Variational Inequalities for Leavable Bounded-Velocity Control

We study the variational inequality associated with a bounded-velocity control problem when discretionary stopping is allowed. We establish the existence of a strong solution by using the viscosity solution techniques. The optimal policy is shown to exist from the optimality conditions in the variational inequality.     

Variational Inequalities for Leavable Bounded-Velocity Control

We study the variational inequality associated with a bounded-velocity control problem when discretionary stopping is allowed. We establish the existence of a strong solution by using the viscosity solution techniques. The optimal policy is shown to exist from the optimality conditions in the variational inequality.     

Second-Order Analysis for Control Constrained Optimal Control Problems of Semilinear Elliptic Systems

This paper presents a second-order analysis for a simple model optimal control problem of a partial differential equation, namely, a well-posed semilinear elliptic system with constraints on the control variable only. The cost to be minimized is a standard quadratic functional. Assuming the feasible set to be polyhedric, we state necessary and sufficient second-order optimality conditions, including a characterization of the quadratic growth condition. Assuming that the second-order sufficient condition holds, we give a formula for the second-order expansion of the value of the problem as well as the directional derivative of the optimal control, when the cost function is perturbed. Then we extend the theory of second-order optimality conditions to the case of vector-valued controls when the feasible set is defined by local and smooth convex constraints. When the space dimension n is greater than 3, the results are based on a two norms approach, involving spaces L ² and L ^s , with s>n/2 . Accepted 27 January 1997     

Use of Augmented Lagrangian Methods for the Optimal Control of Obstacle Problems

We investigate optimal control problems governed by variational inequalities involving constraints on the control, and more precisely the example of the obstacle problem. In this paper, we discuss some augmented Lagrangian algorithms to compute the solution.     

Optimal control of an obstacle problem

We investigate optimal control problems governed by variational inequalities, and more precisely the obstacle problem. Since we adopt a numerical point of view, we first relax the feasible domain of the problem; then using both mathematical programming methods and penalization methods we get optimality conditions with smooth lagrange multipliers.     

Optimal Control for the Degenerate Elliptic Logistic Equation

We consider the optimal control of harvesting the diffusive degenerate elliptic logistic equation. Under certain assumptions, we prove the existence and uniqueness of an optimal control. Moreover, the optimality system and a characterization of the optimal control are also derived. The sub-supersolution method, the singular eigenvalue problem and differentiability with respect to the positive cone are the techniques used to obtain our results.     

Optimal Control for the Degenerate Elliptic Logistic Equation

We consider the optimal control of harvesting the diffusive degenerate elliptic logistic equation. Under certain assumptions, we prove the existence and uniqueness of an optimal control. Moreover, the optimality system and a characterization of the optimal control are also derived. The sub-supersolution method, the singular eigenvalue problem and differentiability with respect to the positive cone are the techniques used to obtain our results.     

Optimal Control of Variational Inequalities with Delays in the Highest Order Spatial Derivatives

In this paper, an optimal control problem for parabolic variational inequalities with delays in the highest order spatial derivatives is investigated. The well-posedness of such kinds of variational inequalities is established. The existence of optimal controls under a Cesari-type condition is proved, and the necessary conditions of Pontryagin type for optimal controls is derived.     

A Simply Constrained Optimization Reformulation of KKT Systems Arising from Variational Inequalities

The Karush—Kuhn—Tucker (KKT) conditions can be regarded as optimality conditions for both variational inequalities and constrained optimization problems. In order to overcome some drawbacks of recently proposed reformulations of KKT systems, we propose casting KKT systems as a minimization problem with nonnegativity constraints on some of the variables. We prove that, under fairly mild assumptions, every stationary point of this constrained minimization problem is a solution of the KKT conditions. Based on this reformulation, a new algorithm for the solution of the KKT conditions is suggested and shown to have some strong global and local convergence properties. Accepted 10 December 1997     

Explicit Solutions of Nonconvex Variational Problems in Dimension One

We propose a method of finding the generalized solutions of nonconvex variational problems by solving an appropriate differential inclusion that is motivated by necessary conditions of optimality for such generalized minimizers. Accepted 28 September 1998     

Optimal control of a nonconvex perturbed sweeping process

The paper concerns optimal control of discontinuous differential inclusions of the normal cone type governed by a generalized version of the Moreau sweeping process with control functions acting in both nonconvex moving sets and additive perturbations. This is a new class of optimal control problems in comparison with previously considered counterparts where the controlled sweeping sets are described by convex polyhedra. Besides a theoretical interest, a major motivation for our study of such challenging optimal control problems with intrinsic state constraints comes from the application to the crowd motion model in a practically adequate planar setting with nonconvex but prox-regular sweeping sets. Based on a constructive discrete approximation approach and advanced tools of first-order and second-order variational analysis and generalized differentiation, we establish the strong convergence of discrete optimal solutions and derive a complete set of necessary optimality conditions for discrete-time and continuous-time sweeping control systems that are expressed entirely via the problem data.     

