Skip to main content
Log in

A D.C. approximation approach for optimization with probabilistic constraints based on Chen–Harker–Kanzow–Smale smooth plus function

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Mathematical Methods of Operations Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many important practical problems can be formulated as probabilistic constrained optimization problem (PCOP), which is challenging to solve since it is usually non-convex and non-smooth. Effective methods for (PCOP) mostly focus on approximation techniques. This paper aims at studying the D.C. (difference of two convex functions) approximation techniques. A D.C. approximation is explored to solve the probabilistic constrained optimization problem based on Chen–Harker–Kanzow–Smale (CHKS) smooth plus function. A smooth approximation to probabilistic constraint function is proposed and the corresponding D.C. approximation problem is established. It is proved that the approximation problem is equivalent to the original one under certain conditions. Sequential convex approximation (SCA) algorithm is implemented to solve the D.C. approximation problem. Sample average approximation method is applied to solve the convex subproblem. Numerical results suggest that D.C. approximation technique is effective for optimization with probabilistic constraints.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Data and materials availability

Not applicable.

Code Availability

Not applicable.

References

  • Ahmed S, Luedtke J, Song Y, Xie W (2017) Nonanticipative duality, relaxations, and formulations for chance-constrained stochastic programs. Math Program 162:51–81

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Alejandra P, Luedtke J, Wachter A (2020) Solving chance constrained problems via a smooth sample-based nonlinear approximation. SIAM J Optim 30(3):2221–2250

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Tal A, Nemirovski A (2000) Robust solutions of linear programming problems contaminated with uncertain data. Math Program 88:411–424

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Calafiore G, Campi MC (2005) Uncertain convex programs: randomized solutions and confidence levels. Math Program 102:25–46

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Calafiore G, Campi MC (2006) The scenario approach to robust control design. IEEE Trans Automat Contr 51:742–753

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Charnes A, Cooper WW, Symonds H (1958) Cost horizons and certainty equivalents: an approach to stochastic programming of heating oil. Manag Sci 4:235–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen C (1996) A class of smoothing functions for nonlinear and mixed complementarity problems. Comput Optim Appl 5:97–138

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Farias DPD, Roy BV (2004) On constraint sampling in the linear programming approach to approximate dynamic programming. Math Oper Res 29:462–478

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Hong LJ, Yang Y, Zhang LW (2011) Sequential convex approximations to joint chance constrained programs: a Monte Carlo approach. Oper Res 59:617–630

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Hu Z, Hong LJ, Zhang LW (2013) A smooth Monte Carlo approach to joint chance-constrained programs. IIE Trans 45:716–735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang N, Xie W (2022) ALSO-X and ALSO-X+: better convex approximations for chance constrained programs. Oper Res 70(6):3581–3600

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Luedtke J, Ahmed S (2008) A sample approximation approach for optimization with probabilistic constraints. SIAM J Optim 19:674–699

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Miller LB, Wagner HM (1965) Chance constrained programming with joint constraints. Oper Res 13:930–945

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nemirovski A, Shapiro A (2006) Convex approximations of chance constrained programs. SIAM J Optim 17:347–375

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Pagnonclli BK, Ahmed S, Shapiro A (2009) Sample average approximation method for chance constrained programming: theory and applications. J OPtim Theory Appl 142:399–416

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Ren Y, Xiong Y, Yan Y, Gu J (2022) A smooth approximation approach for optimization with probabilistic constraints based on Sigmoid function. J Inequal Appl 38:1–14

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Rockafellar RT, Uryasev S (2000) Optimization of conditional value-at-risk. J Risk 2:21–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rockafellar RT, Wets RJB (1998) Variational analysis. Springer, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rohit K, Luedtke J (2021) A stochastic approximation method for approximating the efficient frontier of chance-constrained nonlinear programs. Math Program Comput 13(4):705–751

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Shan F, Zhang LW, Xiao XT (2014) A smoothing function approach to joint chance-constrained programs. J Optim Theory Appl 163:181–199

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro A, Dentcheva D, Ruszczyński A (2009) Lectures on stochastic programming: modeling and theory. Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, Philadelphia

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y, Sutanto C (2019) Chance-constrained optimization for nonconvex programs using scenario-based methods. ISA Trans 90:157–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the constructive feedback provided by the reviewers.

Funding

Our work is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant (12171219); Liaoning Province Department of Education Scientific Research General Project (LJ2019005).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

YR performed the analysis with constructive discussions and wrote the manuscript. YS and DL performed the experiments. FG contributed significantly to data analysis. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yonghong Ren.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no Conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ren, Y., Sun, Y., Li, D. et al. A D.C. approximation approach for optimization with probabilistic constraints based on Chen–Harker–Kanzow–Smale smooth plus function. Math Meth Oper Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00186-024-00859-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00186-024-00859-y

Keywords

Navigation