Method for solving generalized convex nonsmooth mixed-integer nonlinear programming problems

In this paper, we generalize the extended supporting hyperplane algorithm for a convex continuously differentiable mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem to solve a wider class of nonsmooth problems. The generalization is made by using the subgradients of the Clarke subdifferential instead of gradients. Consequently, all the functions in the problems are assumed to be locally Lipschitz continuous. The algorithm is shown to converge to a global minimum of an MINLP problem if the objective function is convex and the constraint functions are f degrees-pseudoconvex. With some additional assumptions, the constraint functions may be f degrees-quasiconvex

Partially distributed outer approximation

This paper presents a novel partially distributed outer approximation algorithm, named PaDOA, for solving a class of structured mixed integer convex programming problems to global optimality. The proposed scheme uses an iterative outer approximation method for coupled mixed integer optimization problems with separable convex objective functions, affine coupling constraints, and compact domain. PaDOA proceeds by alternating between solving large-scale structured mixed-integer linear programming problems and partially decoupled mixed-integer nonlinear programming subproblems that comprise much fewer integer variables. We establish conditions under which PaDOA converges to global minimizers after a finite number of iterations and verify these properties with an application to thermostatically controlled loads and to mixed-integer regression

A mixed-integer stochastic nonlinear optimization problem with joint probabilistic constraints

We illustrate the solution of a mixed-integer stochastic nonlinear optimization problem in an application of power management. In this application, a coupled system consisting of a hydro power station and a wind farm is considered. The objective is to satisfy the local energy demand and sell any surplus energy on a spot market for a short time horizon. Generation of wind energy is assumed to be random, so that demand satisfaction is modeled by a joint probabilistic constraint taking into accountthe multivariate distribution. The turbine is forced to either operate between given positive limits or to be shut down. This introduces additional binary decisions. The numerical solution procedure is presented and results are illustrated

On solving generalized convex MINLP problems using supporting hyperplane techniques

Solution methods for convex mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problems have, usually, proven convergence properties if the functions involved are differentiable and convex. For other classes of convex MINLP problems fewer results have been given. Classical differential calculus can, though, be generalized to more general classes of functions than differentiable, via subdifferentials and subgradients. In addition, more general than convex functions can be included in a convex problem if the functions involved are defined from convex level sets, instead of being defined as convex functions only. The notion generalized convex, used in the heading of this paper, refers to such additional properties. The generalization for the differentiability is made by using subgradients of Clarke’s subdifferential. Thus, all the functions in the problem are assumed to be locally Lipschitz continuous. The generalization of the functions is done by considering quasiconvex functions. Thus, instead of differentiable convex functions, nondifferentiable f ∘  f∘ -quasiconvex functions can be included in the actual problem formulation and a supporting hyperplane approach is given for the solution of the considered MINLP problem. Convergence to a global minimum is proved for the algorithm, when minimizing an f ∘  f∘ -pseudoconvex function, subject to f ∘  f∘ -pseudoconvex constraints. With some additional conditions, the proof is also valid for f ∘  f∘ -quasiconvex functions, which sums up the properties of the method, treated in the paper. The main contribution in this paper is the generalization of the Extended Supporting Hyperplane method in Eronen et al. (J Glob Optim 69(2):443–459, 2017) to also solve problems with f ∘  f∘ -pseudoconvex objective function.</p