diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS.C
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..826c15f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS.C
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+
+    DAFoam  : Discrete Adjoint with OpenFOAM
+    Version : v3
+
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+#include "DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS.H"
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+namespace Foam
+{
+
+defineTypeNameAndDebug(DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS, 0);
+addToRunTimeSelectionTable(DAObjFunc, DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS, dictionary);
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS::DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS(
+    const fvMesh& mesh,
+    const DAOption& daOption,
+    const DAModel& daModel,
+    const DAIndex& daIndex,
+    const DAResidual& daResidual,
+    const word objFuncName,
+    const word objFuncPart,
+    const dictionary& objFuncDict)
+    : DAObjFunc(
+        mesh,
+        daOption,
+        daModel,
+        daIndex,
+        daResidual,
+        objFuncName,
+        objFuncPart,
+        objFuncDict)
+{
+    // Assign type, this is common for all objectives
+    objFuncDict_.readEntry<word>("type", objFuncType_);
+
+    objFuncDict_.readEntry<word>("varName", varName_);
+
+    objFuncDict_.readEntry<word>("varType", varType_);
+
+    objFuncDict_.readEntry<label>("component", component_);
+
+    objFuncDict_.readEntry<scalar>("coeffKS", coeffKS_);
+}
+
+/// calculate the value of objective function
+void DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS::calcObjFunc(
+    const labelList& objFuncFaceSources,
+    const labelList& objFuncCellSources,
+    scalarList& objFuncFaceValues,
+    scalarList& objFuncCellValues,
+    scalar& objFuncValue)
+{
+    /*
+    Description:
+        Calculate the patch approximated max using the KS function
+
+    Input:
+        objFuncFaceSources: List of face source (index) for this objective
+    
+        objFuncCellSources: List of cell source (index) for this objective
+
+    Output:
+        objFuncFaceValues: the discrete value of objective for each face source (index). 
+        This  will be used for computing df/dw in the adjoint.
+    
+        objFuncCellValues: the discrete value of objective on each cell source (index). 
+        This will be used for computing df/dw in the adjoint.
+    
+        objFuncValue: the sum of objective, reduced across all processors and scaled by "scale"
+    */
+
+    // initialize objFunValue
+    objFuncValue = 0.0;
+
+    const objectRegistry& db = mesh_.thisDb();
+
+    if (varType_ == "scalar")
+    {
+        const volScalarField& var = db.lookupObject<volScalarField>(varName_);
+
+        forAll(var, cellI)
+        {
+            objFuncValue += exp(coeffKS_ * var[cellI]);
+
+            if (objFuncValue > 1e200)
+            {
+                FatalErrorIn(" ") << "KS function summation term too large! "
+                                  << "Reduce coeffKS! " << abort(FatalError);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    else if (varType_ == "vector")
+    {
+        const volVectorField& var = db.lookupObject<volVectorField>(varName_);
+        forAll(var, cellI)
+        {
+            objFuncValue += exp(coeffKS_ * var[cellI][component_]);
+
+            if (objFuncValue > 1e200)
+            {
+                FatalErrorIn(" ") << "KS function summation term too large! "
+                                  << "Reduce coeffKS! " << abort(FatalError);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        FatalErrorIn("DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS::calcObjFunc")
+            << "varType not valid. Options are scalar or vector"
+            << abort(FatalError);
+    }
+
+    // need to reduce the sum of force across all processors
+    reduce(objFuncValue, sumOp<scalar>());
+
+    objFuncValue = log(objFuncValue) / coeffKS_;
+
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
+
+    return;
+}
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+} // End namespace Foam
+
+// ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS.H b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS.H
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..1631a6a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS.H
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+
+    DAFoam  : Discrete Adjoint with OpenFOAM
+    Version : v3
+
+    Description:
+        Child class for approximated max variable (in tne 
+        entire field) using the KS function
+
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+#ifndef DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS_H
+#define DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS_H
+
+#include "DAObjFunc.H"
+#include "addToRunTimeSelectionTable.H"
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+namespace Foam
+{
+
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+      Class DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS Declaration
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+class DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS
+    : public DAObjFunc
+{
+
+protected:
+
+    /// name of the variable
+    word varName_;
+
+    /// type of the variable either vector or scalar
+    word varType_;
+
+    /// if vector which element?
