A Filter SQP Method: Local Convergence and Numerical Results

The work by Gould, Loh, and Robinson [“A filter method with unified step computation for nonlinear optimization”, SIAM J. Optim., 24 (2014), pp. 175–209] established global convergence of a new filter line search method for finding local first-order solutions to nonlinear and nonconvex constrained optimization problems. A key contribution of that work was that the … Read more

Constrained trace-optimization of polynomials in freely noncommuting variables

The study of matrix inequalities in a dimension-free setting is in the realm of free real algebraic geometry (RAG). In this paper we investigate constrained trace and eigenvalue optimization of noncommutative polynomials. We present Lasserre’s relaxation scheme for trace optimization based on semidefinite programming (SDP) and demonstrate its convergence properties. Finite convergence of this relaxation … Read more

Scheduling with Fixed Maintenance, Shared Resources and Nonlinear Feedrate Constraints: a Mine Planning Case Study

Given a short term mining plan, the task for an operational mine planner is to determine how the equipment in the mine should be used each day. That is, how crushers, loaders and trucks should be used to realise the short term plan. It is important to achieve both grade targets (by blending) and maximise … Read more

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

In a recent paper (Cartis, Gould and Toint, Math. Prog. A 144(1-2) 93–106, 2014), the evaluation complexity of an algorithm to find an approximate first-order critical point for the general smooth constrained optimization problem was examined. Unfortunately, the proof of Lemma 3.5 in that paper uses a result from an earlier paper in an incorrect … Read more

Solving Power-Constrained Gas Transportation Problems using an MIP-based Alternating Direction Method

We present a solution algorithm for problems from steady-state gas transport optimization. Due to nonlinear and nonconvex physics and engineering models as well as discrete controllability of active network devices, these problems lead to hard nonconvex mixed-integer nonlinear optimization models. The proposed method is based on mixed-integer linear techniques using piecewise linear relaxations of the … Read more

Sequential Threshold Control in Descent Splitting Methods for Decomposable Optimization Problems

We suggest a modification of the descent splitting methods for decomposable composite optimization problems, which maintains the basic convergence properties, but enables one to reduce the computational expenses per iteration and to provide computations in a distributed manner. It consists in making coordinate-wise steps together with a special threshold control. Citation Kazan Federal University, Kazan … Read more

A Filter Active-Set Algorithm for Ball/Sphere Constrained Optimization Problem

In this paper, we propose a filter active-set algorithm for the minimization problem over a product of multiple ball/sphere constraints. By making effective use of the special structure of the ball/sphere constraints, a new limited memory BFGS (L-BFGS) scheme is presented. The new L-BFGS implementation takes advantage of the sparse structure of the Jacobian of … Read more

High Detail Stationary Optimization Models for Gas Networks: Validation and Results

Due to strict regulatory rules in combination with complex nonlinear physics, major gas network operators in Germany and Europe face hard planning problems that call for optimization. In part 1 of this paper we have developed a suitable model hierarchy for that purpose. Here we consider the more practical aspects of modeling. We validate individual … Read more

Iteration Bounds for Finding the $\epsilonhBcStationary Points for Structured Nonconvex Optimization

In this paper we study proximal conditional-gradient (CG) and proximal gradient-projection type algorithms for a block-structured constrained nonconvex optimization model, which arises naturally from tensor data analysis. First, we introduce a new notion of $\epsilon$-stationarity, which is suitable for the structured problem under consideration. %, compared with other similar solution concepts. We then propose two … Read more

On an inexact trust-region SQP-filter method for constrained nonlinear optimization

A class of trust-region algorithms is developed and analyzed for the solution of optimization problems with nonlinear equality and inequality constraints. Based on composite-step trust region methods and a filter approach, the resulting algorithm also does not require the computation of exact Jacobians; only Jacobian vector products are used along with approximate Jacobian matrices. As … Read more