The Nyquist Criterion

A Frequency Response Analysis Technique

 Nyquist Plot or Polar Plot
• Nyquist Plots were invented by Nyquist - who worked at Bell Laboratories, the
premiere technical organization in the U.S. at the time.

• Nyquist Plots are a way of showing frequency responses of linear systems.

• There are several ways of displaying frequency response data, including Bode'
plots and Nyquist plots.

• Bode' plots use frequency as the horizontal axis and use two separate plots to
display amplitude and phase of the frequency response.

• Nyquist plots display both amplitude and phase angle on a single plot, using
frequency as a parameter in the plot.

• Nyquist plots have properties that allow you to see whether a system is stable or
unstable.
 Nyquist Plot

• A Nyquist plot is a polar plot of the frequency response function of a linear

system.

• That means a Nyquist plot is a plot of the transfer function, G(s) with s =
jω. That means you want to plot G(j ω).

• G(j ω) is a complex number for any angular frequency, ω, so the plot is a plot of
complex numbers.

• The complex number, G(j ω), depends upon frequency, so frequency will be a
parameter if you plot the imaginary part of G(j ω) against the real part of G(j
ω).
 Sketch the Polar plot of Frequency Response

To sketch the polar plot of G(jω) for the entire range of frequency ω, i.e.,
from 0 to infinity, there are four key points that usually need to be known:

1) The start of plot where ω = 0,

2) The end of plot where ω = ∞,
3) Where the plot crosses the real axis, i.e., Im(G(jω)) = 0, and
4) Where the plot crosses the imaginary axis, i.e., Re(G(jω)) = 0.
 Problem-1: Polar Plot of Integrator
Consider a first order system,

Representing G(s) in the frequency response form G( jω ) by replacing s = jω:

The magnitude of G( jω ), i.e., | G( jω) |, is obtained as;

The phase of G( jω ), denoted by, φ , is obtained as;

Bode Plot Polar Plot

Magnitude

Phase
 Problem-2: Polar Plot of First Order System

Consider a first order system where T is the time constant.

Representing G(s) in the frequency response form G( jω ) by replacing s = jω:

The magnitude of G( jω ), i.e., | G( jω) |, is obtained as;

The phase of G( jω ), denoted by, φ , is obtained as;

The start of plot where ω = 0

The end of plot where ω = ∞

The mid part of plot where ω = 1/T

 Bode Plot Polar Plot

Magnitude

Phase
 Problem-3: Polar Plot of Second Order System
Consider a second order system where T is the time constant.

Representing G(s) in the frequency response form G( jω ) by replacing s = jω:

The magnitude of G( jω ), i.e., | G( jω) |, is obtained as;

The phase of G( jω ), denoted by, φ , is obtained as;

 The start of plot where ω = 0
1
𝐺 𝑗𝜔 = =1 ∠𝐺 𝑗𝜔 = − tan−1 0 − tan−1 0 = 0°
1+0 1+0

The end of plot where ω = ∞

1
𝐺 𝑗𝜔 = =0 ∠𝐺 𝑗𝜔 = − tan−1 ∞ − tan−1 ∞ = −90° − 90° = −180°
∞ ∞

Polar Plot
Problem-4: Sketch the Nyquist diagram for the system shown in the following
figure, and then determine the system stability using the Nyquist criterion.

(a)
Now that we have expressions for the magnitude and phase of the frequency
response, we can sketch the polar plot using the 4 key points.

Point 1: The start of plot where ω = 0

500 0
𝐺 0 𝐻(0) = = 16.67 ∠𝐺 0 𝐻 0 = tan−1 = 0°
30 2 30
Point 2: The end of plot where ω = ∞

500 3
∞
𝐺 ∞ 𝐻(∞) = =0 ∠𝐺 ∞ 𝐻 ∞ = tan−1 = −3 × 90° = −270°
∞ 30

Point 3: Where the plot crosses the real axis, i.e., Im(G(jω)) = 0

Take the imaginary part of equation (a), and put equal to zero, to get the
value of frequency ω at the interception of real axis.
 Point 4: Where the plot crosses the imaginary axis, Re(G(jω)) = 0
Take the real part of equation (a), and put equal to zero, to get the value of
frequency ω at the interception of imaginary axis.
 Problem-5: Sketch the polar plot for the following transfer function.

