Signal Flow Graph

1. In the signal flow graph shown in figure 𝑋2 = 𝑇𝑋1 where T, is equal to

0.5

5
X1 X2

(a) 2.5 (c) 5.5

(b) 5 (d) 10
[GATE 1987: 2 Marks]

Soln. 𝑋2 = 𝑇𝑋1
𝑋2 5 5
= = = 10
𝑋1 ∆ 1 − 0.5

Option (d)

2. For the system shown in figure the transfer function

𝐶(𝑠)
𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑜
𝑅(𝑠)
10
R(s) + + C(s)
- - S(S+1)

10 10
(a) (c)
𝑆 2 +𝑆+10 𝑆 2 +9𝑆+10
10 10
(b) (d)
𝑆 2 +11𝑆+10 𝑆 2 +2𝑆+10
[GATE 1987: 2 Marks]
 10
Soln. The forward path transmittance =
𝑆(𝑆+1)

−10
The two closed loop are 𝐿1 =
𝑆(𝑆+1)

−10𝑆
𝐿2 =
𝑆(𝑆 + 1)

𝐶(𝑆) 10/𝑆(𝑆 + 1)
=
𝑅(𝑆) 1 − { −10 −10}
𝑆(𝑆+1) 𝑆+1

10 10 𝑆(𝑆 + 1)
= =
𝑆(𝑆 + 1) [1 +
10
+
10
] 𝑆(𝑆 + 1)[𝑆(𝑆 + 1) + 10 + 10𝑆]
𝑆(𝑆+1) (𝑆+1)

10 10
= =
𝑆 𝟐 + 𝑆 + 10𝑆 + 10 𝑆 2 + 11𝑆 + 10
Option (b)

3. The C/R for the signal flow graph in figure is

1 G1 G2 1 G3 G4 1
R C

-1 -1 -1 -1
𝐺1 𝐺2 𝐺3 4
(a) (1+𝐺
1 𝐺2 )(1+𝐺3 𝐺4 )
𝐺1 𝐺2 𝐺3 𝐺4
(b) (1+𝐺
1 +𝐺2 +𝐺1 𝐺2 )(1+𝐺3 +𝐺4 +𝐺3 𝐺4 )
𝐺1 𝐺2 𝐺3 𝐺4
(c) (1+𝐺
1 +𝐺2 )(1+𝐺3 +𝐺4 )
𝐺 𝐺2 𝐺3 𝐺4
(d) (1+𝐺 1
1 +𝐺2 +𝐺3 +𝐺4 )

[GATE 1989: 2 Marks]

Soln. The forward path transmittance = G1 G2 G3 G4

Individual loops are, -G1, -G2, -G3, -G4.

Product of non touching loops, G1G3, G1G4, G2G3, G2G4

∆= 1 − [−𝐺1 − 𝐺2 − 𝐺3 − 𝐺4 ] + [𝐺1 𝐺3 + 𝐺1 𝐺4 + 𝐺2 𝐺3 + 𝐺2 𝐺4 ]

𝑆 𝐺1 𝐺2 𝐺3 𝐺4
=
𝑅 (1 + 𝐺1 + 𝐺2 + 𝐺3 + 𝐺4 ) + (𝐺1 𝐺3 + 𝐺1 𝐺4 + 𝐺2 𝐺3 + 𝐺2 𝐺4 )

𝐺1 𝐺2 𝐺3 𝐺4
=
(1 + 𝐺1 + 𝐺2 )(1 + 𝐺3 + 𝐺4 )

Option (c)

4. In the signal flow graph of figure the gain c/r will be

5

r 1 2 3 4 1 c

-1 -1 -1

(a) 11/9 (c) 24/23

(b) 22/15 (d) 44/23
[GATE 1991: 2 Marks]

Soln. The forward path 𝑃1 = 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 = 24

