Algebraic Relaxations and Hardness Results in Polynomial Optimization and Lyapunov Analysis

The contributions of the first half of this thesis are on the computational and algebraic aspects of convexity in polynomial optimization. We show that unless P=NP, there exists no polynomial time (or even pseudo-polynomial time) algorithm that can decide whether a multivariate polynomial of degree four (or higher even degree) is globally convex. This solves … Read more

Algorithms for Bilevel Pseudomonotone Variational Inequality Problems

We propose easily implementable algorithms for minimizing the norm with pseudomonotone variational inequality constraints. This bilevel problem arises in the Tikhonov regularization method for pseudomonone variational inequalities. Since the solution set of the lower variational inequality is not given explicitly, the available methods of mathematical programming and variational inequality can not be applied directly. With … Read more

An Exact Algorithm for Two-stage Robust Optimization with Mixed Integer Recourse Problems

In this paper, we consider a linear two-stage robust optimization model with a mixed integer recourse problem. Currently, this type of two-stage robust optimization model does not have any exact solution algorithm available. We first present a set of sufficient conditions under which the existence of an optimal solution is guaranteed. Then, we present a … Read more

An Exact Algorithm for Power Grid Interdiction Problem with Line Switching

Power grid vulnerability analysis is often performed through solving a bi-level optimization problem, which, if solved to optimality, yields the most destructive interdiction plan with the worst loss. As one of the most effective operations to mitigate deliberate outages or attacks, transmission line switching recently has been included and modeled by a binary variable in … Read more

Necessary optimality conditions in pessimistic bilevel programming

This paper is devoted to the so-called pessimistic version of bilevel programming programs. Minimization problems of this type are challenging to handle partly because the corresponding value functions are often merely upper (while not lower) semicontinuous. Employing advanced tools of variational analysis and generalized differentiation, we provide rather general frameworks ensuring the Lipschitz continuity of … Read more

Risk neutral and risk averse Stochastic Dual Dynamic Programming method

In this paper we discuss risk neutral and risk averse approaches to multistage (linear) stochastic programming problems based on the Stochastic Dual Dynamic Programming (SDDP) method. We give a general description of the algorithm and present computational studies related to planning of the Brazilian interconnected power system. Citation Article Download View Risk neutral and risk … Read more

Time consistency of dynamic risk measures

In this paper we discuss time consistency of risk averse multistage stochastic programming problems. We show, in a framework of finite scenario trees, that composition of law invariant coherent risk measures can be law invariant only for the expectation or max-risk measures. Citation Preprint Article Download View Time consistency of dynamic risk measures

Squeeze-and-Breathe Evolutionary Monte Carlo Optimisation with Local Search Acceleration and its application to parameter fitting

Estimating parameters from data is a key stage of the modelling process, particularly in biological systems where many parameters need to be estimated from sparse and noisy data sets. Over the years, a variety of heuristics have been proposed to solve this complex optimisation problem, with good results in some cases yet with limitations in … Read more

Symmetry in RLT cuts for the quadratic assignment and standard quadratic optimization problems

The reformulation-linearization technique (RLT), introduced in [W.P. Adams, H.D. Sherali, A tight linearization and an algorithm for zero-one quadratic programming problems, Management Science, 32(10):1274–1290, 1986], provides a way to compute linear programming bounds on the optimal values of NP-hard combinatorial optimization problems. In this paper we show that, in the presence of suitable algebraic symmetry … Read more