Estimation of elastic parameters in a nonlinear elliptic system

The author discusses the estimation of a flexural rigidity coefficient in a nonlinear von Karman model of a static plate. Existence of optimal estimators is established. Sufficient conditions are presented that imply the convergence of linear approximating systems and their associated optimal estimators. The author obtains conditions under which the variation exists and uses this result to determine regularity properties of the optimal estimators.<>