Boundary element methods for optimization of distributed parameter systems

A numerical method of solution is proposed for optimization problems of distributed parameter systems. Two model problems from continuum mechanics are investigated by means of constructing the problems as the steady‐state optimal control problems governed by elliptic partial differential equations. The basis of the suggested method of solution lies in the space discretization of the necessary conditions for optimality by the boundary element method, and the minimization of the performance indices by the conjugate gradient method of optimization.