Contributions to complementarity and bilevel programming in Banach spaces

In this thesis, we derive necessary optimality conditions for bilevel programming problems (BPPs for short) in Banach spaces. This rather abstract setting reflects our desire to characterize the local optimal solutions of hierarchical optimization problems in function spaces arising from several applications. Since our considerations are based on the tools of variational analysis introduced by Boris Mordukhovich, we study related properties of pointwise defined sets in function spaces. The presence of sequential normal compactness for such sets in Lebesgue and Sobolev spaces as well as the variational geometry of decomposable sets in Lebesgue spaces is discussed. Afterwards, we investigate mathematical problems with complementarity constraints (MPCCs for short) in Banach spaces which are closely related to BPPs. We introduce reasonable stationarity concepts and constraint qualifications which can be used to handle MPCCs. The relations between the mentioned stationarity notions are studied in the setting where the underlying complementarity cone is polyhedric. The results are applied to the situations where the complementarity cone equals the nonnegative cone in a Lebesgue space or is polyhedral. Next, we use the three main approaches of transforming a BPP into a single-level program (namely the presence of a unique lower level solution, the KKT approach, and the optimal value approach) to derive necessary optimality conditions for BPPs. Furthermore, we comment on the relation between the original BPP and the respective surrogate problem. We apply our findings to formulate necessary optimality conditions for three different classes of BPPs. First, we study a BPP with semidefinite lower level problem possessing a unique solution. Afterwards, we deal with bilevel optimal control problems with dynamical systems of ordinary differential equations at both decision levels. Finally, an optimal control problem of ordinary or partial differential equations with implicitly given pointwise state constraints is investigated

First-order conditions for the optimal control of learning-informed nonsmooth PDEs

In this paper we study the optimal control of a class of semilinear elliptic partial differential equations which have nonlinear constituents that are only accessible by data and are approximated by nonsmooth ReLU neural networks. The optimal control problem is studied in detail. In particular, the existence and uniqueness of the state equation are shown, and continuity as well as directional differentiability properties of the corresponding control-to-state map are established. Based on approximation capabilities of the pertinent networks, we address fundamental questions regarding approximating properties of the learning-informed control-to-state map and the solution of the corresponding optimal control problem. Finally, several stationarity conditions are derived based on different notions of generalized differentiability

A PDE-constrained optimization approach for topology optimization of strained photonic devices

Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of using tensile-strained, doped Germanium as a means of developing an integrated light source for (amongst other things) future microprocessors. In this work, a multi-material phase-field approach to determine the optimal material configuration within a so-called Germanium-on-Silicon microbridge is considered. Here, an ``optimal" configuration is one in which the strain in a predetermined minimal optical cavity within the Germanium is maximized according to an appropriately chosen objective functional. Due to manufacturing requirements, the emphasis here is on the cross-section of the device; i.e. a socalled aperture design. Here, the optimization is modeled as a non-linear optimization problem with partial differential equation (PDE) and manufacturing constraints. The resulting problem is analyzed and solved numerically. The theory portion includes a proof of existence of an optimal topology, differential sensitivity analysis of the displacement with respect to the topology, and the derivation of first and second-order optimality conditions. For the numerical experiments, an array of first and second-order solution algorithms in function-space are adapted to the current setting, tested, and compared. The numerical examples yield designs for which a significant increase in strain (as compared to an intuitive empirical design) is observed

On M-stationarity conditions in MPECs and the associated qualification conditions

Depending on whether a mathematical program with equilibrium constraints (MPEC) is considered in its original or its enhanced (via KKT conditions) form, the assumed constraint qualifications (CQs) as well as the derived necessary optimality conditions may differ significantly. In this paper, we study this issue when imposing one of the weakest possible CQs, namely the calmness of the perturbation mapping associated with the respective generalized equations in both forms of the MPEC. It is well known that the calmness property allows one to derive so-called M-stationarity conditions. The strength of assumptions and conclusions in the two forms of the MPEC is strongly related with the CQs on the 'lower level' imposed on the set whose normal cone appears in the generalized equation. For instance, under just the Mangasarian-Fromovitz CQ (a minimum assumption required for this set), the calmness properties of the original and the enhanced perturbation mapping are drastically different. They become identical in the case of a polyhedral set or when adding the Full Rank CQ. On the other hand, the resulting optimality conditions are affected too. If the considered set even satisfies the Linear Independence CQ, both the calmness assumption and the derived optimality conditions are fully equivalent for the original and the enhanced form of the MPEC. A compilation of practically relevant consequences of our analysis in the derivation of necessary optimality conditions is provided in the main Theorem 4.3. The obtained results are finally applied to MPECs with structured equilibria

