Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of

Engineering Sciences and Technology.

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

ME 464: System Dynamics and Control

Instructor: Prof. S M Ahmad

Spring 2021 22nd April Mid-Term Exam

Time allowed: 120 min Total Marks: 30

Instructions
1 This is an open book and open notes exam. To receive credit for a problem, you must
follow instructions, show all the work. Attempt All the Questions and ensure that your
answers are in correct units. Answers without detailed work will be given ZERO credit.
2 State assumptions, show free body diagram, sketches and write engineering units and
equations where appropriate. Answers without engineering units will be regarded as
incomplete. Please write in readable handwriting.
3. Assessment approaches are A1 i.e., Open book exam and B3 i.e., Technical
Reports/Memos, Flipped Classroom-lab’s Reflections & Analysis.
4. Write your name and registration number on your answer sheet before uploading on
MS Teams.
5. Write the solution on papers with page numbers and generate the PDF using Cam
Scanner. Rename the PDF to your Reg number. Only upload the PDF on MS teams.
Try to avoid uploading pictures of the solution.
6. Only submit the solution in the assignment section on MS teams. Do not send the PDF
solution in chat box/conversation or through Zimbra email.
7. Power shutdown and internet connectivity issues will not be entertained.

Note:
• Students are urged to pay heed to their conscience and requested to complete this exam
with utmost fairness and without resorting to any unfair means.
• FME/GIK Institute core values are: honesty, integrity, collaboration,
ownership, teamwork and right attitude. We expect students to also imbibe and adhere
to these values in their student and professional lives.

1
Q1: An engineer wants to develop a model of an existing thermal system that has complicated
dynamics. She suspects that a low-order linear model may provide an accurate representation of the
complex system. She applies a unit step input of u (t) = 30 0 𝐶 and measures the corresponding output
of the thermal system. Figure 1 shows the step response she obtained by experimentation.

i. Analyze the response and develop a detailed mathematical model. [6 Marks]

ii. If the initial temperature of the system was 25 degrees, re-write the revised mathematical model.
[2 Marks]

25

20
Temperature deg C

15

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
time-sec

Figure 1 Response of thermal system

Q.2 A double-acting hydraulic piston-cylinder servo-mechanism is shown in Figure 2. A

positive spool-valve displacement z >0 connects the high pressure supply Ps with the left
cylinder chamber 1 and chamber 2 is connected with the low pressure drain Pr . Consequently,
for z >0 volumetric flow Q1 is into chamber1 and flow Q2 is out of chamber 2 to the drain.
When z <0 the flow is reversed. The orifice area of the spool valve is A0 = |z|h where h is the
height of the valve opening. Piston position x is measured from the left side and hence the
volume of chamber 1 is V1 = A1 (L − x) and the volume of chamber 2 V2 = A2 (L − x). Where,
L is the total stroke length of the piston. Assume power piston area A1= A2 and working fluid to
be incompressible. Stating the assumptions:

i. Derive the non-linear and linearized fluid flow/spool-valve model. [5 Marks]

ii. Derive the complete linearized mathematical model of the hydro-mechanical system.

[5 Marks]

iii. Render the final mathematical model in the standard linear ordinary differential
equation format. [2 Marks]

2
 Figure 2 Double acting hydraulic servo-mechanism

Q.3 In a certain process industry a liquid level system (similar to the one you have operated in
the lab) is operated manually to maintain a desired level at various operating conditions. The
engineering department now wants the system to be automated so that height of liquid column
can be precisely maintained at a desired reference position. The engineer tasked to undertake
this upgradation also discovers that (a) the flow sensor installed is fairly noisy and (b) the time
constant of the process is 0.0318 seconds. Before the automation can commence the Operations
Manager requires a technical memo to include:

(i) system modelling approach and likely system dynamic model.

(ii) sensor noise attenuation strategy with circuit diagram and magnitude frequency plot.
(iii) closed-loop block diagram representation (including filter, controller) along with
noise and disturbances acting on the system, and
(iv) modern electronics, sensor(s) and software that can be deployed.

Drawing from your experience of flipped classroom and its lab sessions, write a technical
brief covering the above with detailed schematics where appropriate. [10 Marks]