A new augmented Lagrangian function for inequality constraints in nonlinear programming problems

In this paper, a new augmented Lagrangian function is introduced for solving nonlinear programming problems with inequality constraints. The relevant feature of the proposed approach is that, under suitable assumptions, it enables one to obtain the solution of the constrained problem by a single unconstrained minimization of a continuously differentiable function, so that standard unconstrained minimization techniques can be employed. Numerical examples are reported. © 1982 Plenum Publishing Corporation.