optimization

Accessible to a variety of readers, this book is of interest to specialists, graduate students and researchers in mathematics, optimization, computer science, operations research, management science, engineering and other applied areas interested in solving optimization problems. Basic principles, potential and boundaries of applicability of stochastic global optimization techniques are examined in this book. A variety of issues that face specialists in global optimization are explored, such as multidimensional spaces which are frequently ignored by researchers. The importance of precise interpretation of the mathematical results in assessments of optimization methods is demonstrated through examples of convergence in probability of random search. Methodological issues concerning construction and applicability of stochastic global optimization methods are discussed, including the one-step optimal average improvement method based on a statistical model of the objective function. A significant portion of this book is devoted to an analysis of high-dimensional global optimization problems and the so-called ‘curse of dimensionality’. An examination of the three different classes of high-dimensional optimization problems, the geometry of high-dimensional balls and cubes, very slow convergence of global random search algorithms in large-dimensional problems , and poor uniformity of the uniformly distributed sequences of points are included in this book.

This clear and concise textbook provides a rigorous introduction to the calculus of variations, depending on functions of one variable and their first derivatives. It is based on a translation of a German edition of the book Variationsrechnung (Vieweg+Teubner Verlag, 2010), translated and updated by the author himself. Topics include: the Euler-Lagrange equation for one-dimensional variational problems, with and without constraints, as well as an introduction to the direct methods. The book targets students who have a solid background in calculus and linear algebra, not necessarily in functional analysis. Some advanced mathematical tools, possibly not familiar to the reader, are given along with proofs in the appendix. Numerous figures, advanced problems and proofs, examples, and exercises with solutions accompany the book, making it suitable for self-study. The book will be particularly useful for beginning graduate students from the physical, engineering, and mathematical sciences with a rigorous theoretical background.

This volume presents some recent and principal developments related to computational intelligence and optimization methods in control. Theoretical aspects and practical applications of control engineering are covered by 14 self-contained contributions. Additional gems include the discussion of future directions and research perspectives designed to add to the reader’s understanding of both the challenges faced in control engineering and the insights into the developing of new techniques. With the knowledge obtained, readers are encouraged to determine the appropriate control method for specific applications.

'Conception optimale des structures' est une introduction à la conception optimale de structures, appelée aussi optimisation de formes. Il est principalement destiné à un public mixte de mathématiciens appliqués et de mécaniciens que relient un même intérêt pour les applications numériques. Il traite de tous les aspects de l'optimisation de formes, paramétrique, géométrique et topologique, et fait une large place aux algorithmes numériques, méthodes de gradient et méthodes stochastiques (avec une contribution originale de Marc Schoenauer pour ce dernier point). En particulier, la plupart des algorithmes d'optimisation de structures ont été implémentés dans le logiciel FreeFem++ d'éléments finis et les programmes sont disponibles librement sur le web. 'Conception optimale des structures' is devoted to structural or shape optimization and is intended for a mixed audience of applied mathematicians and mechanicians. It discusses parametric, geometric and topology optimization and gives deterministic and stochastic numerical algorithms (implemented in the FreeFem++ finite element software).