Back to search

Virginia Tech

A Numerical Investigation Of The Canonical Duality Method For Non-Convex Variational Problems

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This thesis represents a theoretical and numerical investigation of the canonical duality theory, which has been recently proposed as an alternative to the classic and direct methods for non-convex variational problems. These non-convex variational problems arise in a wide range of scientific and engineering applications, such as phase transitions, post-buckling of large deformed beam models, nonlinear field theory, and superconductivity. The numerical discretization of these non-convex variational problems leads to global minimization problems in a finite dimensional space. The primary goal of this thesis is to apply the newly developed canonical duality theory to two non-convex variational problems: a modified version of Ericksen's bar and a problem of Landau-Ginzburg type. The canonical duality theory is investigated numerically and compared with classic methods of numerical nature. Both advantages and shortcomings of the canonical duality theory are discussed. A major component of this critical numerical investigation is a careful sensitivity study of the various approaches with respect to changes in parameters, boundary conditions and initial conditions.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph. D.
Level thesis:degree_level
doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Mathematics
Department dc:contributor.department
Mathematics
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2011

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Yu, Haofeng
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Iliescu, Traian
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Burns, John A.
  • De Vita, Raffaella
  • Borggaard, Jeffrey T.

Subjects

dc:subject × 8

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-09252011-085711
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/29095

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Yu, Haofeng. A Numerical Investigation Of The Canonical Duality Method For Non-Convex Variational Problems. doctoral thesis, Virginia Tech, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/29095