Non-convex dual forms based on exponential intervening variables, with application to weight minimization

We study the weight minimization problem in a dual setting. We propose new dual formulations for non‐linear multipoint approximations with diagonal approximate Hessian matrices, which derive from separable series expansions in terms of exponential intervening variables. These, generally, nonconvex approximations are formulated in terms of intervening variables with negative exponents, and are therefore applicable to the solution of the weight minimization problem in a sequential approximate optimization (SAO) framework. Problems in structural optimization are traditionally solved using SAO algorithms, like the method of moving asymptotes, which require the approximate subproblems to be strictly convex. Hence, during solution, the nonconvex problems are approximated using convex functions, and this process may in general be inefficient. We argue, based on Falk's definition of the dual, that it is possible to base the dual formulation on nonconvex approximations. To this end we reintroduce a nonconvex approach to the weight minimization problem originally due to Fleury, and we explore certain convex and nonconvex forms for subproblems derived from the exponential approximations by the application of various methods of mixed variables. We show in each case that the dual is well defined for the form concerned, which may consequently be of use to the future code developers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.