Transfer Functions, Block Diagram
and Signal Flow Graph (Week 2 & 3)
Transfer Function
A general n-th order LTIV differential equation (DE),
an
d n c(t )
d n 1c(t )
a
a0c(t )
n 1
dt n
dt n 1
d m r (t )
d m 1r (t )
bm
bm 1
b0 r (t )
dt m
dt m 1
(2.50)
where c(t) is the output, r(t) is the input and as , bs are the
coefficients of the DE that represent the system. Taking Laplace,
a s C ( s ) a s C ( s ) a C ( s) initial condition terms involving c(t)
(2.51)
n 1
n 1
bm s m R ( s ) bm1 s m1 R( s ) b0 R( s ) initial condition terms involving c(t)
If we assume all initial condition are zero,
(an s n an 1s n 1 a0 )C ( s ) (bm s m bm 1s m 1 b0 ) R ( s )
The transfer function of the system is
Notice that the system output could be obtained using
C s G s R s
(2.54)
The transfer function can be represented as a following block
diagram.
(2.52)
The roots of numerator are called zeros and roots of denominator are
called poles.
Block Diagrams
Basic components of a block diagram for a LTIV system
Cascade or series subsystems,
Parallel Subsystems,
Feedback Form
a. Feedback control system;
b. simplified model;
c. equivalent transfer function
Moving blocks to create familiar forms,
Example 1
Reduce the following block diagram to form a single transfer
function.
Solution,
Moving block G1(s) to
the right of summing
junction, then apply
feedback formula
Example 2
Reduce the following block diagram to form a single transfer function.
Solution,
Signal Flow Graphs
SFG may be viewed as a simplified form of block diagram. SFG
consists of arrows (represent systems) and nodes (represent signals).
Signal-flow graph components:
a. system (arrows);
b. signal (nodes);
c. interconnection of systems and signals
Converting common block diagrams to SFG
Converting a block diagram to SFG
Signal-flow graph development:
a. signal nodes;
b. signal-flow graph;
c. simplified signal-flow graph
Mason Gain Formula
The transfer function of a given system represented by a SFG is:
T
C s
G s
R s
where
k = no. of paths
T = the kth forward-path gain
= 1 - loop gains + non-touching loop gains 2 at a time non-touching loop gains 3 at a time + non-touching
loop gains 4 at a time -
= - loop gains terms in that touch the kth forward path.
In other words, is formed by eliminating from those loop gains
that touched the kth forward path.
k
Example 1
Example 2
Use Masons Gain formula to obtain the transfer function of the
system represented by the following SFG.