A Modified Alternating Direction Method for Variational Inequality Problems

The alternating direction method is an attractive method for solving large-scale variational inequality problems whenever the subproblems can be solved efficiently. However, the subproblems are still variational inequality problems, which are as structurally difficult to solve as the original one. To overcome this disadvantage, in this paper we propose a new alternating direction method for solving a class of nonlinear monotone variational inequality problems. In each iteration the method just makes an orthogonal projection to a simple set and some function evaluations. We report some preliminary computational results to illustrate the efficiency of the method. Accepted 4 May 2001. Online publication 19 October, 2001.     

Optimal Control of the Obstacle for an Elliptic Variational Inequality

An optimal control problem for an elliptic obstacle variational inequality is considered. The obstacle is taken to be the control and the solution to the obstacle problem is taken to be the state. The goal is to find the optimal obstacle from H ¹ ₀ (Ω) so that the state is close to the desired profile while the H ¹ (Ω) norm of the obstacle is not too large. Existence, uniqueness, and regularity as well as some characterizations of the optimal pairs are established. Accepted 11 September 1996     

Existence of Optimal Controls for Semilinear Parabolic Equations without Cesari-Type Conditions

Abstract. Optimal control problems governed by semilinear parabolic partial differential equations are considered. No Cesari-type conditions are assumed. By proving the existence theorem and the Pontryagin maximum principle of optimal ``state-control" pairs for the corresponding relaxed problems, an existence theorem of optimal pairs for the original problem is established.     

Existence of Optimal Controls for Semilinear Parabolic Equations without Cesari-Type Conditions

   Abstract. Optimal control problems governed by semilinear parabolic partial differential equations are considered. No Cesari-type conditions are assumed. By proving the existence theorem and the Pontryagin maximum principle of optimal ``state-control" pairs for the corresponding relaxed problems, an existence theorem of optimal pairs for the original problem is established.     

Lipschitzian Regularity of Minimizers for Optimal Control Problems with Control-Affine Dynamics

We study the Lagrange Problem of Optimal Control with a functional and control-affine dynamics = f(t,x) + g(t,x)u and (a priori) unconstrained control u∈ \bf R ^m . We obtain conditions under which the minimizing controls of the problem are bounded—a fact which is crucial for the applicability of many necessary optimality conditions, like, for example, the Pontryagin Maximum Principle. As a corollary we obtain conditions for the Lipschitzian regularity of minimizers of the Basic Problem of the Calculus of Variations and of the Problem of the Calculus of Variations with higher-order derivatives. Accepted 15 March 1999     

Convergence Properties of Projection and Contraction Methods for Variational Inequality Problems

In this paper we develop the convergence theory of a general class of projection and contraction algorithms (PC method), where an extended stepsize rule is used, for solving variational inequality (VI) problems. It is shown that, by defining a scaled projection residue, the PC method forces the sequence of the residues to zero. It is also shown that, by defining a projected function, the PC method forces the sequence of projected functions to zero. A consequence of this result is that if the PC method converges to a nondegenerate solution of the VI problem, then after a finite number of iterations, the optimal face is identified. Finally, we study local convergence behavior of the extragradient algorithm for solving the KKT system of the inequality constrained VI problem. \keywords{Variational inequality, Projection and contraction method, Predictor-corrector stepsize, Convergence property.} \amsclass{90C30, 90C33, 65K05.} Accepted 5 September 2000. Online publication 16 January 2001.     

Mixed Optimal Stopping and Stochastic Control Problems with Semicontinuous Final Reward for Diffusion Processes

We consider mixed control problems for diffusion processes, i.e. problems which involve both optimal control and stopping. The running reward is assumed to be smooth, but the stopping reward need only be semicontinuous. We show that, under suitable conditions, the value function w has the same regularity as the final reward g, i.e. w is lower or upper semicontinuous if g is. Furthermore, when g is l.s.c., we prove that the value function is a viscosity solution of the associated variational inequality.     

Second-Order Necessary Optimality Conditions for Some State-Constrained Control Problems of Semilinear Elliptic Equations

In this paper we are concerned with some optimal control problems governed by semilinear elliptic equations. The case of a boundary control is studied. We consider pointwise constraints on the control and a finite number of equality and inequality constraints on the state. The goal is to derive first- and second-order optimality conditions satisfied by locally optimal solutions of the problem. Accepted 6 May 1997     

Optimal Shape Design of Blazed Diffraction Gratings

The problem of designing a periodic interface between two materials in such a way that time-harmonic waves diffracted from the interface have a specified far-field pattern is studied. A minimization problem for the interface is formulated, and it is shown that solutions of constrained bounded variation exist. The differentiability of the cost functional is then studied, with no restrictions on the smoothness of the interface. Some computational issues are discussed, and finally the results of some numerical experiments are presented. Accepted 3 February 1998