Block Diagram Reduction & Signal Flow Graph

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,

Example 2
Reduce the following block diagram to form a single transfer
function.

Solution,

1.1

Control signal
R(s)

E(s)

Y(s)

_
B(s)
E(s) error signal
B(s) feedback signal
R(s) reference signal
Y(s) output signal
o

Feed forward transfer function

G(s)
o

Feedback transfer function

H ( s)
o

Y ( s)
E ( s)

B( s)
Y (s)

Open-loop transfer function

B( s )
G( s) H ( s)
E (s)
o

Closed-loop transfer function

E(s)

Y(s)
H(s)
s

B(s)

E(s)

G(s)

B(s)

H(s)G(s)

Open-loop

B( s )
G( s) H ( s)
E (s)

Assume, H ( s ) 1 gives Y ( s ) B ( s ) .

E ( s) R( s) B( s)
E ( s ) R ( s ) H ( s )Y ( s )

Y ( s)
R ( s ) H ( s )Y ( s )
G( s)
o

Variable difference

Characteristic equation

Y ( s)
G( s)

R( s) 1 G ( s) H ( s)
T ( s) 1 G ( s) H ( s)
1 G (s) H (s) 0

Signal Flow Graphs

SFG may be viewed as a simplified form of
block

diagram.

(represent

SFG

systems)

consists
and

nodes

of

arrows

(represent

signals).

Signal-flow graph components:

a. system;
b. signal;
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
Tk

= 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 -
k = - loop gain terms in that do not touch the k-th forwad-path. In
other words, k is formed by eliminating from those loop gains that do
touch the k-th forward path.

SIGNAL FLOW GRAPH

Definitions:

i) Loop Gains:
G2(s)H1(s), G4(s)H2(s), etc
ii) Forward-path gains:
G1(s)G2(s)G3(s)G4(s)G5(s)G7(s),

G1(s)G2(s)G3(s)G4(s)G6(s)G7(s)

iii) Non-touching Loops

iv) Non-touching Loop Gains
[G2(s)H1(s)][G4(s)H2(s)]
[G2(s)H1(s)][G4(s)G5(s)H3(s)]
[G2(s)H1(s)][G4(s)G6(s)H3(s)]
Example
Find the transfer function, C(s)/R(s), for the signal-flow graph below:

Solution:
i) Firstly, identify the forward-path gains.
G1(s)G2(s)G3(s)G4(s)G5(s)

ii) Secondly, identify the loop gains.

G2(s)H1(s), G4(s)H2(s), G7(s)H4(s), G2(s)G3(s)G4(s)G5(s)G6(s)G7(s)G8(s)
iii) Thirdly, identify the non-touching loops taken two at a time.
Loop 1 & Loop 2
: G2(s)H1(s)G4(s)H2(s)
Loop 1 and Loop 3 : G2(s)H1(s)G7(s)H4(s)
Loop 2 and Loop 3 : G4(s)H2(s)G7(s)H4(s)
iv) Finally, identify the non-touching loops taken three at a time.
Loops 1, 2 and 3

: G2(s)H1(s)G4(s)H2(s)G7(s)H4(s)

Hence,
= 1 [G2(s)H1(s) + G4(s)H2(s) + G7(s)H4(s) +
G2(s)G3(s)G4(s)G5(s)G6(s)G7(s)G8(s)] + [G2(s)H1(s)G4(s)H2(s) +
G2(s)H1(s)G7(s)H4(s) + G4(s)H2(s)G7(s)H4(s)]
[G2(s)H1(s)G4(s)H2(s)G7(s)H4(s)]
Then form k by eliminating from the loop gains that do not touch the kth forwardpath :
1= 1 - G7(s)H4(s)
Hence:

G( s)

T1 1

G(s)

[G1 ( s )G 2 ( s )G3 ( s )G 4 ( s )G5 ( s )][1 G7 ( s ) H 4 ( s )

EXERCISE
1.

Find the transfer function, G(s) = C(s)/R(s) of the figure above using:
1) Block diagram reduction technique
2) Masons rule

SOLUTION:
1) Block diagram reduction technique:
Combine the parallel blocks in the forward path. Then, push 1/s to the left past the
pickoff point.

Combine the parallel feedback paths and get 2s. Then, apply the feedback formula,
simplify and get

s3 1
G(s ) 4
2s s 2 2s
2) Signal flow graph technique: