Inexact solution of NLP subproblems in MINLP

In the context of convex mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP), we investigate how the outer approximation method and the generalized Benders decomposition method are affected when the respective NLP subproblems are solved inexactly. We show that the cuts in the corresponding master problems can be changed to incorporate the inexact residuals, still rendering equivalence and finiteness … Read more

A surrogate management framework using rigorous trust-regions steps

Surrogate models and heuristics are frequently used in the optimization engineering community as convenient approaches to deal with functions for which evaluations are expensive or noisy, or lack convexity. These methodologies do not typically guarantee any type of convergence under reasonable assumptions and frequently render slow convergence. In this paper we will show how to … Read more

Monotonicity recovering and accuracy preserving optimization methods for postprocessing finite element solutions

We suggest here a least-change correction to available finite element (FE) solution. This postprocessing procedure is aimed at recovering the monotonicity and some other important properties that may not be exhibited by the FE solution. It is based on solving a monotonic regression problem with some extra constraints. One of them is a linear equality-type … Read more

Iteration-Complexity of a Newton Proximal Extragradient Method for Monotone Variational Inequalities and Inclusion Problems

In a recent paper by Monteiro and Svaiter, a hybrid proximal extragradient framework has been used to study the iteration-complexity of a first-order (or, in the context of optimization, second-order) method for solving monotone nonlinear equations. The purpose of this paper is to extend this analysis to study a prox-type first-order method for monotone smooth … Read more

On the complexity of finding first-order critical points in constrained nonlinear optimization

The complexity of finding epsilon-approximate first-order critical points for the general smooth constrained optimization problem is shown to be no worse that O(epsilon^{-2}) in terms of function and constraints evaluations. This result is obtained by analyzing the worst-case behaviour of a first-order shorts-step homotopy algorithm consisting of a feasibility phase followed by an optimization phase, … Read more

A Multi-Product Risk-Averse Newsvendor with Exponential Utility Function

We consider a multi-product newsvendor using an exponential utility function. We first establish a few basic properties for the newsvendor regarding the convexity of the model and monotonicity of the impact of risk aversion on the solution. When the product demands are independent and the ratio of the degree of risk aversion to the number … Read more

On the impact of symmetry-breaking constraints on spatial Branch-and-Bound for circle packing in a square

We study the problem of packing equal circles in a square from the mathematical programming point of view. We discuss different formulations, we analyse formulation symmetries, we propose some symmetry breaking constraints and show that not only do they tighten the convex relaxation bound, but they also ease the task of local NLP solution algorithms … Read more

On implementation of local search and genetic algorithm techniques for some combinatorial optimization problems

In this paper we propose the approach to solving several combinatorial optimization problems using local search and genetic algorithm techniques. Initially this approach was developed in purpose to overcome some difficulties inhibiting the application of above-mentioned techniques to the problems of the Questionnaire Theory. But when the algorithms were developed it became clear that them … Read more

On global optimizations of the rank and inertia of the matrix function $A_1- B_1XB^*_1$ subject to a pair of matrix equations $[\,B_2XB^*_2, \, B_3XB^*_3 \,] = [\,A_2, \, A_3\,]$

For a given linear matrix function $A_1 – B_1XB^*_1$, where $X$ is a variable Hermitian matrix, this paper derives a group of closed-form formulas for calculating the global maximum and minimum ranks and inertias of the matrix function subject to a pair of consistent matrix equations $B_2XB^*_2 = A_2$ and $B_3XB_3^* = A_3$. As applications, … Read more

Concepts and Applications of Stochastically Weighted Stochastic Dominance

Stochastic dominance theory provides tools to compare random entities. When comparing random vectors (say X and Y ), the problem can be viewed as one of multi-criterion decision making under uncertainty. One approach is to compare weighted sums of the components of these random vectors using univariate dominance. In this paper we propose new concepts … Read more