Analysis of a multistate control problem related to food technology

This paper is concerned with an optimal control problem related to the determination of an optimal profile for the steam temperature into the autoclave along the processing of canned foods. The problem studies a system coupling the evolution Navier-Stokes equations with the heat transfer equation by natural convection (the so-called Boussinesq equations), and with the microorganisms removal equation. The essential difficulties in the study of this multistate control problem arise from the lack of uniqueness for the solution of the state system. Here we obtain—after a careful analysis of the problem mathematical formulation—the uniqueness of part of the state, and the existence of optimal solutions.     

Well-posedness for a scalar conservation law with singular nonconservative source

We consider the Cauchy problem for the 2×2 strictly hyperbolic system

     

The problem of optimal control with reflection studied through a linear optimization problem stated on occupational measures

We obtain a linear programming characterization for the minimum cost associated with finite dimensional reflected optimal control problems. In order to describe the value functions, we employ an infinite dimensional dual formulation instead of using the characterization via Hamilton-Jacobi partial differential equations. In this paper we consider control problems with both infinite and finite horizons. The reflection is given by the normal cone to a proximal retract set.     

An energy-preserving nonlinear system modeling a string with input and output on the boundary

We study an energy conserving distributed parameter system described by a nonlinear string equation with the input and output at the boundary. We prove the existence of global smooth solutions to this quasilinear hyperbolic system if the initial data and the boundary input are small. If, moreover, the input function becomes zero after some finite time, then the state trajectories decay exponentially.     

Regularity for a Schrödinger equation with singular potentials and application to bilinear optimal control

We study the Schrödinger equation i∂_tu+Δu+V₀u+V₁u=0 on R³×(0,T), where V₀(x,t)=|x-a(t)|^-1, with a∈W^2,1(0,T;R³), is a coulombian potential, singular at finite distance, and V₁ is an electric potential, possibly unbounded. The initial condition u₀∈H²(R³) is such that . The potential V₁ is also real valued and may depend on space and time variables. We prove that if V₁ is regular enough and at most quadratic at infinity, this problem is well-posed and the regularity of the initial data is conserved for the solution. We also give an application to the bilinear optimal control of the solution through the electric potential.     

A well posed conservation law with a variable unilateral constraint

This paper considers the Cauchy problem for a conservation law with a variable unilateral constraint, its motivation being, for instance, the modeling of a toll gate along a highway. This problem is solved by means of nonclassical shocks and its well posedness is proved. Then, the solutions so obtained are shown to coincide with the limits of the classical solutions to suitable conservation laws with discontinuous flux function that approximate the constrained problem.     

Approximate controllability of a class of semilinear degenerate systems with boundary control

This paper concerns a class of control systems governed by semilinear degenerate equations with boundary control in one-dimensional space. The control is proposed on the ‘degenerate’ part of the boundary. The control systems are shown to be approximately controllable by Kakutani's fixed point theorem.     

Well-posedness and regularity of Naghdi's shell equation under boundary control and observation

A system of Naghdi's shell equation with Dirichlet boundary control and collocated observation is considered. Results on the associated nonhomogeneous boundary value problem are presented. Based on these results, it is shown that the system is well-posed in the sense of D. Salamon and regular in the sense of G. Weiss. The expression of the corresponding feedthrough operator is explicitly found by means of Riemannian geometric method and partial Fourier transform. These properties make this partial differential control system parallel in many ways finite-dimensional ones in the general framework of well-posed and regular infinite-dimensional systems.     

Multiplicity of critical points in presence of a linking: application to a superlinear boundary value problem

We consider a general nonlinear elliptic problem of the second order whose associated functional presents two linking structures and we prove the existence of three nontrivial solutions to the problem.     

Global exact controllability for quasilinear hyperbolic systems of diagonal form with linearly degenerate characteristics

This paper deals with the global exact controllability for first-order quasilinear hyperbolic systems of diagonal form with linearly degenerate characteristics. When the system has no zero characteristics, we establish the global exact boundary controllability from one arbitrarily preassigned C¹$C^1$ data to another by means of a constructive method, in which the desired boundary controls can be acted either on both sides or only on one side. Sharp estimates on the exact controllable time are given in both cases. When the system has some zero characteristics, the global exact controllability is also established.     

Stochastic optimal control and algorithm of the trajectory of horizontal wells

This paper presents a nonlinear, multi-phase and stochastic dynamical system according to engineering background. We show that the stochastic dynamical system exists a unique solution for every initial state. A stochastic optimal control model is constructed and the sufficient and necessary conditions for optimality are proved via dynamic programming principle. This model can be converted into a parametric nonlinear stochastic programming by integrating the state equation. It is discussed here that the local optimal solution depends in a continuous way on the parameters. A revised Hooke–Jeeves algorithm based on this property has been developed. Computer simulation is used for this paper, and the numerical results illustrate the validity and efficiency of the algorithm.     