On regular coderivatives in parametric equilibria with non-unique multipliers

This paper deals with the computation of regular coderivatives of solution maps associated with a frequently arising class of generalized equations. The constraint sets are given by (not necessarily convex) inequalities, and we do not assume linear independence of gradients to active constraints. The achieved results enable us to state several versions of sharp necessary optimality conditions in optimization problems with equilibria governed by such generalized equations. The advantages are illustrated by means of examples

Numerical Solution of Optimal Control Problems with Explicit and Implicit Switches

This dissertation deals with the efficient numerical solution of switched optimal control problems whose dynamics may coincidentally be affected by both explicit and implicit switches. A framework is being developed for this purpose, in which both problem classes are uniformly converted into a mixed–integer optimal control problem with combinatorial constraints. Recent research results relate this problem class to a continuous optimal control problem with vanishing constraints, which in turn represents a considerable subclass of an optimal control problem with equilibrium constraints. In this thesis, this connection forms the foundation for a numerical treatment. We employ numerical algorithms that are based on a direct collocation approach and require, in particular, a highly accurate determination of the switching structure of the original problem. Due to the fact that the switching structure is a priori unknown in general, our approach aims to identify it successively. During this process, a sequence of nonlinear programs, which are derived by applying discretization schemes to optimal control problems, is solved approximatively. After each iteration, the discretization grid is updated according to the currently estimated switching structure. Besides a precise determination of the switching structure, it is of central importance to estimate the global error that occurs when optimal control problems are solved numerically. Again, we focus on certain direct collocation discretization schemes and analyze error contributions of individual discretization intervals. For this purpose, we exploit a relationship between discrete adjoints and the Lagrange multipliers associated with those nonlinear programs that arise from the collocation transcription process. This relationship can be derived with the help of a functional analytic framework and by interrelating collocation methods and Petrov–Galerkin finite element methods. In analogy to the dual-weighted residual methodology for Galerkin methods, which is well–known in the partial differential equation community, we then derive goal–oriented global error estimators. Based on those error estimators, we present mesh refinement strategies that allow for an equilibration and an efficient reduction of the global error. In doing so we note that the grid adaption processes with respect to both switching structure detection and global error reduction get along with each other. This allows us to distill an iterative solution framework. Usually, individual state and control components have the same polynomial degree if they originate from a collocation discretization scheme. Due to the special role which some control components have in the proposed solution framework it is desirable to allow varying polynomial degrees. This results in implementation problems, which can be solved by means of clever structure exploitation techniques and a suitable permutation of variables and equations. The resulting algorithm was developed in parallel to this work and implemented in a software package. The presented methods are implemented and evaluated on the basis of several benchmark problems. Furthermore, their applicability and efficiency is demonstrated. With regard to a future embedding of the described methods in an online optimal control context and the associated real-time requirements, an extension of the well–known multi–level iteration schemes is proposed. This approach is based on the trapezoidal rule and, compared to a full evaluation of the involved Jacobians, it significantly reduces the computational costs in case of sparse data matrices

On regular coderivatives in parametric equilibria with non-unique multipliers

This paper deals with the computation of regular coderivatives of solution maps associated with a frequently arising class of generalized equations. The constraint sets are given by (not necessarily convex) inequalities, and we do not assume linear independence of gradients to active constraints. The achieved results enable us to state several versions of sharp necessary optimality conditions in optimization problems with equilibria governed by such generalized equations. The advantages are illustrated by means of examples