+    label component_;
+
+    /// the KS coefficient
+    scalar coeffKS_;
+
+public:
+    TypeName("fieldMaxKS");
+    // Constructors
+
+    //- Construct from components
+    DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS(
+        const fvMesh& mesh,
+        const DAOption& daOption,
+        const DAModel& daModel,
+        const DAIndex& daIndex,
+        const DAResidual& daResidual,
+        const word objFuncName,
+        const word objFuncPart,
+        const dictionary& objFuncDict);
+
+    //- Destructor
+    virtual ~DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS()
+    {
+    }
+
+    /// calculate the value of objective function
+    virtual void calcObjFunc(
+        const labelList& objFuncFaceSources,
+        const labelList& objFuncCellSources,
+        scalarList& objFuncFaceValues,
+        scalarList& objFuncCellValues,
+        scalar& objFuncValue);
+};
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+} // End namespace Foam
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+#endif
+
+// ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS.C b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS.C
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..ec38edaf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS.C
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+
+    DAFoam  : Discrete Adjoint with OpenFOAM
+    Version : v3
+
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+#include "DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS.H"
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+namespace Foam
+{
+
+defineTypeNameAndDebug(DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS, 0);
+addToRunTimeSelectionTable(DAObjFunc, DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS, dictionary);
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS::DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS(
+    const fvMesh& mesh,
+    const DAOption& daOption,
+    const DAModel& daModel,
+    const DAIndex& daIndex,
+    const DAResidual& daResidual,
+    const word objFuncName,
+    const word objFuncPart,
+    const dictionary& objFuncDict)
+    : DAObjFunc(
+        mesh,
+        daOption,
+        daModel,
+        daIndex,
+        daResidual,
+        objFuncName,
+        objFuncPart,
+        objFuncDict)
+{
+    // Assign type, this is common for all objectives
+    objFuncDict_.readEntry<word>("type", objFuncType_);
+
+    objFuncDict_.readEntry<word>("varName", varName_);
+
+    objFuncDict_.readEntry<word>("varType", varType_);
+
+    objFuncDict_.readEntry<label>("component", component_);
+
+    objFuncDict_.readEntry<scalar>("coeffKS", coeffKS_);
+}
+
+/// calculate the value of objective function
+void DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS::calcObjFunc(
+    const labelList& objFuncFaceSources,
+    const labelList& objFuncCellSources,
+    scalarList& objFuncFaceValues,
+    scalarList& objFuncCellValues,
+    scalar& objFuncValue)
+{
+    /*
+    Description:
+        Calculate the patch approximated max using the KS function
+
+    Input:
+        objFuncFaceSources: List of face source (index) for this objective
+    
+        objFuncCellSources: List of cell source (index) for this objective
+
+    Output:
+        objFuncFaceValues: the discrete value of objective for each face source (index). 
+        This  will be used for computing df/dw in the adjoint.
+    
+        objFuncCellValues: the discrete value of objective on each cell source (index). 
+        This will be used for computing df/dw in the adjoint.