The forward path 𝑃2 = 5

 ∆1 = 1

𝐿1 = −2, 𝐿2 = −3, 𝐿3 = −4

Non touching loops → 𝐿1 𝐿3

The loop 𝐿2 = −3 does not touch the path P2

So, ∆2 = (1 − 𝐿2 )

=1+3

=4

𝑆 𝑃1 ∆1 + 𝑃2 ∆2
=
𝑅 ∆

24 × 1 + 5 × 4
=
1— (−2 − 3 − 4 − 5) + (−2) × (−4)

24 + 20
=
(1 + 14) + 8

44
=
23
Option (d)
 5. In the signal flow graph of figure y/x equals
5 2 1
x y

-2
(a) 3 (c) 2
(b) 5/2 (d) None of the above
[GATE 1997: 2 Marks]

Soln. Transfer function

𝑌 𝑃𝐾 ∆𝐾
=
𝑋 ∆
𝑃𝐾 = 5 × 2 × 1 = 10

∆𝐾 = 1

∆𝐾 = 1

∆= 1 − (−4) = 5

𝑌 10
=
𝑋 5
=2

Option (c)
6. The equivalent of the block diagram in the figure is given as
E G1 G2 C

F H

E G1 C
(a)

F H/G2

E G1 G2 C

(b)

F HG2

E G1 C
(c)

F HG2

E G1 G2 C

(d)
F H/G2
Soln.

E G1 G2 C

F H

E G1 C
(a)

F H/G2

E G1 G2 C

(b)

F HG2

E G1 C
(c)

F HG2

E G1 G2 C

(d)
F H/G2

Option (d)
 7. The signal flow graph of a system is shown in the figure. The transfer
𝐶(𝑠)
function of the system is
𝑅(𝑠)

1 1
R(s) 1 S 6 S
-3
-2 -4
1

C(s)
6 𝑆(𝑆+2)
(a) (c)
𝑆 2 +29𝑆+6 𝑆 2 +29𝑆+6

6𝑆 𝑆(𝑆+27)
(b) (d)
𝑆 2 +29𝑆+6 𝑆 2 +29𝑆+6

[GATE 2003: 2 Marks]

𝐶(𝑆)
Soln. The transfer function of the systems?
𝑅(𝑆)

−3 6 −2
𝐿1 = , 𝐿2 = −4 × , 𝐿3 =
𝑆 𝑆 𝑆
P1 = 1

Loops L1 and L3 are not touching the forward path

∆1 = 1 − 𝐿1 − 𝐿3
3 24
=1+ +
𝑆 𝑆
𝑆 + 27
=
𝑆

𝐶(𝑆) 𝑃1 ∆1
= 𝐺(𝑠) =
𝑅(𝑆) 1 − (𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑝 𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛) + 𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑛𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑢𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑝𝑠
 𝑆+27
𝑆
−3 −24 −2 −2 −3
1−(𝑆 𝑆 𝑆
)+ 𝑆
× 𝑆

𝑆+27
𝑆 𝑆(𝑆 + 27)
29 6 =
1+ + 𝑆 2 + 29𝑆 + 6
𝑆 𝑆2

Option (d)

8. Consider the signal flow graph shown in the figure. The gain X5 / X1 is
x1 a x2 b x3 c x4 d x5

e f g
1−(𝑏𝑒+𝑐𝑓+𝑑𝑔)
(a)
𝑎𝑏𝑐
𝑏𝑒𝑑𝑔
(b)
1−(𝑏𝑒+𝑐𝑓+𝑑𝑔)

𝑎𝑏𝑐𝑑
(c)
1−(𝑏𝑒+𝑐𝑓+𝑑𝑔)+𝑏𝑒𝑑𝑔

1−(𝑏𝑒+𝑐𝑓+𝑑𝑔)+𝑏𝑒𝑑𝑔
(d)
𝑎𝑏𝑐𝑑
[GATE 2004: 2 Marks]

