Solving Supply Chain Equilibrium Problems in Energy and Other Infrastructure Areas using a Difference-of-Convex Functions Algorithm

Rutgers-New Brunswick School of Engineering

Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
INDUSTRIAL AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING SEMINAR SERIES
Fall 2025

Solving Supply Chain Equilibrium Problems in Energy and Other Infrastructure Areas using a Difference-of-Convex Functions Algorithm

Dr. Steven A. Gabriel
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Maryland

Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 12:10 to 1:10 PM
Location: Hill-room 116

About this talk:

We describe a novel application of the difference-of-convex function algorithm (DCA) to a variety of equilibrium problems using the mixed complementarity problem (MCP) format. These problems involve bilinear constraints, i.e., complementarity and can be approximated iteratively via convex subproblems using DCA. We develop the necessary theory to make this possible and showcase how it works on several MCPs in energy and other infrastructure areas such as: the Brazilian natural gas market and water markets.

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Steven A. Gabriel is a Full Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering as well as the Applied Mathematics, Statistics, and Scientific Computing Program at the University of Maryland. Dr. Gabriel’s work focuses on energy systems modeling, optimization, and theory and has been applied to many different research projects at leading institutions worldwide, including the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Aalto University in Finland, the German Berlin Economic Research (DIW Berlin), and GERAD in Montreal. He has been involved in numerous international projects and honorary positions including Honorary Fellow (DIW Berlin), Trotier Holder Professor (Montréal), Jubilee Professor (Norwegian Univ. of Technology), and Otto Monsted Professor (Technical Univ. Denmark). Dr. Gabriel earned his Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences from Johns Hopkins University.

Zoom link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/96755427971?pwd=c4ewKjyef0bPN4w9zUA8R1hhZP484J.1
Password: 123

Contact: Dr. Robert Mieth (robert.mieth@soe.rutgers.edu)

Website: ise.rutgers.edu