Strict differentiability

Abstract: We propose a new concept of generalized differentiation of set-valued maps that captures first-order information. This concept encompasses the standard notions of Frechet differentiability, strict differentiability, calmness and Lipschitz continuity in single-valued maps, and the Aubin property and Lipschitz continuity in set-valued maps. We present calculus rules, sharpen the relationship between the Aubin property and coderivatives, and study how metric regularity and open covering can be refined to have a directional property similar to our concept of generalized differentiation. Finally, we discuss the relationship between the robust form of generalized differentiation and its one-sided counterpart.

Abstract: We propose a new concept of generalized differentiation of set-valued maps that captures the first order information. This concept encompasses the standard notions of Frechet differentiability, strict differentiability, calmness and Lipschitz continuity in single-valued maps, and the Aubin property and Lipschitz continuity in set-valued maps. We present calculus rules, sharpen the relationship between the Aubin property and coderivatives, and study how metric regularity and open covering can be refined to have a directional property similar to our concept of generalized differentiation. Finally, we discuss the relationship between the robust form of generalization differentiation and its one sided counterpart.

Abstract: Peano defined 'differentiability' of functions and 'lower tangent cones' in 1887, and 'upper tangent cones' in 1903, but uses the latter concept already in 1887 without giving a formal definition. Both cones were defined for arbitrary sets, as certain limits of appropriate homothetic relations. Around 1930 Severi and Guareschi, in a series of mutually fecundating individual papers, characterized differentiability in terms of 'lower tangent cones' and strict differentiability in terms of 'lower paratangent cones', a notion introduced, independently, by Severi and Bouligand in 1928. Severi and Guareschi graduated about 1900 from the University of Turin, where Peano taught till his demise in 1932.

Abstract: A direct search method for nonlinear optimization problems with nonlinear inequality constraints is presented. A filter based approach is used, which allows infeasible starting points. The constraints are assumed to be continuously differentiable, and approximations to the constraint gradients are used. For simplicity it is assumed that the active constraint normals are linearly independent at all points of interest on the boundary of the feasible region. An infinite sequence of iterates is generated, some of which are surrounded by sets of points called bent frames. An infinite subsequence of these iterates is identified, and its convergence properties are studied by applying Clarke's non-smooth calculus to the bent frames. It is shown that each cluster point of this subsequence is a Karush-Kuhn-Tucker point of the optimization problem under mild conditions which include strict differentiability of the objective function at each cluster point. This permits the objective function to be non-smooth, infinite, or undefined away from these cluster points. When the objective function is only locally Lipschitz at these cluster points it is shown that certain directions still have interesting properties at these cluster points.