Skip to main content

On the global minimization of a convex function under general nonconvex constraints

Abstract

The problem of globally minimizing a convex function subject to general continuous inequality constraints is investigated. A convergent outer approximation method is proposed which systematically exploits the convexity of the objective function in order to transcend local optimality. Also the question of finding a good starting point by using a local approach is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

References

  1. M. Avriel, Methods for Solving Signomial and Reverse Nonconvex Programming Problems, inOptimization and Design (M. Avriel, M. J. Rijckaert, and D. J. Wilde, eds.), Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  2. M. Avriel and A. C. Williams, Complementary Geometric Programming,SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics,19, 125–141 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  3. M. Avriel and A. C. Williams, An Extension of Geometric Programming with Applications in Engineering Optimization,Journal of Engineering Mathematics,5, 187–194 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  4. P. P. Bansal and S. E. Jacobsen, Characterization of Local Solutions for a Class of Nonconvex Programs,Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications,15, 549–564 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  5. M. C. Böhringer and S. E. Jacobsen, Convergent Cutting Planes for Linear Programs with Additional Reverse Convex Constraints,Proceeding of the IFIP Working Conference on System Modelling and Optimization, Copenhagen (1983).

  6. R. J. Hillestad, Optimization Problems Subject to a Budget Constraint with Economics of Scale,Operations Research,23, 1091–1098 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  7. R. J. Hillestad and S. E. Jacobsen, Reverse Convex Programming,Journal of Applied Mathematics and Optimization,6, 63–78 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  8. R. J. Hillestad and S. E. Jacobsen, Linear Programs with an Additional Reverse Convex Constraint,Journal of Applied Mathematics and Optimization,6, 257–268 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  9. K. L. Hoffman, A Method for Globally Minimizing Concave Functions over Convex Sets,Mathematical Programming,20, 22–32 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  10. R. Horst, An Algorithm for Nonconvex Programming Problems,Mathematical Programming,10, 312–321 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  11. R. Meyer, The Validity of a Family of Optimization Methods,SIAM Journal on Control,8, 41–54 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  12. K. T. Murty and S. N. Kabadi, SomeNP-Complete Problems in Quadratic and Nonlinear Programming, Technical Report 85-23, Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering, University of Michigan (1985).

  13. L. D. Muu, A Convergent Algorithm for Solving Linear Programs with an Additional Reverse Convex Constraint,Kybernetika,21, 428–435 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  14. P. M. Pardalos and J. B. Rosen, Methods for Global Concave Minimization: A Bibliographic Survey,SIAM Review,26, 367–379 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  15. R. T. Rockafellar,Convex Analysis, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  16. J. B. Rosen, Iterative Solution of Nonlinear Optimal Control Problems,SIAM Journal on Control,4, 223–244 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  17. I. Singer, Minimization of Concave Continuous Functionals on Complements of Convex Sets,Mathematische Operationsforschung und Statistik Series Optimization,11, 221–234 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  18. P. T. Thach, Convex Programs with Several Additional Reverse Convex Constraints,Acta Mathematica Vietnamica,10, 35–57 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  19. T. V. Thieu, Relationship Between Bilinear Programming and Concave Programming Under Linear Constraints,Acta Mathematica Vietnamica,2, 106–113 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  20. T. V. Thieu, A Fnite Method for Globally Minimizing a Concave Function over an Unbounded Convex Set and Its Applications,Acta Mathematica Vietnamica,9, 29–47 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  21. T. V. Thieu, B. T. Tam, and V. T. Ban, An Outer Approximation Method for Globally Minimizing a Concave Function over a Compact Convex Set,Acta Mathematica Vietnamica,2, 21–40 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Ng. V. Thoai, On Convex Programming Problems with Additional Constraints of Complementarity Type, CORE Discussion Paper No. 8508 (1985).

  23. Ng. V. Thuong and H. Tuy,A Finite Algorithm for Solving Linear Programs with an Additional Reverse Convex Constraint, Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems, vol. 225, pp. 291–302 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  24. H. Tuy, Concave Programming under Linear Constraints,Doklady SSSR,159, 32–35 (1964). (English translation inSoviet Mathematics,5, 1437–1440 (1964).)

    Google Scholar 

  25. H. Tuy, Stability Property of a System of Inequalities,Mathematische Operationsforschung und Statistik Series Optimization,8, 27–39 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  26. H. Tuy, Global Minimization of a Concave Function Subject to Mixed Linear and Reverse Convex Constraints,Proceedings of the IFIP Working Conference on System Modelling and Optimization, Hanoi (1983).

  27. H. Tuy, On Outer Approximation Methods for Solving Concave Minimization Problems,Acta Mathematica Vietnamica,8, 3–34 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  28. H. Tuy,Global Minimization of a Difference of Two Convex Functions, Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems, vol. 226, pp. 98–108 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  29. H. Tuy, Convex Programs with an Additional Reverse Convex Constraint,Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications,52 (1987).

  30. H. Tuy, A General Deterministic Approach to Global Optimization and D.C. Programming, Fermat Days 1985,Mathematics for Optimization, Mathematical Studies Series, North-Holland, Amsterdam (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  31. H. Tuy and R. Horst, Convergence and Restart in Branch and Bound Algorithms for Global Optimization. Application to Concave Minimization and D.C. Optimization Problems,Mathematical Programming (forthcoming).

  32. H. Tuy and Ng. V. Thuong, Minimizing a Convex Function over the Complement of a Convex Set,Methods of Operations Research,49, 85–99 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  33. U. Ueing, A Combinatorial Method to Compute a Global Solution of Certain Nonconvex Optimization Problems, inNumerical Methods for Nonlinear Optimization (F. A. Lootsma, ed.), Academic Press, New York, pp. 223–237 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  34. A. Vergis, K. Steiglitz, and B. Dickinson, The Complexity of Analog Computation,Mathematics and Computers in Simulation,28, 91–113 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  35. A. B. Zalessky, On Optimal Assessments Under Nonconvex Feasible Solution Areas,Ekonomika i Matematicheskie Metody,XVII, 651–666 (1981) (in Russian).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tuy, H., Van Thuong, N. On the global minimization of a convex function under general nonconvex constraints. Appl Math Optim 18, 119–142 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01443618

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01443618

Keywords

  • Objective Function
  • Approximation Method
  • System Theory
  • Mathematical Method
  • Convex Function