Representing G(s) in the frequency response form G( jω ) by replacing s = jω, and then
Multiply both numerator and denominator by the conjugate of denominator.

(a)
Point 1: The start of plot where ω = 0

At frequency ω = 0, we only observe the most significant terms that take the effect.

Magnitude at ω = 0:

Phase at ω = 0:

Point 2: The end of plot where ω = ∞

At frequency ω = ∞, we shall look at the most significant term that takes effect when the
frequency approaches infinity.

Magnitude at ω = ∞:

Phase at ω = ∞:
Point 3: Where the plot crosses the real axis, i.e., Im(G(jω)) = 0

Take the imaginary part of equation (a), and put equal to zero, to get the value of
frequency ω at the interception of real axis.

Therefore, the intersection point between the polar plot and the real axis, when 𝝎 = 𝟓,
is located at;
 Point 4: Where the plot crosses the imaginary axis, Re(G(jω)) = 0

Take the real part of equation (a), and put equal to zero, to get the value of frequency
ω at the interception of imaginary axis.

Therefore, the intersection point between the polar plot and the imaginary axis is when
𝜔 = ∞ is located at;

Polar Plot
|G(jω)| ∠G(jω)
ω=0 ∞ -90o
ω=∞ 0 -270o
Cross Re: 1
−
𝜔= 5 3
Cross Img:
𝜔=∞ 0
 Problem-6: Sketch the polar plot for the following transfer function.

Representing G(s)H(s) in the frequency response form G( jω )H(jω) by replacing s = jω:

The magnitude of GH(jω) i.e., |GH(jω)|, is obtained as;

1
𝐺𝐻 𝑗𝜔 =
𝜔 4 𝜔 2 + 𝑝2

The phase of GH(jω) denoted by, 𝜑, is obtained as;

𝜔
𝜑 = ∠𝐺𝐻 0 = − tan−1
𝑝
Point 1: The start of plot where ω = 0
1 0
𝐺𝐻(0) = =∞ 𝜑 = ∠𝐺𝐻 0 = −tan−1 = 0°
0 0 + 𝑝2 𝑝

Point 2: The end of plot where ω = ∞

1 ∞
𝐺𝐻(∞) = =0 𝜑 = ∠𝐺𝐻 ∞ = −tan−1 = −90°
∞ ∞+ 𝑝2 𝑝

Polar Plot

|GH(jω)| ∠GH(jω)
ω=0 ∞ 0o
ω=∞ 0 -90o
 Four Important Points for Derivation
the Nyquist Criterion
1. The relationship between the poles of 1 + G(s)H(s) and the poles of G(s)H(s);

1. The relationship between the zeros of 1 + G(s)H(s) and the poles of the
closed-loop transfer function, T(s);

2. The concept of mapping points;

3. The concept of mapping contours.

It is conclude that;

1) The poles of 1 + G(s)H(s) are the same as the poles of G(s)H(s), the open-loop system.

2) The zeros of 1 + G(s)H(s) are the same as the poles of T(s), the closed-loop system.
 The Concept of Mapping

• If we take a complex number s = x+jy on the s-plane and substitute it into a

function, F(s), another complex number results. This process is called mapping.
OR
• The term mapping is defined as the substitution of a complex number into a
function, F(s), to get another complex number.

