We describe an extension of the classical cutting plane algorithm to tackle the unconstrained minimization of a nonconvex, not necessarily differentiable function of several variables. The method is based on the construction of both a lower and an upper polyhedral approximation to the objective function and it is related to the use of the concept … Read more
Since the Motzkin-Straus result on the clique number of graphs, published in 1965, where they show that the size of the largest clique in a graph can be obtained by solving a quadratic programming problem, several results on the continuous approach to the determination of the clique number of a graph or, equivalently, to the … Read more
For constrained smooth or nonsmooth optimization problems, new continuously differentiable penalty functions are derived. They are proved exact in the sense that under some nondegeneracy assumption, local optimizers of a nonlinear program are precisely the optimizers of the associated penalty function. This is achieved by augmenting the dimension of the program by a variable that … Read more
We present a multigrid approach to the optimization of systems governed by differential equations. Such optimization problems have many applications, and are a broader class of problems than systems of equations. Using several model problems we give evidence (both theoretical and numerical) that a multigrid approach can often be successful in the setting of optimization. … Read more
This paper deals with the application of pattern search methods to the numerical solution of a class of molecular geometry problems with important applications in molecular physics and chemistry. The goal is to find a configuration of a cluster or a molecule with minimum total energy. The minimization problems in this class of geometry molecular … Read more
Non-smoothness and non-convexity in optimization problems often arise because a combinatorial structure is imposed on smooth or convex data. The combinatorial aspect can be explicit, e.g. through the use of ”max”, ”min”, or ”if” statements in a model, or implicit as in the case of bilevel optimization where the combinatorial structure arises from the possible … Read more
Recently, it has been shown that Nonlinear Programming solvers can successfully solve a range of Mathematical Programs with Equilibrium Constraints (MPECs). In particular, Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) methods have been very successful. This paper examines the local convergence properties of SQP methods applied to MPECs. It is shown that SQP converges superlinearly under reasonable assumptions … Read more
This paper presents a small example for which the Penalty Interior Point Method converges to a non-stationary point. The reasons for this adverse behaviour are discussed. Citation Numerical Analysis Report NA/208, Department of Mathematics, University of Dundee, February 2002. Article Download View The Penalty Interior Point Method fails to converge for Mathematical Programs with Equilibrium … Read more
Recently, infeasibility issues in interior methods for nonconvex nonlinear programming have been studied. In particular, it has been shown how many line-search interior methods may converge to an infeasible point which is on the boundary of the feasible region with respect to the inequality constraints. The convergence is such that the search direction does not … Read more
Aperture-based inverse planning (ABIP) for intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment planning starts with external radiation fields (beams) that fully conform to the target(s) and then superimposes sub-fields called segments to achieve complex shaping of 3D dose distributions. The segments’ intensities are determined by solving a feasibility problem. The least-intensity feasible (LIF) solution, proposed and … Read more