Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

Engineering 5821:
Control Systems I
Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science
Memorial University of Newfoundland

February 15, 2010

ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Block Diagram Reduction

Cascade Form
Parallel Form
Feedback Form
Moving Blocks
Example

Signal-Flow Graphs

ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Cascade Form
Parallel Form
Feedback Form
Moving Blocks
Example

Block Diagram Reduction

Subsystems are represented in block diagrams as blocks, each
representing a transfer function.

ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Cascade Form
Parallel Form
Feedback Form
Moving Blocks
Example

Block Diagram Reduction

Subsystems are represented in block diagrams as blocks, each
representing a transfer function. In this unit we will consider how
to combine the blocks corresponding to individual subsystems so
that we can represent a whole system as a single block, and
therefore a single transfer function.

ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Cascade Form
Parallel Form
Feedback Form
Moving Blocks
Example

Block Diagram Reduction

Subsystems are represented in block diagrams as blocks, each
representing a transfer function. In this unit we will consider how
to combine the blocks corresponding to individual subsystems so
that we can represent a whole system as a single block, and
therefore a single transfer function. Here is an example of this
reduction:

ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Cascade Form
Parallel Form
Feedback Form
Moving Blocks
Example

Block Diagram Reduction

Subsystems are represented in block diagrams as blocks, each
representing a transfer function. In this unit we will consider how
to combine the blocks corresponding to individual subsystems so
that we can represent a whole system as a single block, and
therefore a single transfer function. Here is an example of this
reduction:

ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Cascade Form
Parallel Form
Feedback Form
Moving Blocks
Example

Block Diagram Reduction

Subsystems are represented in block diagrams as blocks, each
representing a transfer function. In this unit we will consider how
to combine the blocks corresponding to individual subsystems so
that we can represent a whole system as a single block, and
therefore a single transfer function. Here is an example of this
reduction:

Reduced Form:

ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Cascade Form
Parallel Form
Feedback Form
Moving Blocks
Example

Block Diagram Reduction

Subsystems are represented in block diagrams as blocks, each
representing a transfer function. In this unit we will consider how
to combine the blocks corresponding to individual subsystems so
that we can represent a whole system as a single block, and
therefore a single transfer function. Here is an example of this
reduction:

Reduced Form:

ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

First we summarize the elements of block diagrams:

First we summarize the elements of block diagrams:

First we summarize the elements of block diagrams:

We now consider the forms in which blocks are typically connected

and how these forms can be reduced to single blocks.

Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Cascade Form
Parallel Form
Feedback Form
Moving Blocks
Example

Cascade Form
When multiple subsystems are connected such that the output of
one subsystem serves as the input to the next, these subsystems
are said to be in cascade form.

ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Cascade Form
Parallel Form
Feedback Form
Moving Blocks
Example

Cascade Form
When multiple subsystems are connected such that the output of
one subsystem serves as the input to the next, these subsystems
are said to be in cascade form.

ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Cascade Form
Parallel Form
Feedback Form
Moving Blocks
Example

Cascade Form
When multiple subsystems are connected such that the output of
one subsystem serves as the input to the next, these subsystems
are said to be in cascade form.

The algebraic form of the final output clearly shows the equivalent
system TFthe product of the cascaded subsystem TFs.

ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

When reducing subsystems in cascade form we make the

assumption that adjacent subsystems do not load each other.

When reducing subsystems in cascade form we make the

assumption that adjacent subsystems do not load each other.
That is, a subsystems output remains the same no matter what
the output is connected to.

When reducing subsystems in cascade form we make the

assumption that adjacent subsystems do not load each other.
That is, a subsystems output remains the same no matter what
the output is connected to. If another subsystem connected to the
output modifies that output, we say that it loads the first system.