Soln. The forward path transmittance P1 = abcd

All the loops touch the forward path ∆1 = 1

𝐿1 = 𝑏𝑒, 𝐿2 = 𝐶𝑓, 𝐿3 = 𝑑𝑔

Non touching loops are 𝐿1 , 𝐿3

𝐿1 𝐿3 = 𝑏𝑒 𝑑𝑔
 𝑋5 𝑎𝑏𝑐𝑑
=
𝑋1 1 − (𝑏𝑒 + 𝑐𝑓 + 𝑑𝑔) + 𝑏𝑒 𝑑𝑔

Option (c)

9. The transfer function Y(s) / R(s) of the system shown is

R(s)
+Σ P(s) 1 Y(s)
- S+1

1
+
S+1
- ΣQ(s)
Q(s)
(a) 0
1
(b)
𝑆+1
2
(c)
𝑆+1
2
(d)
𝑆+3
[GATE 2010: 1 Mark]
1 1
Soln. 𝑄(𝑠) = 𝑃(𝑠) [ − ]
𝑆+1 𝑆+1

=0

𝑃(𝑠) = 𝑅(𝑠) − 0

= 𝑅(𝑠)

𝑃(𝑠)
𝑌(𝑠) =
𝑆+1
 𝑅(𝑠)
=
𝑆+1

𝑌(𝑆) 1
=
𝑅(𝑆) 𝑆 + 1

Option (b)

Common Data for Question 10 and Question 11

100
The input-output transfer function of a plant 𝐻(𝑠) = .The plant is
𝑆(𝑆+10)2
placed in unity negative feedback configuration as shown in the figure
below.

r u
+Σ
y
- plant

10. The signal flow graph that DOES NOT model the plant transfer function
H(s) is

1 1/s 1/s 1/s 100

(a) u y

-10 -10
 -100

1/s 1/s 1/s 100

(b) u y

-20

-100

1/s 1/s 1/s 100

(c) u y

-20

-100

1/s 1/s 1/s 100

(d) u y

100
Soln. The transfer function of a plant 𝐻(𝑠) =
𝑆(𝑆+10)2

100
For the figure (a) 𝑃1 = , ∆1 = 1
𝑆3

(𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑝𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑝𝑎𝑡ℎ)

𝑌 100/𝑆 3
=
𝑈 1 − (−10 −10) + 10 × 10
𝑆 𝑆 𝑆 𝑆

100
𝑆2 100
= 20 100 =
1+ + 𝑆(𝑆 + 10)2
𝑆 𝑆2
 100
For figure (b) 𝑃1 = , ∆1 = 1
𝑆3

100 100
𝑌 𝑆3 𝑆3 100
= = 100 20 =
𝑈 1 − (−100 −20) 1+ 2 + 𝑆(𝑆 + 10)2
𝑆 2 𝑆 𝑆 𝑆

For Figure (c)

100
𝑃1 = 3 , ∆1 = 1
𝑆
100
𝑌 𝑆3 100
= =
𝑈 1 − (−100 −20) 𝑆(𝑆 + 10)2
𝑆2 𝑆

For Figure (d),

100 100
𝑌 𝑆3 𝑆3 100 𝑆 2 100
= = 100 = =
𝑈 1 − (−100) 1+ 2 𝑆 3 (𝑆 2 + 100) 𝑆(𝑆 2 + 100)
𝑆 2 𝑆

Which is not a transfer function of H(S)

Option (d)

11. The gain margin of the system under closed loop unity negative feedback is
100
𝐺(𝑠)𝐻(𝑠) =
𝑆(𝑆+10)2
(a) 0 dB (c) 26 dB
(b) 20 dB (d) 46 dB
[GATE 2011: 2 Marks]

Soln. The gain margin of the system under closed loop unity negative feedback is
100
𝐺(𝑠)𝐻(𝑠) =
𝑆(𝑆+10)2

𝜔
∅ = −900 − 2𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )
10

Flow phase cross aver frequency ∅ = −1800

 𝜔
−180 = −900 − 2𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )
10
𝜔 = 10 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠𝑒𝑐

