An alternative formulation of a distributed-parameter optimal cotrol problem applied to nuclear shielding

An alternative formalism for optimal control of distributed parameter systems is proposed. Necessary conditions for optimality and transversality conditions are developed for a class of distributed-parameter systems. It is shown that when the distributed system becomes a lumped-parameter one, the results obtained become identical to known results of optimal control of lumped systems. The formalism developed is applied to solve a problem of optimal design of a shielding installation around a neutron source.