When reducing subsystems in cascade form we make the

assumption that adjacent subsystems do not load each other.
That is, a subsystems output remains the same no matter what
the output is connected to. If another subsystem connected to the
output modifies that output, we say that it loads the first system.
Consider interconnecting the circuits (a) and (b) below:

When reducing subsystems in cascade form we make the

assumption that adjacent subsystems do not load each other.
That is, a subsystems output remains the same no matter what
the output is connected to. If another subsystem connected to the
output modifies that output, we say that it loads the first system.
Consider interconnecting the circuits (a) and (b) below:

When reducing subsystems in cascade form we make the

assumption that adjacent subsystems do not load each other.
That is, a subsystems output remains the same no matter what
the output is connected to. If another subsystem connected to the
output modifies that output, we say that it loads the first system.
Consider interconnecting the circuits (a) and (b) below:

The overall TF is not the product of the individual TFs!

We can prevent loading by inserting an amplifier.

We can prevent loading by inserting an amplifier. This amplifier

should have a high input impedance so it does not load its source,
and low output impedance so it appears as a pure voltage source
to the subsystem it feeds into.

We can prevent loading by inserting an amplifier. This amplifier

should have a high input impedance so it does not load its source,
and low output impedance so it appears as a pure voltage source
to the subsystem it feeds into.

If no actual gain is desired then K = 1 and the amplifier is

referred to as a buffer.

Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Cascade Form
Parallel Form
Feedback Form
Moving Blocks
Example

Parallel Form
Parallel subsystems have a common input and their outputs are
summed together.

ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Cascade Form
Parallel Form
Feedback Form
Moving Blocks
Example

Parallel Form
Parallel subsystems have a common input and their outputs are
summed together.

ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Cascade Form
Parallel Form
Feedback Form
Moving Blocks
Example

Parallel Form
Parallel subsystems have a common input and their outputs are
summed together.

The equivalent TF is the sum of parallel TFs (with matched signs

at summing junction).
ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

Feedback Form
Systems with feedback typically have the following form:

Feedback Form
Systems with feedback typically have the following form:

Feedback Form
Systems with feedback typically have the following form:

Noticing the cascade form within the feedforward and feedback

paths we can simplify:

Feedback Form
Systems with feedback typically have the following form:

Noticing the cascade form within the feedforward and feedback

paths we can simplify:

We can easily establish the following two facts:

We can easily establish the following two facts:

E (s) = R(s) C (s)H(s)

We can easily establish the following two facts:

E (s) = R(s) C (s)H(s)
C (s) = E (s)G (s)

We can easily establish the following two facts:

E (s) = R(s) C (s)H(s)
C (s) = E (s)G (s)
We can now eliminate E (s) to obtain,

We can easily establish the following two facts:

E (s) = R(s) C (s)H(s)
C (s) = E (s)G (s)
We can now eliminate E (s) to obtain,
Ge (s) =

G (s)
1 G (s)H(s)

We can easily establish the following two facts:

E (s) = R(s) C (s)H(s)
C (s) = E (s)G (s)
We can now eliminate E (s) to obtain,
Ge (s) =

G (s)
1 G (s)H(s)

Moving Blocks
A systems block diagram may require some modification before
the reductions discussed above can be applied.

Moving Blocks
A systems block diagram may require some modification before
the reductions discussed above can be applied.
We may need to move blocks either to the left or right of a
summing junction:

Moving Blocks
A systems block diagram may require some modification before
the reductions discussed above can be applied.
We may need to move blocks either to the left or right of a
summing junction:

Or we may need to move blocks to the left or right of a pickoff

point:

Or we may need to move blocks to the left or right of a pickoff

point:

Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Cascade Form
Parallel Form
Feedback Form
Moving Blocks
Example

Example

Reduce the following system to a single TF:

ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Cascade Form
Parallel Form
Feedback Form
Moving Blocks
Example

Example

Reduce the following system to a single TF:

ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

Block Diagram Reduction

Signal-Flow Graphs

Cascade Form
Parallel Form
Feedback Form
Moving Blocks
Example

Example

Reduce the following system to a single TF:

First we can combine the three summing junctions together...

