general normed spaces and allows us to obtain several existence results for variational inequalities corresponding to earlier ones for complementarity problems. Compared with the existing literature, we consider problems in more general spaces and under considerably weaker assumptions on the defining map.     

Solution Methods for Pseudomonotone Variational Inequalities

We extend some results due to Thanh-Hao (Acta Math. Vietnam. 31: 283–289, [2006]) and Noor (J. Optim. Theory Appl. 115:447–452, [2002]). The first paper established a convergence theorem for the Tikhonov regularization method (TRM) applied to finite-dimensional pseudomonotone variational inequalities (VIs), answering in the affirmative an open question stated by Facchinei and Pang (Finite-Dimensional Variational Inequalities and Complementarity Problems, Springer, New York, [2003]). The second paper discussed the application of the proximal point algorithm (PPA) to pseudomonotone VIs. In this paper, new facts on the convergence of TRM and PPA (both the exact and inexact versions of PPA) for pseudomonotone VIs in Hilbert spaces are obtained and a partial answer to a question stated in (Acta Math. Vietnam. 31:283–289, [2006]) is given. As a byproduct, we show that the convergence theorem for inexact PPA applied to infinite-dimensional monotone variational inequalities can be proved without using the theory of maximal monotone operators. This research was supported in part by a grant from the National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. It has been carried out under the agreement between the National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan and the University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. The authors thank the anonymous referee for useful comments and suggestions.     

箱约束变分不等式的一个简单光滑价值函数和阻尼牛顿法

通过引入中间值函数的一类光滑价值函数,构造了箱约束变分不等式的一种新的光滑价值函数,该函数形式简单且具有良好的微分性质．基于此给出了求解箱约束变分不等式的一种阻尼牛顿算法,在较弱的条件下,证明了算法的全局收敛性和局部超线性收敛率,以及对线性箱约束变分不等式的有限步收敛性．数值实验结果表明了算法可靠有效的实用性能．     

Variational inequalities with nonmonotone operators

In this paper, existence results on variational inequalities and generalized variational inequalities for some nonmonotone operators over closed convex subsets of a real reflexive Banach space are proved. In particular, some surjectivity results and applications to complementarity and generalized complementarity problems are given.This work was partially supported by the National Science Council of the Republic of China under Contracts NSC 81-0208-M-007-34 and NSC 82-0208-M-110-023.     

On Quasimonotone Variational Inequalities

The purpose of this paper is to prove the existence of solutions of the Stampacchia variational inequality for a quasimonotone multivalued operator without any assumption on the existence of inner points. Moreover, the operator is not supposed to be bounded valued. The result strengthens a variety of other results in the literature.     

Generalized Variational Inequalities with Pseudomonotone Operators Under Perturbations

Variational inequalities and generalized variational inequalities with perturbed operators and constraints are considered and convergence of solutions to such problems is proved under an assumption of pseudomonotonicity. The paper extends previous results given by the authors proved in the setting of monotone operators.     

On Abstract Variational Inequalities in Viscoplasticity with Frictional Contact

In this paper, we study quasistatic abstract variational inequalities with time-dependent constraints. We prove existence results and present an approximation method valid for nonsmooth constraints. Then, we apply our results to the approximation of the quasistatic evolution of an elastic body in bilateral contact with a rigid foundation. The contact involves viscous friction of the Tresca or Coulomb type. We prove existence results for approximate problems and give a full asymptotic analysis, proving strong or weak convergence results. Our work is motivated by the numerical study in the paper [Delost, M.: Quasistatic Problem with Frictional Contact: Comparison between Numerical Methods and Asymptotic Analysis Related to Semi Discrete and Fully Discrete Approximations. University of Nice, Nice (2007, to appear)] and explains the choice of the approximation made in it.     

Pseudomonotone Variational Inequalities: Convergence of the Auxiliary Problem Method

This paper deals with the convergence of the algorithm built on the auxiliary problem principle for solving pseudomonotone (in the sense of Karamardian) variational inequalities.     

Derivative-Free Methods for Monotone Variational Inequality and Complementarity Problems

Monotone variational inequality problems with box constraints and complementarity problems are reformulated as simple-bound optimization problems. Some derivative-free methods for these problems are proposed. It is shown that, for these new methods, the updated point sequence remains feasible with respect to its simple constraints if the initial point is feasible. Under certain conditions, these methods are globally convergent.     

Global Projection-Type Error Bounds for General Variational Inequalities

In this paper, we provide global projection-type error bounds for general variational inequalities under certain conditions. These error bounds can be viewed as extensions of previously known results.     

On a General Projection Algorithm for Variational Inequalities

Let H be a real Hilbert space with norm and inner product denoted by and . Let K be a nonempty closed convex set of H, and let f be a linear continuous functional on H. Let A, T, g be nonlinear operators from H into itself, and let be a point-to-set mapping. We deal with the problem of finding uK such that g(u)K(u) and the following relation is satisfied: , where >0 is a constant, which is called a general strong quasi-variational inequality. We give a general and unified iterative algorithm for finding the approximate solution to this problem by exploiting the projection method, and prove the existence of the solution to this problem and the convergence of the iterative sequence generated by this algorithm.     

Proximal Methods for Mixed Variational Inequalities

A proximal point method for solving mixed variational inequalities is suggested and analyzed by using the auxiliary principle technique. It is shown that the convergence of the proposed method requires only the pseudomonotonicity of the operator, which is a weaker condition than monotonicity. As special cases, we obtain various known and new results for solving variational inequalities and related problems. Our proof of convergence is very simple as compared with other methods.     

Some Predictor-Corrector Algorithms for Multivalued Variational Inequalities

In this paper, we use the auxiliary principle technique to suggest a new class of predictor-corrector algorithms for solving multivalued variational inequalities. The convergence of the proposed methods requires only the partially-relaxed strong monotonicity of the operator, which is weaker than cocoercivity. As special cases, we obtain a number of known and new results for solving various classes of variational inequalities.     

Well Posedness in Vector Optimization Problems and Vector Variational Inequalities

In this paper, we give notions of well posedness for a vector optimization problem and a vector variational inequality of the differential type. First, the basic properties of well-posed vector optimization problems are studied and the case of C-quasiconvex problems is explored. Further, we investigate the links between the well posedness of a vector optimization problem and of a vector variational inequality. We show that, under the convexity of the objective function f, the two notions coincide. These results extend properties which are well known in scalar optimization. Communicated by F. Giannessi     

Solving Fuzzy Variational Inequalities

This paper studies the variational inequality problem over a fuzzy domain and variational inequalities for fuzzy mappings over a fuzzy domain. It is shown that such problems can be reduced to bilevel programming problems. A penalty function algorithm is introduced with a convergence proof. Numerical examples are also included to illustrate the solution procedure.     

Equivalent Optimization Formulations and Error Bounds for Variational Inequality Problems

We investigate whether some merit functions for variational inequality problems (VIP) provide error bounds for the underlying VIP. Under the condition that the involved mapping F is strongly monotone, but not necessarily Lipschitz continuous, we prove that the so-called regularized gap function provides an error bound for the underlying VIP. We give also an example showing that the so-called D-gap function might not provide error bounds for a strongly monotone VIP.This research was supported by United College and by a direct grant of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The authors thank the referees for helpful comments and suggestions.     

Variational Inequalities and the Elastic-Plastic Torsion Problem

We show that, under suitable conditions, the variational inequality that expresses the elastic-plastic torsion problem is equivalent to a variational inequality on a convex set which depends on (x)=d(x, ). Such an equivalence allows us to find the related Lagrange multipliers and to exhibit a computational procedure based on the subgradient method.