Line search algorithms for nonlinear programming must include safeguards to enjoy global convergence properties. This paper describes an exact penalization approach that extends the class of problems that can be solved with line search SQP methods. In the new algorithm, the penalty parameter is adjusted at every iteration to ensure sufficient progress in linear feasibility … Read more
In this paper, we consider the optimal design of a straight pipeline system. Suppose a gas pipeline is to be designed to transport a specified flowrate from the entry point to the gas demand point. Physical and contractual requirements at supply and delivery nodes are known as well as the costs to buy and lay … Read more
Gould and Robinson (NAR 08/18, Oxford University Computing Laboratory, 2008) gave global convergence results for a second-derivative SQP method for minimizing the exact $\ell_1$-merit function for a \emph{fixed} value of the penalty parameter. To establish this result, we used the properties of the so-called Cauchy step, which was itself computed from the so-called predictor step. … Read more
A sequential quadratic programming (SQP) method is presented that aims to overcome some of the drawbacks of contemporary SQP methods. It avoids the difficulties associated with indefinite quadratic programming subproblems by defining this subproblem to be always convex. The novel feature of the approach is the addition of an equality constrained phase that promotes fast … Read more
We present a framework for ensuring convergence of sample average approximations to stochastic optimization problems that include expectation constraints in addition to per-scenario constraints. CitationPreprint ANL/MCS 1562-1108ArticleDownload View PDF
We consider minimization of functions that are compositions of convex or prox-regular functions (possibly extended-valued) with smooth vector functions. A wide variety of important optimization problems fall into this framework. We describe an algorithmic framework based on a subproblem constructed from a linearized approximation to the objective and a regularization term. Properties of local solutions … Read more
A common way to produce a convex relaxation of a Mixed Integer Quadratically Constrained Program (MIQCP) is to lift the problem into a higher dimensional space by introducing variables $Y_{ij}$ to represent each of the products $x_i x_j$ of variables appearing in a quadratic form. One advantage of such extended relaxations is that they can … Read more
Approximate proximal point algorithms (abbreviated as APPAs) are classical approaches for convex optimization problems and monotone variational inequalities. To solve the subproblems of these algorithms, the projection method takes the iteration in form of $u^{k+1} = P_{\Omega}[u^k-\alpha_k d^k]$. Interestingly, many of them can be paired such that $%\exists \tilde{u}^k, \tilde{u}^k = P_{\Omega}[u^k – \beta_kF(v^k)] = … Read more
This paper describes the first phase of a project attempting to construct an efficient general-purpose nonlinear optimizer using an augmented Lagrangian outer loop with a relative error criterion, and an inner loop employing a state-of-the art conjugate gradient solver. The outer loop can also employ double regularized proximal kernels, a fairly recent theoretical development that … Read more
Sequential quadratic programming (SQP) methods form a class of highly efficient algorithms for solving nonlinearly constrained optimization problems. Although second derivative information may often be calculated, there is little practical theory that justifies exact-Hessian SQP methods. In particular, the resulting quadratic programming (QP) subproblems are often nonconvex, and thus finding their global solutions may be … Read more