This volume comprises the proceedings of the "3rd International Conference on Distributed Parameter Systems" held at the Chorherrenstift Vorau (Styria), July 6-12, 1986. The aim of the meeting was to stimulate exchange of information between scientists working in the field of distributed parameter systems. The papers included in the proceedings present recent results and most of them include a survey on the background of the problem. Main topics considered in these papers are boundary control for hyperbolic systems, linear-quadratic control problems, robustness, stabilization, visco-elastic and flexible structures, hereditary systems.

Organized by Deutsche Forschungs- und Versuchsanstalt fur Luft- und Raumfahrt (DFVLR)

INRIA, Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique

INRIA, Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique

A linear optimization problem is the task of minimizing a linear real-valued function of finitely many variables subject to linear con straints; in general there may be infinitely many constraints. This book is devoted to such problems. Their mathematical properties are investi gated and algorithms for their computational solution are presented. Applications are discussed in detail. Linear optimization problems are encountered in many areas of appli cations. They have therefore been subject to mathematical analysis for a long time. We mention here only two classical topics from this area: the so-called uniform approximation of functions which was used as a mathematical tool by Chebyshev in 1853 when he set out to design a crane, and the theory of systems of linear inequalities which has already been studied by Fourier in 1823. We will not treat the historical development of the theory of linear optimization in detail. However, we point out that the decisive break through occurred in the middle of this century. It was urged on by the need to solve complicated decision problems where the optimal deployment of military and civilian resources had to be determined. The availability of electronic computers also played an important role. The principal computational scheme for the solution of linear optimization problems, the simplex algorithm, was established by Dantzig about 1950. In addi tion, the fundamental theorems on such problems were rapidly developed, based on earlier published results on the properties of systems of linear inequalities."

Proceedings of the Conference on Control Theory for Distributed Parameter Systems, Held at the Chorherrenstift Vorau, Styria, July 11-17, 1982