Multiobjective fractional variational calculus in terms of a combined Caputo derivative

The study of fractional variational problems in terms of a combined fractional Caputo derivative is introduced. Necessary optimality conditions of Euler-Lagrange type for the basic, isoperimetric, and Lagrange variational problems are proved, as well as transversality and sufficient optimality conditions. This allows to obtain necessary and sufficient Pareto optimality conditions for multiobjective fractional variational problems.     

Well-posedness of mixed variational inequalities, inclusion problems and fixed point problems

We generalize the concept of well-posedness to a mixed variational inequality and give some characterizations of its well-posedness. Under suitable conditions, we prove that the well-posedness of a mixed variational inequality is equivalent to the well-posedness of a corresponding inclusion problem. We also discuss the relations between the well- posedness of a mixed variational inequality and the well-posedness of a fixed point problem. Finally, we derive some conditions under which a mixed variational inequality is well-posed. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10671135) and Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (20060610005). The research of the third author was partially support by NSC 95-2221-E-110-078.     

Localized Normal Maps and the Stability of Variational Conditions

This paper introduces a localized version of the normal maps previously employed by the author and others to study solutions of variational inequalities. This localization permits us to deal with variational conditions posed over sets that may not be convex, and to draw conclusions about the existence and continuity of solutions of the variational condition by studying those of the normal map. As an application of these localized normal maps we investigate solutions of variational conditions when the set over which the condition is posed, as well as the function appearing in the condition, may vary continuously. In this situation solutions need be neither locally single-valued nor Lipschitzian in the parameters. Nonetheless, the normal-map approach permits us to draw fairly strong conclusions about the existence and continuity of solutions of perturbed problems if the unperturbed problems satisfy certain regularity conditions and the perturbations satisfy mild continuity requirements.     

On a Generalized System for Relaxed Cocoercive Variational Inequalities and Projection Methods

Verma introduced a system of nonlinear variational inequalities and proposed projection methods to solve it. This system reduces to a variational inequality problem under certain conditions. So, at least in form, it can be regarded as a extension of a variational inequality problem. In this note, we show that solving this system coincides exactly with solving a variational inequality problem. Therefore, we conclude that it suffices to study the corresponding variational inequalities.This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant 10571134.Communicated by M. J. Balas     

Exceptional Families and Existence Theorems for Variational Inequality Problems

This paper introduces the concept of exceptional family for nonlinear variational inequality problems. Among other things, we show that the nonexistence of an exceptional family is a sufficient condition for the existence of a solution to variational inequalities. This sufficient condition is weaker than many known solution conditions and it is also necessary for pseudomonotone variational inequalities. From the results in this paper, we believe that the concept of exceptional families of variational inequalities provides a new powerful tool for the study of the existence theory for variational inequalities.     

Dynamical systems and variational inequalities

The variational inequality problem has been utilized to formulate and study a plethora of competitive equilibrium problems in different disciplines, ranging from oligopolistic market equilibrium problems to traffic network equilibrium problems. In this paper we consider for a given variational inequality a naturally related ordinary differential equation. The ordinary differential equations that arise are nonstandard because of discontinuities that appear in the dynamics. These discontinuities are due to the constraints associated with the feasible region of the variational inequality problem. The goals of the paper are two-fold. The first goal is to demonstrate that although non-standard, many of the important quantitative and qualitative properties of ordinary differential equations that hold under the standard conditions, such as Lipschitz continuity type conditions, apply here as well. This is important from the point of view of modeling, since it suggests (at least under some appropriate conditions) that these ordinary differential equations may serve as dynamical models. The second goal is to prove convergence for a class of numerical schemes designed to approximate solutions to a given variational inequality. This is done by exploiting the equivalence between the stationary points of the associated ordinary differential equation and the solutions of the variational inequality problem. It can be expected that the techniques described in this paper will be useful for more elaborate dynamical models, such as stochastic models, and that the connection between such dynamical models and the solutions to the variational inequalities will provide a deeper understanding of equilibrium problems.     

