Several inverse analysis methods were used to estimate linearly dependent thermal conductivity components of an orthotropic solid.The solutions of inverse heat conduction problems by using Bayesian approach

genetic algorithms and Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm were compared.The inverse solution of estimating thermal conductivity components were obtained by computing the expectations of the posterior probability density functions of the thermal conductivity components.Genetic algorithm is a relatively new technique for optimization and estimation.This technique can also be applied to solving inverse problems.Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm can also be used to solve the nonlinear inverse problem of the parameter estimation.