Block Diagram fundamentals &

reduction techniques
Introduction
• Block diagram is a shorthand, graphical
representation of a physical system, illustrating
the functional relationships among its
components.
OR
• A Block Diagram is a shorthand pictorial
representation of the cause-and-effect
relationship of a system.
 Introduction
• The simplest form of the block diagram is the single block,
with one input and one output.
• The interior of the rectangle representing the block usually
contains a description of or the name of the element, or the
symbol for the mathematical operation to be performed on
the input to yield the output.
• The arrows represent the direction of information or signal
flow.

d
x y
dt
 Introduction
• The operations of addition and subtraction have a special
representation.
• The block becomes a small circle, called a summing point,
with the appropriate plus or minus sign associated with the
arrows entering the circle.
• Any number of inputs may enter a summing point.
• The output is the algebraic sum of the inputs.
• Some books put a cross in the circle.
Components of a Block Diagram for
a Linear Time Invariant System
• System components are alternatively called
elements of the system.
• Block diagram has four components:
▫ Signals
▫ System/ block
▫ Summing junction
▫ Pick-off/ Take-off point
• In order to have the same signal or variable be an input to
more than one block or summing point, a takeoff point is
used.
• Distributes the input signal, undiminished, to several
output points.
• This permits the signal to proceed unaltered along several
different paths to several destinations.
 Example-1

• Consider the following equations in which x1, x2, x3, are

variables, and a1, a2 are general coefficients or
mathematical operators.
x3  a1 x1  a 2 x2  5
 Example-1

• Consider the following equations in which x1, x2, x3, are

variables, and a1, a2 are general coefficients or
mathematical operators.
x3  a1 x1  a 2 x2  5
 Example-2
• Consider the following equations in which x1, x2,. . . , xn, are
variables, and a1, a2,. . . , an , are general coefficients or
mathematical operators.

x n  a1 x1  a 2 x 2  a n 1 x n 1
 Example-3
• Draw the Block Diagrams of the following equations.

dx1 1
(1) x 2  a1   x1dt
dt b
d 2 x2 dx1
( 2) x3  a1 3  bx1
dt 2 dt
How to Draw the Block Diagram of
an Electric Circuit.
Draw the Block Diagram of the
given Electric Circuit.
Topologies
• We will now examine some common topologies
for interconnecting subsystems and derive the
single transfer function representation for each
of them.
• These common topologies will form the basis for
reducing more complicated systems to a single
block.
CASCADE
• Any finite number of blocks in series may be
algebraically combined by multiplication of
transfer functions.
• That is, n components or blocks with transfer
functions G1 , G2, . . . , Gn, connected in cascade
are equivalent to a single element G with a
transfer function given by
Example

• Multiplication of transfer functions is

commutative; that is,
GiGj = GjGi
for any i or j .
Cascade:

Figure:
a) Cascaded Subsystems.
b) Equivalent Transfer Function.

The equivalent transfer function

is
Parallel Form:
• Parallel subsystems have a common input and an
output formed by the algebraic sum of the outputs
from all of the subsystems.

Figure: Parallel Subsystems.

Parallel Form:

Figure:
a) Parallel Subsystems.
b) Equivalent Transfer Function.

The equivalent transfer function is

Feedback Form:
• The third topology is the feedback form. Let us derive the
transfer function that represents the system from its input
to its output. The typical feedback system, shown in figure:

Figure: Feedback (Closed Loop) Control System.

The system is said to have negative feedback if the sign at the

summing junction is negative and positive feedback if the sign
is positive.
 Feedback Form:

Figure:
a)Feedback Control System.
b)Simplified Model or Canonical Form.
c) Equivalent Transfer Function.

The equivalent or closed-loop

transfer function is
 Characteristic Equation
• The control ratio is the closed loop transfer function of the
system.
C( s ) G( s )

R( s ) 1  G( s ) H ( s )

• The denominator of closed loop transfer function determines the

characteristic equation of the system.

• Which is usually determined as:

1  G( s ) H ( s )  0
 Canonical Form of a Feedback Control
System

The system is said to have negative feedback if the sign at the summing
junction is negative and positive feedback if the sign is positive.
 B( s )
1. Open loop transfer function  G( s ) H ( s )
E( s )
C( s )
 G( s )
2. Feed Forward Transfer function E ( s )

C( s ) G( s ) G(s )

3. control ratio R( s ) 1  G( s )H ( s )

B( s ) G( s ) H ( s )
4. feedback ratio

R( s ) 1  G ( s ) H ( s )

E( s ) 1 H (s )

5. error ratio R( s ) 1  G( s )H ( s )
C( s ) G( s )

6. closed loop transfer function R( s ) 1  G( s ) H ( s )

7. characteristic equation 1  G( s ) H ( s )  0

8. closed loop poles and zeros if K=10.

