Practice Exam questions

1. Define the following transient response specifications of a first-order control system.

a) rise time
b) settling time
c) time constant
Sketch them on a system response to a unit step input.

2. Define the following transient response specifications of a second-order control sys-

tem.
a) peak time
b) percent overshoot
Sketch them on a system response to a unit step input.

3. Define the following terms with respect to a second-order control system.

a) natural frequency
b) damping ratio

4. Consider the following closed-loop transfer function,

6
T (s) = .
(s + 2)(s + 5)

For an input signal R(s) = 1/s, Find the output response C(s) and c(t).

5. Find the Laplace transform H(s) of the signal given by:

h(t) = 6e4t (t2 + 3t).

6. Consider a unity feedback system with forward path transfer function given by:

20(s + 3)(s + 4)(s + 8)

G(s) = .
s2 (s + 2)(s + 15)

a) Find the static error constant and the steady state error value for an input
r(t) = 28t2 u(t).
b) What is the system type.

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 7. If you are told that the position static error constant has a value of 10000, what
information do you know about the system?

8. What information is provided by the Routh-Hurwitz criterion?

9. Which part of the output response is responsible for determining the stability of a
linear system? What happens to this part of the response that results in instability?

10. Consider a system with closed-loop transfer function given by:

s2 + 4s − 3
T (s) = .
s4 + 4s3 + 8s2 + 20s + 15

Use the Routh Table to determine the number of poles in the right-half plane, the
left-half plane an don the jω-axis. Use this information to comment on the stability
of the system.

11. Consider a unity feedback system with forward transfer function given by:

K(s + 6)
G(s) = .
s(s + 1)(s + 3)

Determine the range of gain K for stability.

12. Explain briefly what a root locus is. Give two ways it can be obtained.

13. How can we determine the number of branches of a root locus?

14. Consider a system with open-loop transfer function given by:

K(s + 1)(s + 2)
G(s)H(s) = .
(s + 5)(s + 6)

Find:
a) the open-loop poles and zeros;
b) the angles and intersection of the asymptotes on the real axis;
c) the breakaway and/or break-in points ;

15. Explain briefly what a Nyquist diagram is? What information can we determine
from this diagram?

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16. PI controllers and Lag compensators can both be used to improve steady-state
error. Which of these results in a better improvement? Explain why.

17. Consider a unity feedback system with uncompensated forward transfer function
given by:
K
G(s) = .
(s + 3)(s + 6)
The system requires a damping ratio of ζ = 0.5. If the design point is at −4.5+j7.8,
design a PI controller to drive the steady-state error of the response to zero.

18. Consider a unity feedback system with uncompensated forward transfer function
given by:
K
G(s) = .
s(s + 10)(s + 15)
The system requires a damping ratio of ζ = 0.6, and a design point of −3.3 + j8.7
to meet its performance requirements. Design a PD controller to achieve these
specifications. Give a sketch of the resulting compensated system root locus (you
do not need to calculate break away or break-in points, but you should calculate
and draw in any asymptotes.

19. Consider a unity feedback system with uncompensated forward transfer function
given by:
K
G(s) = .
s(s + 2)(s + 3)
Sketch the Nyquist diagram and determine the real axis crossing. For K=1, evaluate
the stability of the system using the Nyquist criterion.

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