Nonlinear Optimization And Applications

Here is a collection of nonlinear optimization applications from the real world, expressed in the General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS). The concepts are presented so that the reader can quickly modify and update them to represent real-world situations.

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to nonlinear programming, featuring a broad range of applications and solution methods in the field of continuous optimization. It begins with a summary of classical results on unconstrained optimization, followed by a wealth of applications from a diverse mix of fields, e.g. location analysis, traffic planning, and water quality management, to name but a few. In turn, the book presents a formal description of optimality conditions, followed by an in-depth discussion of the main solution techniques. Each method is formally described, and then fully solved using a numerical example.

Optimization is the act of obtaining the "best" result under given circumstances. In design, construction, and maintenance of any engineering system, engineers must make technological and managerial decisions to minimize either the effort or cost required or to maximize benefits. There is no single method available for solving all optimization problems efficiently. Several optimization methods have been developed for different types of problems. The optimum-seeking methods are mathematical programming techniques (specifically, nonlinear programming techniques). Nonlinear Optimization: Models and Applications presents the concepts in several ways to foster understanding. Geometric interpretation: is used to re-enforce the concepts and to foster understanding of the mathematical procedures. The student sees that many problems can be analyzed, and approximate solutions found before analytical solutions techniques are applied. Numerical approximations: early on, the student is exposed to numerical techniques. These numerical procedures are algorithmic and iterative. Worksheets are provided in Excel, MATLAB®, and MapleTM to facilitate the procedure. Algorithms: all algorithms are provided with a step-by-step format. Examples follow the summary to illustrate its use and application. Nonlinear Optimization: Models and Applications: Emphasizes process and interpretation throughout Presents a general classification of optimization problems Addresses situations that lead to models illustrating many types of optimization problems Emphasizes model formulations Addresses a special class of problems that can be solved using only elementary calculus Emphasizes model solution and model sensitivity analysis About the author: William P. Fox is an emeritus professor in the Department of Defense Analysis at the Naval Postgraduate School. He received his Ph.D. at Clemson University and has taught at the United States Military Academy and at Francis Marion University where he was the chair of mathematics. He has written many publications, including over 20 books and over 150 journal articles. Currently, he is an adjunct professor in the Department of Mathematics at the College of William and Mary. He is the emeritus director of both the High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling and the Mathematical Contest in Modeling.

This textbook examines a broad range of problems in science and engineering, describing key numerical methods applied to real life. The case studies presented are in such areas as data fitting, vehicle route planning and optimal control, scheduling and resource allocation, sensitivity calculations and worst-case analysis. Chapters are self-contained with exercises provided at the end of most sections. Nonlinear Optimization with Engineering Applications is ideal for self-study and classroom use in engineering courses at the senior undergraduate or graduate level. The book will also appeal to postdocs and advanced researchers interested in the development and use of optimization algorithms.

This textbook provides an introduction to the use and understanding of optimization and modeling for upper-level undergraduate students in engineering and mathematics. The formulation of optimization problems is founded through concepts and techniques from operations research: Combinatorial Optimization, Linear Programming, and Integer and Nonlinear Programming (COLIN). Computer Science (CS) is also relevant and important given the applications of algorithms and Apps/algorithms (A) in solving optimization problems. Each chapter provides an overview of the main concepts of optimization according to COLINA, providing examples through App Inventor and AMPL software applications. All apps developed through the text are available for download. Additionally, the text includes links to the University of Wisconsin NEOS server, designed to handle more computing-intensive problems in complex optimization. Readers are encouraged to have some background in calculus, linear algebra, and related mathematics.

This book addresses modern nonlinear programming (NLP) concepts and algorithms, especially as they apply to challenging applications in chemical process engineering. The author provides a firm grounding in fundamental NLP properties and algorithms, and relates them to real-world problem classes in process optimization, thus making the material understandable and useful to chemical engineers and experts in mathematical optimization.

This textbook on nonlinear optimization focuses on model building, real world problems, and applications of optimization models to natural and social sciences. Organized into two parts, this book may be used as a primary text for courses on convex optimization and non-convex optimization. Definitions, proofs, and numerical methods are well illustrated and all chapters contain compelling exercises. The exercises emphasize fundamental theoretical results on optimality and duality theorems, numerical methods with or without constraints, and derivative-free optimization. Selected solutions are given. Applications to theoretical results and numerical methods are highlighted to help students comprehend methods and techniques.

This book provides the foundations of the theory of nonlinear optimization as well as some related algorithms and presents a variety of applications from diverse areas of applied sciences. The author combines three pillars of optimization?theoretical and algorithmic foundation, familiarity with various applications, and the ability to apply the theory and algorithms on actual problems?and rigorously and gradually builds the connection between theory, algorithms, applications, and implementation. Readers will find more than 170 theoretical, algorithmic, and numerical exercises that deepen and enhance the reader's understanding of the topics. The author includes offers several subjects not typically found in optimization books?for example, optimality conditions in sparsity-constrained optimization, hidden convexity, and total least squares. The book also offers a large number of applications discussed theoretically and algorithmically, such as circle fitting, Chebyshev center, the Fermat?Weber problem, denoising, clustering, total least squares, and orthogonal regression and theoretical and algorithmic topics demonstrated by the MATLAB? toolbox CVX and a package of m-files that is posted on the book?s web site.