DESCRIBING FUNCTION

MODULE – V

Prepared by,
Dr. Febina Beevi P
INTRODUCTION
Consider the block diagram of the non-linear system shown below.

G1(s) and G2(s) represent linear elements and N represents nonlinear

element.
Let x = X sin ωt be the input to the nonlinear element.
Output y will be a non-sinusoidal periodic function.
INTRODUCTION
The fourier series representation of y can be expressed as (assuming the
nonlinearity does not generate subharmonics)
y  A0  A1 sin t  B1 cos t  A2 sin 2t  B2 cos 2t  ... 1
If the nonlinearity is symmetrical, the average value of y is zero. Then
y  A1 sin t  B1 cos t  A2 sin 2t  B2 cos 2t  ... 2 
When r = 0, y is fedback to the input of nonlinear element through the
linear elements G2(s) and G1(s) in tandem.
DESCRIBING FUNCTION
If G1(s)G2(s) has low pass characteristics, then all the harmonics of y are
filtered, so that x is mainly contributed by the fundamental component
of y and hence x remains sinusoidal.
Under such conditions, the harmonics of the output are neglected and
the fundamental component of y alone are considered for the analysis.
y  A1 sin t  B1 cos t Y11 Y1 sin t  1  (3)
 1 B1
where Y1 = A1  B1 and 1 tan
2 2
(4)
A1
Y1 is the amplitude of the fundamental harmonic component of output
1 is the phase shift of the fundamental harmonic component of output
DESCRIBING FUNCTION
• The coefficients A1 and B1 are given by,
2
2
A1 
2 0 y sin t d t (5)

2
2
B1 
2 y cos t dt
0
(6)

• When the input x to the non-linearity is sinusoidal, the describing function

of the non-linearity is defined as
Y1
K N  X ,    1
X
DESCRIBING FUNCTION
• Replacing the non-linearity by the describing function, the figure becomes,

• When the non-linearity is replaced by a describing function, all the linear

theory frequency domain techniques can be used for the analysis of the
system.
• Describing functions are used for stability analysis.
• It is a frequency domain approach.
DESCRIBING FUNCTION OF SATURATION NON-
LINEARITY
DESCRIBING FUNCTION OF SATURATION NON-
LINEARITY
• When ωt = β, x = s = X sin β → sin β = s/X
• The output equation is
 Kx; 0 t 

y  Ks;  t   
 Kx;    t 

• The describing function is given by,
Y1
K N  X ,    1 ; Y1  A12  B12
X
• Y has quarter wave and half wave symmetries,

2
2
 A1 
 y sin t d t and B1 0  Y1  A1
2 0
DESCRIBING FUNCTION OF SATURATION NON-
LINEARITY
 
4 2
4  2 
Y1  A1  y sin t d t  Kx sin t d t  Ks sin t d t 
 0  0  
 
Substituting x  X sin t ,


4K 
 2 
Y1    X sin t sin t dt  s sin t dt 
 0  
 

  
 1  cos 2t 
2
4K 
 X   dt  s sin t d t 
  0 2   
 


4K X  sin 2t    4K  X  sin 2   
    t    s   cos  t  
2
  2     s cos  
  2  2 0     2  
DESCRIBING FUNCTION OF SATURATION NON-
LINEARITY
Substituting s  X sin  ,
4K  X  sin 2   
Y1       X sin  cos  
 2 2  
4K  X  2 KX
     sin  cos    X sin  cos       sin  cos  
 2  
 1  B1 
1 tan   0
 A1 
Y1 2K
 Describing function, K N  X ,    1     sin  cos   0
X 
DESCRIBING FUNCTION OF SATURATION NON-
LINEARITY
Depending on the maximum value of the input X , describing function
can be written as

If X s, then   , K N  X ,   K
2
2K
If X  s, then K N  X ,       sin  cos  

DESCRIBING FUNCTION OF IDEAL
RELAY
DESCRIBING FUNCTION OF IDEAL
RELAY
• The output equation is
 M ; 0 t 
y 
  M ;  t 2
Y1
• The describing function is given by, N     2 2
K X ,   ;
1 1Y  A1  B1
X
• Y has quarter wave symmetry,

2
2
 A1 
 y sin t dt and B
1 0  Y1  A1
2 0
DESCRIBING FUNCTION OF IDEAL
RELAY

2
4
Y1  A1 
 M sin t dt
0

 4M  4M
  cos t 0 2

 

Y1 4M
 Describing function, K N  X ,    1  0
X X
DESCRIBING FUNCTION OF DEAD
ZONE
DESCRIBING FUNCTION OF DEAD ZONE
• The output equation is
 0; 0 t 


y  K x  D ;  t   
2 

 0;    t 
Y1
• The describing function is given by, K N  X ,    1 ; Y1  A1  B1
2 2

X
• Y has quarter wave symmetry,

2
 A1 
2
 K x  D  2 sin t dt and B 0  Y  A
1 1 1

2 0
DESCRIBING FUNCTION OF DEAD ZONE
D

2
t  , x 
4
 sin t dt
2
D
Y1  A1 
 

K x 
2 D
 X sin 
2
Substituting x  X sin t ,  D 2 X sin 
 
2
  1  cos 2t  D
2

Y1 
4K
 

 X sin t  D sin t d t 
2
2 

4K
 X
 
   2



2
sin  t 

d t
 
4K  X  sin 2t  2 D   2 K  X sin 2 t  2 D  
   t     cos t   
2   X t     cos t  2 
 2 2  2     2  2 

2K   X sin 2  2K   
 X  X    D cos   X  X   X sin  cos   2 X sin  cos 
  2 2    2 
2 KX   
    sin  cos 
  2 
DESCRIBING FUNCTION OF DEAD ZONE
Y1
 Describing function, K N  X ,    1
X
2K   
     sin  cos   0
 2 
 2 
K  1    sin  cos   0
  
 2 
Describing function, K N  X ,   K 1    sin  cos   0
  