Nonconvex Optimal Control and Variational Problems is an important contribution to the existing literature in the field and is devoted to the presentation of progress made in the last 15 years of research in the area of optimal control and the calculus of variations. This volume contains a number of results concerning well-posedness of optimal control and variational problems, nonoccurrence of the Lavrentiev phenomenon for optimal control and variational problems, and turnpike properties of approximate solutions of variational problems. Chapter 1 contains an introduction as well as examples of select topics. Chapters 2-5 consider the well-posedness condition using fine tools of general topology and porosity. Chapters 6-8 are devoted to the nonoccurrence of the Lavrentiev phenomenon and contain original results. Chapter 9 focuses on infinite-dimensional linear control problems, and Chapter 10 deals with “good” functions and explores new understandings on the questions of optimality and variational problems. Finally, Chapters 11-12 are centered around the turnpike property, a particular area of expertise for the author. This volume is intended for mathematicians, engineers, and scientists interested in the calculus of variations, optimal control, optimization, and applied functional analysis, as well as both undergraduate and graduate students specializing in those areas. The text devoted to Turnpike properties may be of particular interest to the economics community.

This book contains different developments of infinite dimensional convex programming in the context of convex analysis, including duality, minmax and Lagrangians, and convexification of nonconvex optimization problems in the calculus of variations (infinite dimension). It also includes the theory of convex duality applied to partial differential equations; no other reference presents this in a systematic way. The minmax theorems contained in this book have many useful applications, in particular the robust control of partial differential equations in finite time horizon. First published in English in 1976, this SIAM Classics in Applied Mathematics edition contains the original text along with a new preface and some additional references.

The calculus of variations is a classical area of mathematical analysis-300 years old-yet its myriad applications in science and technology continue to hold great interest and keep it an active area of research. These two volumes contain the referenced proceedings of the international conference on Calculus of Variations and Related Topics held at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in March 1998. The conference commemorated 300 years of work in the field and brought together many of its leading experts. The papers in the first volume focus on critical point theory and differential equations. The other volume deals with variational aspects of optimal control. Together they provide a unique opportunity to review the state-of-the-art of the calculus of variations, as presented by an international panel of masters in the field.

Optimization and optimal control are the main tools in decision making. Because of their numerous applications in various disciplines, research in these areas is accelerating at a rapid pace. “Optimization and Optimal Control: Theory and Applications” brings together the latest developments in these areas of research as well as presents applications of these results to a wide range of real-world problems. This volume can serve as a useful resource for researchers, practitioners, and advanced graduate students of mathematics and engineering working in research areas where results in optimization and optimal control can be applied.

"Optimal Control" reports on new theoretical and practical advances essential for analysing and synthesizing optimal controls of dynamical systems governed by partial and ordinary differential equations. New necessary and sufficient conditions for optimality are given. Recent advances in numerical methods are discussed. These have been achieved through new techniques for solving large-sized nonlinear programs with sparse Hessians, and through a combination of direct and indirect methods for solving the multipoint boundary value problem. The book also focuses on the construction of feedback controls for nonlinear systems and highlights advances in the theory of problems with uncertainty. Decomposition methods of nonlinear systems and new techniques for constructing feedback controls for state- and control constrained linear quadratic systems are presented. The book offers solutions to many complex practical optimal control problems.

This book is devoted to the recent progress on the turnpike theory. The turnpike property was discovered by Paul A. Samuelson, who applied it to problems in mathematical economics in 1949. These properties were studied for optimal trajectories of models of economic dynamics determined by convex processes. In this monograph the author, a leading expert in modern turnpike theory, presents a number of results concerning the turnpike properties in the calculus of variations and optimal control which were obtained in the last ten years. These results show that the turnpike properties form a general phenomenon which holds for various classes of variational problems and optimal control problems. The book should help to correct the misapprehension that turnpike properties are only special features of some narrow classes of convex problems of mathematical economics. Audience This book is intended for mathematicians interested in optimal control, calculus of variations, game theory and mathematical economics.

"Optimal Control" brings together many of the important advances in 'nonsmooth' optimal control over the last several decades concerning necessary conditions, minimizer regularity, and global optimality conditions associated with the Hamilton Jacobi equation. The book is largely self-contained and incorporates numerous simplifications and unifying features for the subject s key concepts and foundations. Features and Topics: * a comprehensive overview is provided for specialists and nonspecialists * authoritative, coherent, and accessible coverage of the role of nonsmooth analysis in investigating minimizing curves for optimal control * chapter coverage of dynamic programming and the regularity of minimizers * explains the necessary conditions for nonconvex problems This book is an excellent presentation of the foundations and applications of nonsmooth optimal control for postgraduates, researchers, and professionals in systems, control, optimization, and applied mathematics. --------------------------------- "Each chapter contains a well-written introduction and notes. They include the author's deep insights on the subject matter and provide historical comments and guidance to related literature. This book may well become an important milestone in the literature of optimal control." Mathematical Reviews "This remarkable book presents Optimal Control seen as a natural development of Calculus of Variations so as to deal with the control of engineering devices Thanks to a great effort to be self-contained, this book] renders accessibly the subject to a wide audience. Therefore, it is recommended to all researchers and professionals interested in Optimal Control and its engineering and economic applications. It can serve as an excellent textbook for graduate courses in Optimal Control (with special emphasis on Nonsmooth Analysis)." Automatica. "The book may be an essential resource for potential readers, experts in control and optimization, as well as postgraduates and applied mathematicians, and it will be valued for its accessibility and clear exposition." Applications of Mathematics"