Characteristic Equation
Unity Feedback System
Reduction techniques
1. Combining blocks in cascade

G1 G2 G1G2

2. Combining blocks in parallel

G1
G1  G2
G2
Reduction techniques

3. Moving a summing point behind a block

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

G G
1
G

4. Moving a pickoff point behind a block

G G

5. Moving a pickoff point ahead of a block

G G
Reduction techniques
6. Eliminating a feedback loop

G
G
1 GH
H

G
G
1 G

H 1

7. Swap with two neighboring summing points

A B B A
Block Diagram Transformation Theorems

The letter P is used to represent any transfer function, and W, X ,

Y, Z denote any transformed signals.
Transformation Theorems Continue:
Transformation Theorems Continue:
Reduction of Complicated Block Diagrams:
Example 1 : Reduce the Block Diagram to Canonical
Form.
Example-1: Continue.

However in this example step-4 does not apply.

However in this example step-6 does not apply.

Example-2: Simplify the Block Diagram.
Example-2: Continue.
Example-3: Reduce the Block Diagram.
Example-3: Continue.
Example-4: Reduce the Block Diagram.
Example-4: Continue.
Example-5: For the system represented by the
following block diagram determine:
1. Open loop transfer function
2. Feed Forward Transfer function
3. control ratio
4. feedback ratio
5. error ratio
6. closed loop transfer function
7. characteristic equation
8. closed loop poles and zeros if K=10.
 Example-5: Continue

▫ First we will reduce the given block diagram to canonical

form

K
s 1
 Example-5: Continue

K
s 1

K
G
 s 1
1  GH K
1 s
s 1
 Example-5: Continue
B( s )
1. Open loop transfer function  G( s ) H ( s )
E( s )
C( s )
 G( s )
2. Feed Forward Transfer function
E( s )
C( s ) G( s ) G(s )

3. control ratio R( s ) 1  G( s ) H ( s )

B( s ) G( s ) H ( s )

4. feedback ratio R( s ) 1  G( s )H ( s )

E( s ) 1 H (s )

5. error ratio R( s ) 1  G( s ) H ( s )
C( s ) G( s )

6. closed loop transfer function R( s ) 1  G( s ) H ( s )

7. characteristic equation1  G( s ) H ( s )  0

8. closed loop poles and zeros if K=10.

• Example-6: For the system represented by the following
block diagram determine:
1. Open loop transfer function
2. Feed Forward Transfer function
3. control ratio
4. feedback ratio
5. error ratio
6. closed loop transfer function
7. characteristic equation
8. closed loop poles and zeros if K=100.
Example-7: Reduce the system to a single transfer
function.
Example-8: Continue.
Example-8: Continue.
Example-9: Simplify the block diagram then obtain the
close-loop transfer function C(S)/R(S). (from Ogata:
Page-47)
Example-9: Continue.
Example-10: Reduce the Block Diagram.

H2

R _ C
+_ + G1 + G2 G3
+

H1
Example-10:

H2
G1
R _ C
+_ + + G1 G2 G3
+

H1
Example-10:

H2
G1
R _ C
+_ + + G1G2 G3
+

H1
Example-10:

H2
G1
R _ C
+_ + + G1G2 G3
+

H1
Example-10:

H2
G1
R _ G1G2 C
+_ + G3
1  G1G2 H1
Example-10:

H2
G1
R _ G1G2G3 C
+_ +
1  G1G2 H1
Example-10:

R G1G2G3 C
+_ 1  G1G2 H1  G2G3 H 2
Example-10:

R G1G2G3 C
1  G1G2 H1  G2G3 H 2  G1G2G3
Example 11: Find the transfer function of the following
block diagrams.

R (s ) Y (s )
G1 G2

H1 H2

H3
Solution:

1. Eliminate loop I

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

H3
2. Moving pickoff point A behind blockG2
1  G2 H 2

R (s ) A G2 B
Y (s )
G1
1  G2 H 2

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

R (s ) G1G2 Y (s )
1  G2 H 2

H 1 (1  G2 H 2 )
H3 
G2

Y (s) G1G2

R( s ) 1  G2 H 2  G1G2 H 3  G1 H1  G1G2 H1 H 2
Superposition of Multiple Inputs
Multiple Input System. Determine the output C due to
inputs R and U using the Superposition Method.
Continue.
Continue.
Example-12: Multiple-Input System. Determine the
output C due to inputs R, U1 and U2 using the
Superposition Method.
Example-12: Continue.
Example-12: Continue.
Example-13: Multi-Input Multi-Output System. Determine
C1 and C2 due to R1 and R2.
Example-13: Continue.
Example-13: Continue.

When R1 = 0,

When R2 = 0,
Skill Assessment Exercise:
Answer of Skill Assessment Exercise: