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Adaptive multivariate three-timescale stochastic approximation algorithms for simulation based optimization

Published: 01 January 2005 Publication History

Abstract

We develop in this article, four adaptive three-timescale stochastic approximation algorithms for simulation optimization that estimate both the gradient and Hessian of average cost at each update epoch. These algorithms use four, three, two, and one simulation(s), respectively, and update the values of the decision variable and Hessian matrix components simultaneously, with estimates based on the simultaneous perturbation methodology. Our algorithms use coupled stochastic recursions that proceed using three different timescales or step-size schedules. We present a detailed convergence analysis of the algorithms and show numerical experiments using all the developed algorithms on a two-node network of M/G/1 queues with feedback for a 50-dimensional parameter vector. We provide comparisons of the performance of these algorithms with two recently developed two-timescale steepest descent simultaneous perturbation analogs that use randomized and deterministic perturbation sequences, respectively. We also present experiments to explore the sensitivity of the algorithms to their associated parameters. The algorithms that use four and three simulations, respectively, perform significantly better than the rest of the algorithms.

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  1. Adaptive multivariate three-timescale stochastic approximation algorithms for simulation based optimization

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      cover image ACM Transactions on Modeling and Computer Simulation
      ACM Transactions on Modeling and Computer Simulation  Volume 15, Issue 1
      January 2005
      107 pages
      ISSN:1049-3301
      EISSN:1558-1195
      DOI:10.1145/1044322
      Issue’s Table of Contents

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      Association for Computing Machinery

      New York, NY, United States

      Publication History

      Published: 01 January 2005
      Published in TOMACS Volume 15, Issue 1

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      Author Tags

      1. Adaptive three-timescale stochastic approximation algorithms
      2. Newton-type algorithms
      3. simulation optimization
      4. simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation

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