+    
+        objFuncValue: the sum of objective, reduced across all processors and scaled by "scale"
+    */
+
+    // initialize objFunValue
+    objFuncValue = 0.0;
+
+    const objectRegistry& db = mesh_.thisDb();
+
+    if (varType_ == "scalar")
+    {
+        const volScalarField& var = db.lookupObject<volScalarField>(varName_);
+
+        forAll(objFuncFaceSources, idxI)
+        {
+            const label& objFuncFaceI = objFuncFaceSources[idxI];
+            label bFaceI = objFuncFaceI - daIndex_.nLocalInternalFaces;
+            const label patchI = daIndex_.bFacePatchI[bFaceI];
+            const label faceI = daIndex_.bFaceFaceI[bFaceI];
+            
+            objFuncValue += exp(coeffKS_ * var.boundaryField()[patchI][faceI]);
+
+            if (objFuncValue > 1e200)
+            {
+                FatalErrorIn(" ") << "KS function summation term too large! "
+                                  << "Reduce coeffKS! " << abort(FatalError);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    else if (varType_ == "vector")
+    {
+        const volVectorField& var = db.lookupObject<volVectorField>(varName_);
+
+        // calculate area weighted heat flux
+        forAll(objFuncFaceSources, idxI)
+        {
+            const label& objFuncFaceI = objFuncFaceSources[idxI];
+            label bFaceI = objFuncFaceI - daIndex_.nLocalInternalFaces;
+            const label patchI = daIndex_.bFacePatchI[bFaceI];
+            const label faceI = daIndex_.bFaceFaceI[bFaceI];
+            
+            objFuncValue += exp(coeffKS_ * var.boundaryField()[patchI][faceI][component_]);
+
+            if (objFuncValue > 1e200)
+            {
+                FatalErrorIn(" ") << "KS function summation term too large! "
+                                  << "Reduce coeffKS! " << abort(FatalError);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        FatalErrorIn("DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS::calcObjFunc")
+            << "varType not valid. Options are scalar or vector"
+            << abort(FatalError);
+    }
+
+    // need to reduce the sum of force across all processors
+    reduce(objFuncValue, sumOp<scalar>());
+
+    objFuncValue = log(objFuncValue) / coeffKS_;
+
+    // check if we need to calculate refDiff.
+    this->calcRefVar(objFuncValue);
+
+    return;
+}
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+} // End namespace Foam
+
+// ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS.H b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS.H
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..4cbd5cb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/adjoint/DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS.H
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+
+    DAFoam  : Discrete Adjoint with OpenFOAM
+    Version : v3
+
+    Description:
+        Child class for approximated max variable on patches using the KS function
+
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+#ifndef DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS_H
+#define DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS_H
+
+#include "DAObjFunc.H"
+#include "addToRunTimeSelectionTable.H"
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+namespace Foam
+{
+
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+      Class DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS Declaration
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+class DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS
+    : public DAObjFunc
+{
+
+protected:
+
+    /// name of the variable
+    word varName_;
+
+    /// type of the variable either vector or scalar
+    word varType_;
+
+    /// if vector which element?
+    label component_;
+
+    /// the KS coefficient
+    scalar coeffKS_;
+
+public:
+    TypeName("patchMaxKS");
+    // Constructors
+
+    //- Construct from components
+    DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS(
+        const fvMesh& mesh,
+        const DAOption& daOption,
+        const DAModel& daModel,
+        const DAIndex& daIndex,
+        const DAResidual& daResidual,
+        const word objFuncName,
+        const word objFuncPart,
+        const dictionary& objFuncDict);
+
+    //- Destructor
+    virtual ~DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS()
+    {
+    }
+
+    /// calculate the value of objective function
+    virtual void calcObjFunc(
+        const labelList& objFuncFaceSources,
+        const labelList& objFuncCellSources,
+        scalarList& objFuncFaceValues,
+        scalarList& objFuncCellValues,
+        scalar& objFuncValue);
+};
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+} // End namespace Foam
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+#endif
+
+// ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/adjoint/Make/files_Solid b/src/adjoint/Make/files_Solid
index 0bd3bfad..35f067ba 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/Make/files_Solid
+++ b/src/adjoint/Make/files_Solid
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncMeshQualityKS.C
 DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncWallHeatFlux.C
 DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncPatchMean.C
 DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncLocation.C
+DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncFieldMaxKS.C
+DAObjFunc/DAObjFuncPatchMaxKS.C
 
 DAFvSource/DAFvSource.C
 DAFvSource/DAFvSourceHeatSource.C