Modelling and behaviours

Questions on 1st order modelling

1. For an electrical system, the following physical relationships describe the behaviour of the
different components. Complete the table for the analogous mechanical and rotational components.

Electrical Equation Mechanical Equation Rotational Equation

Component Component
Component

Inductor Inertia Rotating

inertia

Resistor Damper Damper

Capacitor 1 Spring Torsional

v q spring
C
Name some analogous relationships from thermal and fluid systems.

2. Showing all your working and beginning from an appropriate force (or torque) balance, derive the
1st order modelling equations that can be used to represent the following mechanical systems:
a) b)

c) For a rotational pulley radius r, within a fixed viscous medium with constant B and torque (t), Fig.
4.3, derive the model in terms of its angular velocity (t)

Torque,  Viscous damping

B

f = f1 2R f = f2
3. Showing all your working and using the appropriate Kirchhoff’s Law, derive the 1st order modelling
equations that can be used to represent the following electrical systems:

4. What are the analogies between the examples in Q2,3 and are other engineering models from
mechanical, thermal and fluid scenarios? Why does it help to understand analogies? Which
variables and components are analogous and why?

5. There is a tank of water with cross sectional area A of 7m2 and an inlet flowrate of Fin m3/hr. The
tank is drained via an exit pipe at the base of the tank with a valve. The pipe and valve resistance to
flow can be assumed to be constant (R = 0.14 hr/m2) and the relationship between the level in the
tank h(t) in metres and the exit flowrate can be assumed to be linear i.e. Fout = (1/R) h. Using a
material balance derive the 1st order equation that describes the behaviour of the system in terms of
the change in the level h in the tank if the inlet flowrate Fin is taken as 100 m3/hr.

6. Derive a simple 1st order model for:

 The speed of a car.
 A heat exchanger.
 A mixing tank.
7. Find the time constant and steady-state gain for the following models and hence put into time
constant form.
𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑧 𝑑𝑦
2.1 𝑣 + 6 = 4𝑢; 0.4 𝑧 + 3.4 = 1.8𝑤; 𝑎 𝑦 + 𝑏 = 𝑐𝑥;
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