Parameter identification for heterogeneous materials by optimal control approach with flux cost functionals

Abstract The paper deals with the identification of material parameters characterizing components in heterogeneous geocomposites provided that the interfaces separating different materials are known. We use the optimal control approach with flux type cost functionals. Since solutions to the respective state problems are not regular, in general, the original cost functionals are expressed in terms of integrals over the computational domain using the Green formula. We prove the existence of solutions to the optimal control problem and establish convergence results for appropriately defined discretizations. The rest of the paper is devoted to computational aspects, in particular how to handle high sensitivity of the problem on the accuracy of data gained by measurements.