A variational inequality formulation of an inverse elasticity problem Original Research Article

We present some systematic approaches to the mathematical formulation and numerical resolution of an optimal control problem in linear elasticity. The objective of the optimization is to match a desired displacement by controlling the Youngʹs modulus so as to minimize a quadratic functional. Theoretical results are presented in the general framework of linear elastic theory which lead to a variational inequality. Also, we define and analyze a finite element approximation of the optimality system and a gradient method for the solution of the discrete variational inequality. Finally, numerical experiments for the simulation of a simplified model for the “sag bending process” in the manufacturing of automobile windscreens are discussed.