100
𝐺(𝑗𝜔)𝐻(𝑗𝜔) =
𝑗𝜔 (𝑗𝜔 + 10)2

100
|𝐺(𝑗𝜔)𝐻(𝑗𝜔)| =
𝜔(𝜔 2 + 100)
100 1
= =
10(100 + 100) 20

1
𝐺𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑛 (𝐺. 𝑀) = = 20
|𝐺(𝑗𝜔)𝐻(𝑗𝜔)|
20
𝐺. 𝑀 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝐵 = 20𝑙𝑜𝑔10 = 26 𝑑𝐵

Option (c)

12. The signal flow graph for a system is given below. The transfer function
𝑌(𝑠)
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚 𝑖𝑠
𝑈(𝑠)
1

-1 -1
1 S S 1
U(s) Y(s)

-4

-2
 𝑠+1 𝑠+1
(a) (c)
5𝑠 2 +6𝑠+2 𝑠 2 +4𝑠+2
𝑠+1 1
(b) (d)
𝑠 2 +6𝑠+2 5𝑠 2 +6𝑠+2
[GATE 2013: 2 Marks]
1
Soln. The forward path transmittance 𝑃1 = 𝑆 −1 × 𝑆 1 =
𝑆2

1
The forward path transmittance 𝑃2 = 𝑆 −1 =
𝑆

∆1 = 1, ∆2 = 1

∆= 1 − (−2𝑆 −2 − 2𝑆 −1 − 4𝑆 −1 − 4)

2 2 4
=1+ + + +4
𝑆2 𝑆 𝑆

2 2 4
=1+ + + +4
𝑆2 𝑆 𝑆
= (5𝑆 2 + 6𝑆 + 2)/𝑆 2

1 1
𝑌(𝑆) 𝑃1 ∆1 + 𝑃2 ∆2 + (𝑆 + 1)
𝑆2 𝑆
= = =
𝑈(𝑆) ∆ (5𝑆 2 + 6𝑆 + 2)/𝑆 2 5𝑆 2 + 6𝑆 + 2

Option (a)
 13.For the following system,

+- S
S+1 ++- 1
S

𝑌(𝑆)
When 𝑋1 (𝑆) = 0, the transfer function is
𝑋2 (𝑆)

𝑆+1 𝑆+2
(a) (c)
𝑆2 𝑆(𝑆+1)
1 𝑆+1
(b) (d)
𝑆+1 𝑆(𝑆+2)

[GATE: 2014: 1 Mark]

Soln. With 𝑋1 (𝑠) = 0, the block diagram is redrawn as

1
+- S

S
S+1

𝑌(𝑆) 𝐺(𝑆)
𝑇(𝑠) = =
𝑋2 (𝑆) 1 + 𝐺(𝑆)𝐻(𝑆)
 1 𝑆 1/𝑆 1(𝑆 + 1) (𝑆 + 1)
𝐺(𝑠) = , 𝐻(𝑠) = = = =
𝑆 𝑆+1 1+1× 𝑆 𝑆(𝑆 + 1 + 1) 𝑆(𝑆 + 2)
𝑆 𝑆+1

Option (d)

14.Consider the following block diagram in the figure

++ ++

𝐶(𝑆)
the transfer function is
𝑅(𝑆)
𝐺1 𝐺2 (c) 𝐺1 𝐺2 + 𝐺2 + 1
(a)
1+𝐺1 𝐺2 𝐺1
(b) 𝐺1 𝐺2 + 𝐺1 + 1 (d)
1+𝐺1 𝐺2

[GATE 2014: 1 Mark]

Soln. Converting the block diagram into signal flow graph as:

1
The forward paths

𝑃1 = 𝐺1 𝐺2

𝑃2 = 𝐺2

𝑃3 = 1.1 = 1

𝐶(𝑠)
= 𝐺1 𝐺2 + 𝐺2 + 1
𝑅(𝑠)

Option (c)