• For example, substituting s = 4 + j3 into the function F(s) = (s2 +2s + 1) yields
16+j30. We say that 4 + j3 maps into 16+j30 through the function s2 +2s + 1.
 The Concept of Mapping Contours
The collection of points, called a contour.
 Examples of Contour Mapping
If we assume a clockwise direction for mapping the points on contour A, the contour B
maps a clockwise direction if F(s) has just zeros or has just poles that are not encircled by
the contour.
 Examples of Contour Mapping
The contour B maps in a counter clockwise direction if F(s) has just poles that are encircled
by the contour, Also, you should verify that, if the pole or zero of F(s) is enclosed by
contour A, the mapping encircles the origin .
 Examples of Contour Mapping

In this last case, the pole and zero rotation cancel, and the mapping does not encircle the
origin.
THE NYQUIST STABILITY CRITERION

• A linear closed-loop continuous control system is absolutely stable if the roots of

the characteristic equation have negative real parts.

• Equivalently, the poles of the closed-loop transfer function, or the zeros of the
denominator, 1 + GH(s), of the closed-loop transfer function, must lie in the left-half
plane.

• The Nyquist Stability Criterion establishes the number of zeros of 1 + GH(s) in the
right-half plane directly from the Nyquist Stability Plot of GH(s).
 Nyquist Stability Criterion
The closed-loop control system whose open-loop transfer function is GH is stable if and only
if

Where,

N = total number of CW encirclements of the (-1,0) point (i.e., GH = - 1 ) in the GH-plane.

Po = number of poles of GH in the right-hand-plane RHP for continuous systems.

If N > 0, the number of zeros Zo of 1 + GH in the RHP for continuous systems, is

determined by

If N ≤ 0 and Po = 0, then the system is absolutely stable if and only if N = 0; that is, if and
only if the (-1,0) point does not lie in the shaded region.
 Problem-7: Sketch the polar plot for the following transfer function
and check the stability of the system.

There is one pole at the origin.

Representing G(s)H(s) in the frequency response form G( jω )H(jω) by replacing s = jω:

The magnitude of GH(jω) i.e., |GH(jω)|, is obtained as;

1
𝐺𝐻 𝑗𝜔 =
𝜔 𝜔2 + 1

The phase of GH(jω) denoted by, 𝜑, is obtained as;

𝜔
𝜑 = ∠𝐺𝐻 0 = −90° − tan−1
1
Point 1: The start of plot where ω = 0
1 0
𝐺𝐻(0) = =∞ 𝜑 = ∠𝐺𝐻 0 = −90° −tan −1
= −90°
0 0+1 1

Point 2: The end of plot where ω = ∞

1 ∞
𝐺𝐻(∞) = =0 𝜑 = ∠𝐺𝐻 ∞ = −90 − tan−1 = −90° − 90° = −180°
∞ ∞+1 𝑝

Polar Plot

|GH(jω)| ∠GH(jω)
ω=0 ∞ -90o
ω=∞ 0 -180o
Nyquist or Polar Plot Nyquist Diagram
• The region to the right of the contour has been shaded.

• Clearly, the (-1,0) point is not in the shaded region; therefore it is not
enclosed by the contour and so N ≤ 0.

• The poles of GH(s) are at s = 0 and s = -1, neither of which are in the right-
hand-plane RHP; hence Po = 0. Thus N = -Po = 0, and the system is
absolutely stable.
Problem-8: The Nyquist Stability Plot for GH(s) = 1/s(s-1) is given in the figure below.

• The region to the right of the contour has been shaded and the (-1,0) point is
enclosed; then N > 0. (It is clear that N = 1).
•
• The poles of GH are at s = 0 and s = +1, the latter pole being in the RHP. Hence Po =
1.

• N ≠ Po indicates that the system is unstable.

• Z = N + Po = 1 + 1 = 2, therefore the poles of the closed-loop transfer function, or the

zeros of the characteristic equation 1+GH in the right-hand plane RHP.
Q.1 Draw polar plot for given transfer function
G(s) =10/s(s+2)(s-1)

Check for stability using Nyquist criterion