Existence theorems of solution to variational inequality problems

This paper introduces a new concept of exceptional family for variational inequality problems with a general convex constrained set. By using this new concept, the authors establish a general sufficient condition for the existence of a solution to the problem. This condition is weaker than many known solution conditions and it is also necessary for pseudomonotone variational inequalities. Suffi-cient solution conditions for a class of nonlinear complementarity problems with Po mappings are also obtained.     

Projection methods for nonconvex variational inequalities

In this paper, we introduce and consider a new class of variational inequalities, which is called the nonconvex variational inequalities. We establish the equivalence between the nonconvex variational inequalities and the fixed-point problems using the projection technique. This equivalent formulation is used to discuss the existence of a solution of the nonconvex variational inequalities. We also use this equivalent alternative formulation to suggest and analyze a new iterative method for solving the nonconvex variational inequalities. We also discuss the convergence of the iterative method under suitable conditions. Our method of proof is very simple as compared with other techniques.     

Image Space Analysis for Constrained Inverse Vector Variational Inequalities via Multiobjective Optimization

In this paper, we employ the image space analysis to study constrained inverse vector variational inequalities. First, sufficient and necessary optimality conditions for constrained inverse vector variational inequalities are established by using multiobjective optimization. A continuous nonlinear function is also introduced based on the oriented distance function and projection operator. This function is proven to be a weak separation function and a regular weak separation function under different parameter sets. Then, two alternative theorems are established, which lead directly to sufficient and necessary optimality conditions of the inverse vector variational inequalities. This provides a partial answer to an open question posed in Chen et al. (J Optim Theory Appl 166:460–479, 2015).     

Projection iterative methods for extended general variational inequalities

In this paper, we introduce and study a new class of variational inequalities involving three operators, which is called the extended general variational inequality. Using the projection technique, we show that the extended general variational inequalities are equivalent to the fixed point and the extended general Wiener-Hopf equations. This equivalent formulation is used to suggest and analyze a number of projection iterative methods for solving the extended general variational inequalities. We also consider the convergence of these new methods under some suitable conditions. Since the extended general variational inequalities include general variational inequalities and related optimization problems as special cases, results proved in this paper continue to hold for these problems.     

A variational method applied to a linear hyperbolic initial boundary value problem

This paper deals with the application of a variational method to a boundary value problem of the wave equation. Starting with an initial boundary value problem (which is given) introduction of a boundary condition at the final time leads to a boundary value problem with one of the initial conditions redundant. This redundant initial condition is used by the trial function of the direct method (of the Ritz type) which is employed to stationarize the variational principle.     

Generalized solutions of quasi variational inequalities

This paper deals with multivalued quasi variational inequalities with pseudo-monotone and monotone maps. The primary objective of this work is to show that the notion of generalized solutions can be employed to investigate multivalued pseudo-monotone quasi variational inequalities. It is a well-known fact that a quasi variational inequality can conveniently be posed as a fixed point problem through the so-called variational selection. For pseudo-monotone maps, the associated variational selection is a nonconvex map, and the fixed point theorems can only be applied under restrictive assumptions on the data of quasi variational inequalities. On the other hand, the generalized solutions are defined by posing a minimization problem which can be solved by a variant of classical Weierstrass theorem. It turns out that far less restrictive assumptions on the data are needed in this case. To emphasis on the strong difference between a classical solution and a generalized solution, we also give a new existence theorem for quasi variational inequalities with monotone maps. The main existence result is proved under a milder coercivity condition. We also relax a few other conditions from the monotone map. Due to its flexibility, it seems that the notion of generalized solutions can be employed to study quasi variational inequalities for other classes of maps as well.     

Variational procedures for a class of exterior interface problems

The problem under consideration is that of determining a function which is a solution of the Helmholtz equation in a planar region exterior to a simple closed curve and of an inhomogeneous Helmholtz equation inside the curve. Jump conditions on the function and its normal derivative across the cruve are given. The problem is first transformed into one involving the inner region only with a boundary condition which is non-local. This means that the solution at a point on the boundary is a functional of its values elsewhere. This second problem is further transformed into a variational form with all boundary conditions natural. It is shown that the variational problem has a solution. Finite dimensional approximate problems are defined and they are shown to have solutions converging to the solution of the variational problem.     

