On Augmented Lagrangian methods with general lower-level constraints

Augmented Lagrangian methods with general lower-level constraints are considered in the present research. These methods are useful when efficient algorithms exist for solving subproblems where the constraints are only of the lower-level type. Two methods of this class are introduced and analyzed. Inexact resolution of the lower-level constrained subproblems is considered. Global convergence is proved … Read more

Adaptive Barrier Strategies for Nonlinear Interior Methods

This paper considers strategies for selecting the barrier parameter at every iteration of an interior-point method for nonlinear programming. Numerical experiments suggest that adaptive choices, such as Mehrotra’s probing procedure, outperform static strategies that hold the barrier parameter fixed until a barrier optimality test is satisfied. A new adaptive strategy is proposed based on the … Read more

Active Set Identification in Nonlinear Programming

Techniques that identify the active constraints at a solution of a nonlinear programming problem from a point near the solution can be a useful adjunct to nonlinear programming algorithms. They have the potential to improve the local convergence behavior of these algorithms, and in the best case can reduce an inequality constrained problem to an … Read more

On the Global Convergence of a Trust Region Method for Solving Nonlinear Constraints Infeasibility Problem

A framework for proving global convergence for a class of nonlinear constraints infeasibility problem is presented without assuming that the Jacobian has full rank everywhere. The underlying method is based on the simple sufficient reduction criteria where trial points are accepted provided there is a sufficient decrease in the constraints violation function. The proposed methods … Read more

Set Intersection Theorems and Existence of Optimal Solutions

The question of nonemptiness of the intersection of a nested sequence of closed sets is fundamental in a number of important optimization topics, including the existence of optimal solutions, the validity of the minimax inequality in zero sum games, and the absence of a duality gap in constrained optimization. We introduce the new notion of … Read more

Interior Methods for Mathematical Programs with Complementarity Constraints

This paper studies theoretical and practical properties of interior-penalty methods for mathematical programs with complementarity constraints. A framework for implementing these methods is presented, and the need for adaptive penalty update strategies is motivated with examples. The algorithm is shown to be globally convergent to strongly stationary points, under standard assumptions. These results are then … Read more

Convergence Analysis of an Interior-Point Method for Mathematical Programs with Equilibrium Constraints

We prove local and global convergence results for an interior-point method applied to mathematical programs with equilibrium constraints. The global result shows the algorithm minimizes infeasibility regardless of starting point, while one result proves local convergence when penalty functions are exact; another local result proves convergence when the solution is not even a KKT point. … Read more

Computational experience with an interior point algorithm for large scale contact problems

In this paper we present an interior point method for large scale Signorini elastic contact problems. We study the case of an elastic body in frictionless contact with a rigid foundation. Primal and primal-dual algorithms are developed to solve the quadratic optimization problem arising in the variational formulation. Our computational study confirms the efficiency of … Read more

Lagrange Multipliers with Optimal Sensitivity Properties

We consider optimization problems with inequality and abstract set constraints, and we derive sensitivity properties of Lagrange multipliers under very weak conditions. In particular, we do not assume uniqueness of a Lagrange multiplier or continuity of the perturbation function. We show that the Lagrange multiplier of minimum norm defines the optimal rate of improvement of … Read more

Sums of Squares and Semidefinite Programming Relaxations for Polynomial Optimization Problems with Structured Sparsity

Unconstrained and inequality constrained sparse polynomial optimization problems (POPs) are considered. A correlative sparsity pattern graph is defined to find a certain sparse structure in the objective and constraint polynomials of a POP. Based on this graph, sets of supports for sums of squares (SOS) polynomials that lead to efficient SOS and semidefinite programming (SDP) … Read more