Block Diagram Representation

This lecture we will concentrate on

● Representing system components with block diagrams
● Analyze and design transient response for systems
consisting of multiple subsystems
● Reduce a block diagram of multiple systems to a single
block representing the transfer function of overall system

The goal of block diagram representation is to obtain a

simplified rule between the inputs and the output of the
system.
Basics

Transfer function

Adder (summer)

Take of point
Example :

● Armature Controlled DC Motor

Example (cont.)

Rearranging the overall system we have

In a simplified form we have

feedback form
TF of a closed loop system

System having the following form is called closed-loop

: Forward Transfer function

: Feedback Transfer function
Note that

or
Closed-loop Transfer Function

That is

The overall transfer function of the system

Note that

is the characteristic equation

Block Diagram Simplification Rules

1- Cascade

2-Parallel
Block Diagram Simplification Rules

3-Remove a block from the path

Block Diagram Simplification Rules

4- Moving a Summing Junction

Block Diagram Simplification Rules

5. Moving a take of point

How about Multiple Inputs

For Linear systems you can apply Superposition !!!

Meaning when we have multiple inputs, we can tread them
independently and sum the outputs
Procedure :
– Step 1 : Set all inputs except one to zero
– Step 2 : Calculate the response for the non-zero input
– Step 3 : Repeat steps 1 and 2 for all input
– Step 4 : Add all responses to obtain the overall
Example
Find for

Solution :
Set U=0 Set R=0
Complicated Examples

Example 1 :
Step 1

Solution :
Step 2
And Finally

The solution
Another Example

Example 2 :
Step 1

Solution :
Step 2

where
And Finally

Combine all
Examples from the Book

Example 3 : find the overall transfer function

All Steps together :)

collapse
summing
junctions

form equivalent
cascaded system
in the forward path
and equivalent
parallel system in
the
feedback path;

form equivalent
feedback system
and
multiply by
cascaded
G1(s)
Alternative Approach

Signal Flow Diagrams

– Applied only to linear systems
– Equations must be in algebraic form
– represented by combination of nodes and braches
node : represents variables
branch : dependency of variables
Signal Flow Diagrams

A path is a continous unidirectional successions of braches

along which no node is passed more than once
As
or
Signal Flow Diagrams (definitions)

An input node is a node with only outgoing branches

like
An output node is a node with only incomming braches
as
A forward path is a path from an input node to an output node

A path gain is the product of the branch gains encountered

A loop gain is the product of the branch gains of the loop

Construction of Signal Flow Diagrams
Simplification of Signal Flow Graphs

Mason's Formulla

where
: the determinant of the graph

or

non- touching non- touching

2-loops 3-loops
Simplification of Signal Flow Graphs

Mason's Formulla Path gain of kth

forward path

where
: the determinant of the graph The value of
for the part of
graph not
touching kth
forward path
or

non- touching non- touching

2-loops 3-loops
Example ( a warm up)

Simplifiy the following signal flow graph

Solution : Start with finding the forward paths

Example (cont)

Find loops

Calculate and s

re calculate when is removed

The overall transfer function is then
Another Example :

Simplifiy the Block Diagram

Example
Solution:
First form the signal flow graph

Find the forward paths

Example (cont.)

Find loops
Example (still cont.)
Evaluate and s

For recalculate with removed

Similarly for recalculate with removed
Example

Find overall transfer function

which is