Existence results for systems of strong implicit vector variational inequalities

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and study systems of strong implicit vector variational inequalities. Under suitable conditions, some existence results for systems of strong implicit vector variational inequalities are established by the Kakutani--Fan--Glicksberg fixed point theorem. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Solvability of Variational Inequality Problems

This paper presents the new concept of exceptional family of elements for the variational inequality problem with a continuous function over a general unbounded closed convex set. We establish a characterization theorem that can be used to derive several new existence and compactness conditions on the solution set. Our findings generalize well-known results for various types of variational inequality problems. For a pseudomonotone variational inequality problem, our new existence conditions are both sufficient and necessary.     

The Solvability of Nonlinear Split Ordered Variational Inequality Problems in Partially Ordered Vector Spaces

The concept of nonlinear split ordered variational inequality problems on partially ordered Banach spaces extends the concept of the linear split vector variational inequality problems on Banach spaces, while the latter is a natural extension of vector variational inequality problems on Banach spaces. In this article, we prove the solvability of some nonlinear split vector variational inequality problems by using fixed-point theorems on partially ordered Banach spaces. It is important to notice that in the results obtained in this article, the considered mappings are not required to have any type of continuity and they just satisfy some order-monotonic conditions. Consequently, both the solvability of linear split vector variational inequality problems and vector variational inequality problems will be immediately obtained from the solvability of nonlinear split vector variational inequality problems. We will apply these results to solving nonlinear split vector optimization problems. The underlying spaces of the considered variational inequality problems may just be vector spaces which do not have topological structures, the considered mappings are not required to satisfy any continuity conditions, which just satisfy some order-increasing conditions.     

A variational approach for large deflection of ends supported nanorod under a uniformly distributed load,using intrinsic coordinate finite elements

This paper presents a variational formulation that can be used for large deflection analysis of ends supported nanorod including the coupled effects of nonlocal elasticity and surface stress under a uniformly distributed load. The variational formulation involving the strain energy due to bending of nonlocal elasticity including the surface stress effect and virtual work done by a uniformly distributed load, is expressed in terms of the intrinsic coordinates. The Lagrange multiplier technique is applied to impose the boundary conditions which accomplished in the formulation. The validity of the variational approach is ensured by Euler's equation, which identical to the one derived by the force equilibrium consideration of an infinitesimal nanorod segment. The finite element method and Newton–Raphson iterative procedure based on the variational formulation are used to solve a system of nonlinear equations. Moreover, the very large deflection configurations of ends supported nanorod are highlighted in this study.     

Irregular trajectories in vakonomic mechanical systems

In his works, V.V. Kozlov proposed a mathematical model for the dynamics of a mechanical system with nonintegrable constraints, which was called vakonomic. In contrast to the then conventional nonholonomic model, trajectories in the vakonomic model satisfy necessary conditions for a minimum in a variational problem with equality constraints. We consider the so-called irregular case of this variational problem, which was not covered by Kozlov, when the trajectory is a singular point of the constraints and the necessary minimum conditions based on the Lagrange principle make no sense. This situation is studied using the theory of abnormal problems developed by the first author. As a result, the classical necessary minimum conditions are strengthened and developed to this class of problems.     

On the nonemptiness and compactness of the solution sets for vector variational inequalities

In this article, we investigate conditions for nonemptiness and compactness of the sets of solutions of pseudomonotone vector variational inequalities by using the concept of asymptotical cones. We show that a pseudomonotone vector variational inequality has a nonempty and compact solution set provided that it is strictly feasible. We also obtain some necessary conditions for the set of solutions of a pseudomonotone vector variational inequality to be nonempty and compact.     

A class of quasi-variational inequalities for adaptive image denoising and decomposition

We introduce a class of adaptive non-smooth convex variational problems for image denoising in terms of a common data fitting term and a support functional as regularizer. Adaptivity is modeled by a set-valued mapping with closed, compact and convex values, that defines and steers the regularizer depending on the variational solution. This extension gives rise to a class of quasi-variational inequalities. We provide sufficient conditions for the existence of fixed points as solutions, and an algorithm based on solving a sequence of variational problems. Denoising experiments with spatial and spatio-temporal image data and an adaptive total variation regularizer illustrate our approach.