Numerical solution of a nonlinear parabolic control problem by a reduced SQP method (Q1202589)

In this paper a nonlinear diffusion problem with boundary input is considered. A motivation is the heating of kilns in the ceramic industry. The corresponding control problem was formulated by \textit{J. Burger} and \textit{M. Pogu} [J. Optimization Theory Appl. 68, No. 1, 49-73 (1991; Zbl 0711.49045)]. In this paper the control problem is written as an infinite- dimensional optimization problem with suitable control and state spaces. While Burger and Pogu take the state as a variable depending on the control function, the authors consider state and control both as independent variables. They interpret the boundary value problem as a nonlinear equality constraint in a constrained optimization problem. They use reduced secant SQP (successive quadratic programming) methods. Convergence is discussed. For discretized control problems SQP-algorithms are given, too. Implementation details and numerical examples are reported.