Set hessian function only once for fmincon

I'm calculating the analytic hessian for the interior-point algorithm of fmincon like described here: https://de.mathworks.com/help/optim/ug/fmincon-interior-point-algorithm-with-analytic-hessian.html

I have to solve a non-linear optimization problem repeatedly with different values. Hence, inside the calculation of the hessian, a model is evaluated. Here is a pseudocode example:

for i=1:maxIter
    z = ones(Elements,1)*i;
    hess = @(x,lambda) analyticHessian(x,lambda,z);
    options = optimoptions('fmincon','Algorithm','interior-point','SpecifyConstraintGradient',true,'SpecifyObjectiveGradient',true,'HessianFcn',hess);
    x = fmincon(costfun,x_0,[],[],[],[],[],[],@constraints,options);
end

Inside the analyticHessian-Function, the model is evaluated with the different values of z. To account that, I have to set the options again in every iteration. I've tried to only set them once but then the values of z, and therefore the model, doesn't get evaluated with the new values. Is there any possibility to set the options only once to save time?

Answer 1

[Alan Weiss]

It seems to me that if you are changing the problem Hessian at each iteration then you will have to change the fmincon Hessian at each iteration. You can save time by simply updating the options instead of creating all-new options:

options = optimoptions('fmincon','Algorithm','interior-point','SpecifyConstraintGradient',true,'SpecifyObjectiveGradient',true);
for i=1:maxIter
    z = ones(Elements,1)*i;
    hess = @(x,lambda) analyticHessian(x,lambda,z);
    options.HessianFcn = hess;
    x = fmincon(costfun,x_0,[],[],[],[],[],[],@constraints,options);
end

Or you could use a nested function instead of an anonymous function for carrying the extra parameter. See Passing Extra Parameters.

Alan Weiss

MATLAB mathematical toolbox documentation

[Steradiant]

Thanks, that did the trick. Using the options-structure was the solution. Thanks!