CHAPTER-II

BLOCK DIAGRAM AND SIGNAL FLOW GRAPH

01: Construct a signal flow graph for the following equations and evaluate
y2 = a12y1 + a32 y3
y3 = a23 +a43y4
y4 = a24y2+a34y3+a44y4
y5 = a25y2 + a45y4 (IES – EC – 2005) (15M)

Sol: From the given data,

y2 = a12y1 + a32 y3
y3 = a23 +a43y4
y4 = a24y2+a34y3+a44y4
y5 = a25y2 + a45y4

Signal flow graph:

a32 a44
a43

y1 a12 y y5
2 a45
I/P a23 y3 a34 y4 O/P

a24
Forward paths:
a25
P = a12a23a34a45
P = a12a24a45
P = a12a25
Gain of Individual loops :
L a23a32
=
L = a34a43
L = a44
L =

Non-touching loops :
= a23a32 a44
 = 1 - (Individual loop gains) + (product of gain of two non-touching
loops) - (product of gains of three non-touching loops) + ……….
1 = 1
2 = 1
3 = (1- )
3 BLOCK DIAGRAM AND SIGNAL FLOW GRAPH ACE
ACADEMY

=

02. A System is represented by the signal flow graph as shown in the figure. The variable T
is the torque and E is the error, determine.
(i) The overall transfer function if K1 = 5, K2 = 1 & K3 = 5
(ii) The sensitivity of the system to change in K2 for =0

 1
1   0
E K1 EC K2 Em T  s2  T 1

K3 5

1

(IES – EC – 2007) (10M)

Sol: (i) from the given signal flow graph,

From the signal flow graph

First forward path
Individual loops,

Two non – touching loops are zero

By using Mason’s gain formula,

ACE ACADEMY CONTROL SYSTEMS 4

T(s) -------------- (2)

For K1= 5, K2=1, and K3= 5


(ii) Sensitivity of the system with respect to K2

At

03. Obtain the overall transfer function C/R from the signal flow graph in figure.
H1

G4
G2
G8
R C
G1 1
G3
G5

H2

(IES – EC – 2009) (10M)

5 BLOCK DIAGRAM AND SIGNAL FLOW GRAPH ACE
ACADEMY

Sol: From the given signal flow graph, to calculate overall Transfer function we use
Mason’s gain formula
H1

2 G4 3
G2 G6
1 G8 1
R C
1 G1 4
G3 G7
5 G5 6

H2

Overall Transfer function = C/R =

From above signal flow graph,
Forward paths,

P1 = 1 2 3 4 = G2 G4
P2 = 1 2 6 4 = G2 G1
P3 = 1 2 6 5 3 4 = G2G1G8 (-H2)
P4 = 1 5 6 4 = G3G5
P5 = 1 5 3 4 = G3G8
P6 = 1 5 3 2 6 4 = G3G8 (-H1)

Individual loops,
L1 = -G4H1, L2 = -G5H2, L3 = G1G8H2H1
Non-touching loops:

L L = G5H2 G4H1
= 1 + L1 + L 2 + L 3
= 1 + G4H1 + G5H2 + G4H1G5H2 – G H2G8H1
= 1 – (-G5H2) = 1 + G5H2
=1 =1 =1
= 1 – (-G4H1) = 1 + G4H1
Overall transfer function ,

=
ACE ACADEMY CONTROL SYSTEMS 6

04. What are the limitations of Mason’s Gain Rule obtaining Transfer function.
(IES – EC – 2010) (4M)

Sol: 1. Signal flow graph applicable to only to linear systems.

2. If many loops are present then identification of non-touching loops are very
difficult.
3. It can only applied between input and output nodes,
4. It is complicated to implement without making mistake, if signal flow graph
consists many non-touching loops.

05 G4

+ + C(s)
G1 G2 G3
R(s)    +
H1
H2

Draw the signal flow graph and find . (IES – EC – 2010) (6M)
Sol: From the given Block diagram replace summing points and takeoff as nodes and blocks
as its gain. Then the signal flow diagram as shown below .
G4
We can find Transfer function ,
By using Mason’s Gain formula

1 1
i.e,
R(s) 1 G1 G2 G3 C(s)

Forward paths
P1 = G1 G2 G3 -H1 -H2
P2 = G4

Individual loops: -1
L1 = - G1G2H1
L2 = - G2G3H2
L3 = - G1G2G3
1  1-(non touching loops of 1st forward path)
= 1-(0)
1 = 1
2 = 1 – (non touching loop 2nd forward path)
= 1- (0)
 =