Dual and Optimality Criteria Methods

During the seventies people who worked in the field of structural optimization were divided into two distinct and somewhat belligerent camps. On the one side the mathematical programming camp believed in employing the general methods of linear and nonlinear programming such as the simplex method, penalty function techniques, gradient projection techniques or methods of feasible directions (see Chapter 5). On the other side the optimality criteria camp subscribed to the use of methods described in the present chapter. The mathematical programming camp decried the lack of generality of optimality criteria methods, and the optimality criteria camp sneered at the inefficiency of the general mathematical programming approach.