ENGI 5821

Unit 4: Block Diagram Reduction

We can now recognize the parallel form in the feedback path:

We can now recognize the parallel form in the feedback path:

We can now recognize the parallel form in the feedback path:

We now have G1 cascaded with a feedback subsystem:

We can now recognize the parallel form in the feedback path:

We now have G1 cascaded with a feedback subsystem:

Example 2
Reduce the following more complicated block diagram:

Example 2
Reduce the following more complicated block diagram:

Example 2
Reduce the following more complicated block diagram:

Steps:

Example 2
Reduce the following more complicated block diagram:

Steps:
Rightmost feedback loop can be reduced

Example 2
Reduce the following more complicated block diagram:

Steps:
Rightmost feedback loop can be reduced
Create parallel form by moving G2 left

Example 2
Reduce the following more complicated block diagram:

Steps:
Rightmost feedback loop can be reduced
Create parallel form by moving G2 left

Example 2
Reduce the following more complicated block diagram:

Steps:
Rightmost feedback loop can be reduced
Create parallel form by moving G2 left

Reduce parallel form involving 1/G2 and unity

Reduce parallel form involving 1/G2 and unity

Push G1 to the right past the summing junction to create a
parallel form in the feedback path

Reduce parallel form involving 1/G2 and unity

Push G1 to the right past the summing junction to create a
parallel form in the feedback path

Reduce parallel form involving 1/G2 and unity

Push G1 to the right past the summing junction to create a
parallel form in the feedback path

Reduce parallel form on left

Reduce parallel form on left

Recognize cascade form on right

Reduce parallel form on left

Recognize cascade form on right

Reduce parallel form on left

Recognize cascade form on right

Reduce feedback form on left

Reduce feedback form on left

Reduce feedback form on left

Reduce feedback form on left

Reduce feedback form on left

Signal-Flow Graphs

Signal-flow graphs are an alternative to block diagrams.

Signal-Flow Graphs

Signal-flow graphs are an alternative to block diagrams. They

consist of branches which represent systems (a) and nodes which
represent signals (b).

Signal-Flow Graphs

Signal-flow graphs are an alternative to block diagrams. They

consist of branches which represent systems (a) and nodes which
represent signals (b). Multiple branches converging on a node
implies summation.

Signal-Flow Graphs

Signal-flow graphs are an alternative to block diagrams. They

consist of branches which represent systems (a) and nodes which
represent signals (b). Multiple branches converging on a node
implies summation.
V (s) = R1 (s)G1 (s) R2 (s)G2 (s) + R3 (s)G3 (s)

Signal-Flow Graphs

Signal-flow graphs are an alternative to block diagrams. They

consist of branches which represent systems (a) and nodes which
represent signals (b). Multiple branches converging on a node
implies summation.
V (s) = R1 (s)G1 (s) R2 (s)G2 (s) + R3 (s)G3 (s)
C1 (s) = V (s)G4 (s)

Signal-Flow Graphs

Signal-flow graphs are an alternative to block diagrams. They

consist of branches which represent systems (a) and nodes which
represent signals (b). Multiple branches converging on a node
implies summation.
V (s) = R1 (s)G1 (s) R2 (s)G2 (s) + R3 (s)G3 (s)
C1 (s) = V (s)G4 (s)
C2 (s) = V (s)G5 (s)

Signal-Flow Graphs

Signal-flow graphs are an alternative to block diagrams. They

consist of branches which represent systems (a) and nodes which
represent signals (b). Multiple branches converging on a node
implies summation.
V (s) = R1 (s)G1 (s) R2 (s)G2 (s) + R3 (s)G3 (s)
C1 (s) = V (s)G4 (s)
C2 (s) = V (s)G5 (s)
C3 (s) = V (s)G6 (s)

We can convert the cascaded, parallel, and feedback forms into

signal-flow graphs:

We can convert the cascaded, parallel, and feedback forms into

signal-flow graphs:

e.g. Convert the following block diagram to a signal-flow graph:

e.g. Convert the following block diagram to a signal-flow graph:

e.g. Convert the following block diagram to a signal-flow graph: