1. Introduction
In order to study and investigate the multiple-objective optimization problems, over time, several concepts of
efficient solutions have been considered. In this sense, Geoffrion [
1] defined
proper efficiency. Furthermore, Klinger [
2] proposed
improper solutions associated with a class of vector optimization problems. By using vector variational-like inequalities, Kazmi [
3] established some existence results of a
weak minimum in constrained multiple-objective optimization problems. In addition, Ghaznavi-ghosoni and Khorram [
4] introduced
approximate solutions to the state conditions of efficiency in general multiple-objective optimization problems.
On the other hand, as it is well-known, the concept of
convexity plays an important role in optimization theory. However, since convexity does not cover certain concrete problems, its generalization became a real necessity. In this direction, Hanson [
5] introduced the notion of
invex functions. Of course, over time, a lot of various extensions have been defined (for example, preinvexity, pseudoinvexity, univexity, quasi-invexity, approximate convexity) by authors such as Antczak [
6], Ahmad et al. [
7]) and Mishra et al. [
8]. Moreover, some of these notions have been transposed in a multidimensional framework involving multiple or curvilinear integral functionals; see, for instance, Treanţă [
9], Mititelu and Treanţă [
10].
Notable results associated with variational inequalities, having important applications in engineering or traffic analysis, have been formulated by Giannessi [
11]. We all know that vector variational inequalities provide results for the existence of solutions in multiple-objective optimization problems. In this regard, the reader is directed to the research work by Ruiz-Garzón et al. [
12]. Treanţă [
13] studied a class of variational inequalities involving curvilinear integrals. Kim [
14] established some connections between multiple-objective continuous-time problems and vector variational-type inequalities. As a natural extension of continuous-time variational problems, optimal control problems have been used to study different engineering problems or processes in game theory, operations research and economics. In this sense, Jha et al. [
15] and Treanţă [
16,
17] studied and established optimality conditions of efficiency, well-posedness, saddle-point optimality criteria and modified the objective function method in multitime variational control problems with multiple or curvilinear integral-type functionals.
Very recently, Treanţă [
18] established relations between the solutions of a class of vector variational inequalities and (proper) efficient solutions of the associated multiple-objective control problem. As a natural sequel of the advances mentioned above, in this paper, we introduce weak vector variational inequalities and the associated multiple-objective optimization problems generated by curvilinear integral-type functionals, which are path-independent. By using the concepts of the invex set, Fréchet differentiability, invexity and pseudoinvexity for the considered curvilinear integral functionals, we state some relations between the solutions of a class of weak vector variational inequalities and (weak) efficient solutions of the associated optimization problem.
Further, the paper is structured as follows. In
Section 2, we present the preliminaries/auxiliary results and problem description. In
Section 3, we formulate and prove some characterization results associated with the solutions of the considered control problems. In
Section 4, we state the conclusions for this study.
2. Preliminaries and Problem Description
We consider
a compact set included in
and
, is a multivariable. Let
be a piecewise smooth (differentiable) curve joining the following two fixed points
in
. In addition, we denote by
the space consisting in all piecewise smooth
state functions
, and by
the space consisting of all piecewise continuous
control functions
. Moreover, on
, we consider the inner product
for all
, together with the norm induced by it.
In the following, we consider a vector functional given by curvilinear integrals
where
are assumed to be vector-valued
-class functions. Furthermore, by
, we denote the operator of total derivative, and assume that the aforementioned 1-forms
are closed (
).
Throughout this paper, the next rules will be considered for equalities and inequalities:
for any
-tuples
in
.
Next, we state the following PDE/PDI constrained control problem
where
and
In the above mathematical context, we consider , are functions of -class.
Definition 1 (Mititelu and Treanţă [
10]).
A pair is an efficient solution of if there exists no other such that , or equivalently, , with strict inequality for at least one l. Definition 2 (Geoffrion [
1]).
A pair is a proper efficient solution of if is an efficient solution in and there exists a positive real number M such that, for all , we havefor some such thatwhenever and Definition 3. A pair is a weak efficient solution of if there exists no other such that , or equivalently, .
Taking into account Treanţă’s works [
18,
19], we consider the next vector functional defined by the curvilinear integral (independent of the path)
and formulate the concepts of invexity and pseudoinvexity for
K.
Definition 4 (Treanţă [
18]).
is said to be invex at with respect to and if there existof -class with , andof -class with , such thatfor any . Definition 5 (Treanţă [
18]).
In the above definition, we say that is strictly invex at with respect to and if we replace with , with . Definition 6. is said to be pseudoinvex at with respect to and if there existof -class with andof -class with , such thatimpliesor equivalentlyfor any . Some examples for invex or pseudoinvex curvilinear-type integral functionals can be found in Treanţă [
19]. For other points of view regarding vector/scalar optimization problems, the reader can consult Lee et al. [
20], Kazmi et al. [
21] and Treanţă [
22].
Definition 7 (Treanţă [
18]).
The subset is called invex with respect to and iffor all and . In order to establish some existence results of solutions for a control problem , we consider the following (weak) variational inequalities:
- (I)
Find such that there exists no fulfilling - (II)
Find such that there exists no fulfilling
Next, we present an illustrative example to verify that the above-mentioned class of vector-controlled variational inequalities is solvable at a given point.
Example 1. Let us consider and is a differentiable curve that links and . Furthermore, we assume that are piecewise differentiable functions, are given by: , and for . Define the following 1-forms of Lagrange typeas Further, we can easily notice that is a solution for the associated vector-controlled variational inequality . Indeed, we havefor all piecewise differentiable functions . Very recently, Treanţă [
18] established the following two results:
Theorem 1 (Treanţă [
18]).
Consider is an invex set with respect to π and υ and let be a proper efficient solution of . If each curvilinear integralis Fréchet differentiable at , then the pair solves . By considering the vector variational inequality , the next theorem provides a characterization of efficient solutions in .
Theorem 2 (Treanţă [
18]).
Consider is a solution of and each curvilinear integral is Fréchet differentiable and invex at with respect to π and υ. Then, the pair is an efficient solution for . 3. Main Results
In this section, we formulate some connections between the solutions of the considered weak vector variational inequalities and (weak, proper) efficient solutions of the associated control problem .
The next result formulates a sufficient condition for a pair to be a solution of .
Theorem 3. Let be an invex set with respect to π and υ and let be a weak efficient solution of . If each curvilinear integral is Fréchet differentiable at , then the pair solves .
Proof. Since
is a weak efficient solution of
, the results show that there exists no other feasible solution
such that
, or equivalently
By hypothesis, we have that
is an invex set with respect to
and
. Thus, for
, we have
. Thus, by using (
1), we get that there exists no other feasible solution
such that
, or equivalently
Further, we apply that each curvilinear integral
, is Fréchet differentiable at
and proceeding as in the proof of Theorem 1, by (
2), we obtain that there exists no other feasible solution
such that
for all
, and this ends the proof. □
The next theorem provides a characterization of weak efficient solutions for by using the weak-vector-controlled variational inequality .
Theorem 4. Let be a solution of . If each curvilinear integral is Fréchet differentiable and pseudoinvex at with respect to π and υ, then the pair is a weak efficient solution of .
Proof. By reductio ad absurdum, consider that
is a solution of
but it is not a weak efficient solution of
. In consequence, there exists
such that, for all
,
By hypothesis, each curvilinear integral
, is Fréchet differentiable and pseudoinvex at
with respect to
and
. In consequence, we have
for any
and
. This contradicts that
is a solution of
and the proof is complete. □
The next result formulates a sufficient condition for a weak efficient solution of to be an efficient solution of .
Theorem 5. Let be a weak efficient solution of . If each curvilinear integral is Fréchet differentiable and strictly invex at with respect to π and υ and is an invex set with respect to π and υ, then the pair is an efficient solution for .
Proof. By contradiction, assume that
is a weak efficient solution of
but not an efficient solution of
. It results there exists a feasible solution
satisfying
, or equivalently
with strict inequality for at least one
l.
By hypothesis, each curvilinear integral
is Fréchet differentiable and strictly invex at
with respect to
and
. In consequence, we have
for any
and
.
By using (
3) and (
4), we obtain that there exists
such that
for all
. In consequence,
is not a solution for
and, in accordance with Theorem 3, it follows that
is not a weak efficient solution of
. Therefore, we obtain a contradiction, and the proof is complete. □
Example 2. Let us extremize the mechanical work accomplished by the variable forces and to move the application point along the piecewise differentiable curve , contained in and linking and , such that the following controlled dynamic systemis satisfied with respect to and for , and and for . Define the following closed 1-forms of Lagrange typeas below Obviously, the vector functionalis Fréchet differentiable at . Moreover, it can be easily verified that each curvilinear integral , is invex/pseudoinvex at with respect to π and υ. Further, we can easily see that is a solution for . Therefore, by Theorem 4, we get that is a weak efficient solution of the associated optimization problem.