Necessary and sufficient conditions for the optimal control of distributed parameter systems subject to integral constraints (Q1109327)

The problem of suppressing the vibrations of structures by means of distributed control forces is considered. The dynamic behavior of these structures is described by a system of partial differential equations, second order in time and fourth order in space, with a damping term. The objective of the control is to minimize a prescribed performance index of the structure in a given period of time, with side conditions of integral type on the state and control variables. A necessary condition for optimality is given in the form of a maximum principle. Under certain convexity assumptions, it is shown that this maximum principle is also sufficient. The method can be applied to obtain the optimal control solution for membranes, or various beams, or more general systems.