CONTROL SYSTEM ENGINEERING

Block Diagram Reduction

Techniques
Block diagram
A Block diagram is basically modelling of any simple or
complex system.
It Consists of multiple Blocks connected together to represent a system to explain
how it is functioning

Transfer Function: Ratio between transformation of output to the

transformation of input when all the initial conditions are zero.
R(s) C(s)
G(s) G(s)=C(s)/R(s)
Simple system:
Complex System: G4
R(s) Y
G1 G2 G3 (s)

H2
H1
 Need for block diagram reduction
It is normally required to reduce multiple blocks into
single block or for convenient understanding it may
sometimes required to rearrange the blocks from its
original order.

• For the calculation of Transfer function its required to

be reduced.
Block Diagram Reduction techniques
1. Combining blocks which are in cascade or in parallel

G1 G2 G1G2

G1
G1  G2
G2

2. Moving a summing point behind a block

G G
G
3. Moving a summing point ahead of a block

G G
1
G

4. Moving a pickoff point behind a block

G G
1
G

5. Moving a pickoff point ahead of a block

G G
G
6. Eliminating a feedback loop
G
G
1 GH
H

G
G
1 G

H1

7. Swapping with two adjacent summing points

A B B A
 Example 1

Find the transfer function of the following

block diagrams

(a)
G4
R(s) Y
G1 G2 G3 (s)

H2
H1
 I
G4
R(s) B A
Y
G1 G2 G3 (s)
H2
H1 G2

Solution:

1. Apply the rule that Moving pickoff/takeoff point ahead of block

G2
2. Eliminate loop I & simplify as
B
G4 G2G3
 G4
R(s) Y
G1
B G
G2 4 
A
G2 G3
G3 (s)

H
H1G2 2

3. Moving pickoff point B behind block G4 G2G3

II
R(s) B C
Y
G1 G4 G2G3 (s)
H 2

H1G2 1/(G4 
G2G3 )
4. Eliminate loop III
R(s) C Y
G1 GG44 G
G22G33 C
(s)
G H 2
1 H2 (G4 
G2H1
G2G3 )
G4 
G2G3

R(s) G1(G4 Using

G2G3 ) Y
1 G1G2 H1rule
 H 62 (G4  G2G3 ) (s)

G1 (G4  G2G3 )
Y (s)
T (s)  R(s)  1 G1G2 H 1  H 2 (G4  G2G3 )  G1 (G4 
G2 G 3 )
 (b)

R(s) Y
G1 G2 (s)

H1 H2

H3
Solution:
1. Eliminate loop I
R(s) G2 I Y
G1 A
G B
2
(s)
H1
1 G
H 2 H2 2

H3
G2
2. Moving pickoff point A behind block 1G2 H 2

R(s) A G2 B
Y
G1 (s)
1  G2 H 2

1  G2 H II
H1 2

G2 H 3  H1 1 G2 H 2 )
G2
(
H3 Not a feedback loop
3. Eliminate loop II
R(s) G1G2 Y
1  G2 H 2
(s)

H 3  H 1 (1 G 2 H
2
2 )
Using
G rule 6

G1G2
Y (s)
T (s) R(s 1 G2H2  G1G2H3  G1H1 G1G2
 ) H1H2
 (c)
H4
R(s) Y
G1 G2 G3 G4 (s)

H3

H2

H1
Solution:

1. Moving pickoff point A behind block G 4

I
H4
R(s) Y
A B
G1 G2 G3 G4 (s)
H3 1
H3
G4 G 4
H2 H2 1
G G4 4

H1
Solution:

1. Moving pickoff point A behind block G 4

I
H4
R(s) Y
A B
G1 G2 G3 G4 (s)
H3 1
H3
G4 G 4
H2 H2 1
G G4 4

H1
Solution:

1. Moving pickoff point A behind block G 4

I
H4
R(s) Y
B
G1 G2 G 3 G 4 (s)
H3 1
H3
G4 G 4
H2 H2 1
G G4 4

H1
Solution:

1. Moving pickoff point A behind block G 4

I

R(s) Y
G 3G 4
B
G1 G2 (s)
H 3 11 G 3 G 4 H 4
H3
G4 G 4
H2 H2 1
G G4 4

H1
2. Eliminate loop I and Simplify
R(s) II Y
G 2G 3G 4 B
G1 (s)
1 G3 G4 H 4
H3
G4
H2
G4 III
H1

II feedback III Not feedback

G2 G3 G4 H 2  G 4 H1
1  G3 G4 H 4  G2 G3 H 3 G4
 3. Eliminate loop II & III

R(s) G 1G 2G 3G 4 Y
(s)
1  G3 G4 H 4  G2 G3 H 3
H 2 G 4
H 1 G4

Using rule 6

G1G2G3
Y (s)
T (s) R(s 1 G G H  G G G
2 3 3 3 4 H44  G1G2G3H2 
 ) G1G2G3G4 H1
 (d)
H2

R(s) A G3 Y
G1 G2 B (s)

H1

G4
Solution:
1. Moving pickoff point A behind block G 3
I
H2

R(s) A B Y
G1 G2 G3
(s)
1
H1 G3
1
H1 G3
G4
2. Eliminate loop I & Simplify
H2

G2 G3 B G2G3 B

1 H1
H1 H 2
G3 G3
II
R(s) G2G 3 Y
G1 (s)
1 G2 H1  G2G3 H
2

H1
G3

G4
3. Eliminate loop II

R(s) G1 G2 G3 Y
1  G 2 H 1  G 2 G 3 H 2  G1 G2 H 1 (s)

G4

G1G2
Y (s) 4
T (s) R(s  G 1 G2H1 GG3 2G3 G G
2 1 2
) H H1