An existence and uniqueness theorem for one optimal control problem

In this paper we investigate the existence and uniqueness for an optimal control problem with processes described by a quasilinear parabolic equation with controls in coefficients and the right side of this equation.     

Analysis and finite element approximations for distributed optimal control problems for implicit parabolic equations

This work concerns analysis and error estimates for optimal control problems related to implicit parabolic equations. The minimization of the tracking functional subject to implicit parabolic equations is examined. Existence of an optimal solution is proved and an optimality system of equations is derived. Semi-discrete (in space) error estimates for the finite element approximations of the optimality system are presented. These estimates are symmetric and applicable for higher-order discretizations. Finally, fully-discrete error estimates of arbitrarily high-order are presented based on a discontinuous Galerkin (in time) and conforming (in space) scheme. Two examples related to the Lagrangian moving mesh Galerkin formulation for the convection-diffusion equation are described.     

Diffusion-dispersion limits for multidimensional scalar conservation laws with source terms

In this paper we consider conservation laws with diffusion and dispersion terms. We study the convergence for approximation applied to conservation laws with source terms. The proof is based on the Hwang and Tzavaras's new approach [Seok Hwang, Athanasios E. Tzavaras, Kinetic decomposition of approximate solutions to conservation laws: Application to relaxation and diffusion-dispersion approximations, Comm. Partial Differential Equations 27 (5-6) (2002) 1229-1254] and the kinetic formulation developed by Lions, Perthame, and Tadmor [P.-L. Lions, B. Perthame, E. Tadmor, A kinetic formulation of multidimensional scalar conservation laws and related equations, J. Amer. Math. Soc. 7 (1) (1994) 169-191].     

Analysis and approximation of optimal control problems for a simplified Ginzburg-Landau model of superconductivity

Summary. This paper is concerned with optimal control problems for a Ginzburg-Landau model of superconductivity that is valid for high values of the Ginzburg-Landau parameter and high external fields. The control is of Neumann type. We first show that optimal solutions exist. We then show that Lagrange multipliers may be used to enforce the constraints and derive an optimality system from which optimal states and controls may be deduced. Then we define finite element approximations of solutions for the optimality system and derive error estimates for the approximations. Finally, we report on some numerical results. Received May 3, 1994 / Revised version received November 28, 1995     

Existence and nonexistence results for critical growth polyharmonic elliptic systems

In this work, we consider semilinear elliptic systems for the polyharmonic operator having a critical growth nonlinearity. We establish conditions for existence and nonexistence of nontrivial solutions to these systems.     

Scalar conservation laws with moving constraints arising in traffic flow modeling: An existence result

We consider a strongly coupled PDE–ODE system that describes the influence of a slow and large vehicle on road traffic. The model consists of a scalar conservation law accounting for the main traffic evolution, while the trajectory of the slower vehicle is given by an ODE depending on the downstream traffic density. The moving constraint is expressed by an inequality on the flux, which models the bottleneck created in the road by the presence of the slower vehicle. We prove the existence of solutions to the Cauchy problem for initial data of bounded variation.     

L -decay rates of planar viscous rarefaction wave for scalar conservation law with degenerate viscosity in n -dimensions

We investigate the Cauchy problem and the initial-boundary value problem for multi-dimensional conservation laws with degenerate viscosity in the whole space and in the half-space respectively. We give the optimal decay estimates in the W^1,p(1≤p≤∞)$W^{1,p}(1\le p\le \infty )$ norm for the perturbation from the planar viscous rarefaction wave. The analysis based on the new L^p$L^p$-energy method and L¹$L^1$-estimates.     

Analysis of the dynamics of local error control via a piecewise continuous residual

Positive results are obtained about the effect of local error control in numerical simulations of ordinary differential equations. The results are cast in terms of the local error tolerance. Under theassumption that a local error control strategy is successful, it is shown that a continuous interpolant through the numerical solution exists that satisfies the differential equation to within a small, piecewise continuous, residual. The assumption is known to hold for thematlab ode23 algorithm [10] when applied to a variety of problems. Using the smallness of the residual, it follows that at any finite time the continuous interpolant converges to the true solution as the error tolerance tends to zero. By studying the perturbed differential equation it is also possible to prove discrete analogs of the long-time dynamical properties of the equation—dissipative, contractive and gradient systems are analysed in this way. Supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council under grants GR/H94634 and GR/K80228. Supported by the Office of Naval Research under grant N00014-92-J-1876 and by the National Science Foundation under grant DMS-9201727.     

Euler equations involving nonlinearities without growth conditions

A functional is considered, whose Euler equation involves a nonlinearity without growth conditions. It is shown that every minimum point of the functional is a solution of the Euler equation in a suitable weak sense.This work was partially supported by a national research grant financed by the Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica (40%-1992).