This paper presents an algorithm for minimizing an objective function subject to conventional inequality constraints as well as to inequality constraints of the functional type:

, where Ω is a closed interval in

, and

is the parameter vector to be optimized. The algorithm is motivated by a standard earthquake engineering problem and the problem of designing linear multivariable systems. The stability condition (Nyquist criterion) and disturbance suppression condition for such systems are easily expressed as a functional inequality constraint.