Outline

Introduction to Signal Flow Graphs

Definitions
Terminologies
Examples

Examples
Signal Flow Graph from Block Diagrams
Design Examples
1
 Introduction
Alternative method to block diagram representation,
developed by Samuel Jefferson Mason.

Advantage: the availability of a flow graph gain formula,

also called gain formula.

A signal-flow graph consists of a network in which nodes

are connected by directed branches.

It depicts the flow of signals from one point of a system

to another and gives the relationships among the signals.

2
 Fundamentals of Signal Flow Graphs
Consider a simple equation below and draw its signal flow graph:

The signal flow graph of the equation is shown below;

Every variable in a signal flow graph is represented by a Node.

Every transmission function in a signal flow graph is represented by
a Branch.
Branches are always unidirectional.
The arrow in the branch denotes the direction of the signal flow.

3
 Terminologies
An input node or source contain only the outgoing branches. i.e., X1
An output node or sink contain only the incoming branches. i.e., X4
A path is a continuous, unidirectional succession of branches along which no
node is passed more than ones. i.e.,
X1 to X2 to X3 to X4 X1 to X2 to X4 X2 to X3 to X4

A forward path is a path from the input node to the output node. i.e.,
X1 to X2 to X3 to X4 , and X1 to X2 to X4 , are forward paths.
A feedback path or feedback loop is a path which originates and terminates on
the same node. i.e.; X2 to X3 and back to X2 is a feedback path.

7
 Terminologies
A self-loop is a feedback loop consisting of a single branch. i.e.; A33 is a self
loop.
The gain of a branch is the transmission function of that branch.
The path gain is the product of branch gains encountered in traversing a path.
i.e. the gain of forwards path X1 to X2 to X3 to X4 is A21A32A43
The loop gain is the product of the branch gains of the loop. i.e., the loop gain
of the feedback loop from X2 to X3 and back to X2 is A32A23.

Two loops, paths, or loop and a path are said to be non-touching if they have
no nodes in common.

8
Consider the signal flow graph below and identify the following

a) Input node.
b) Output node.
c) Forward paths.
d) Feedback paths (loops).
e) Determine the loop gains of the feedback loops.
f) Determine the path gains of the forward paths.
g) Non-touching loops

9
Consider the signal flow graph below and identify the following

There are two forward path gains;

10
 Consider the signal flow graph below and identify the following

There are four loops

11
Consider the signal flow graph below and identify the following

Nontouching loop gains;

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 Consider the signal flow graph below and identify the
following

a) Input node.
b) Output node.
c) Forward paths.
d) Feedback paths.
e) Self loop.
f) Determine the loop gains of the feedback loops.
g) Determine the path gains of the forward paths.

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 Input and output Nodes

a) Input node

b) Output node

14
(c) Forward Paths

15
(d) Feedback Paths or Loops

16
(d) Feedback Paths or Loops

17
(d) Feedback Paths or Loops

18
(d) Feedback Paths or Loops

19
(e) Self Loop(s)

20
(f) Loop Gains of the Feedback Loops

21
(g) Path Gains of the Forward Paths

22
The block diagram reduction technique requires successive
application of fundamental relationships in order to arrive at the
system transfer function.
On the other hand, rule for reducing a signal-flow graph
to a single transfer function requires the application of one
formula.
The formula was derived by S. J. Mason when he related the
signal-flow graph to the simultaneous equations that can be
written from the graph.
23
 The transfer function, C(s)/R(s), of a system represented by a signal-flow graph
is;

Where

n = number of forward paths.

Pi = the i th forward-path gain.

i = Determinant of the ith forward path

0 is the system characteristic equation.

24
 = 1- (sum of all individual loop gains) + (sum of the products of the gains
of all possible two loops that do not touch each other) (sum of the
products of the gains of all possible three loops that do not touch each
other) + and so forth with sums of higher number of non-touching loop
gains

i = value of for the part of the block diagram that does not touch the i-
th forward path ( i = 1 if there are no non-touching loops to the i-th path.)

25
 Systematic approach

1. Calculate forward path gain Pi for each forward

path i.
2. Calculate all loop transfer functions
3. Consider non-touching loops 2 at a time
4. Consider non-touching loops 3 at a time
5. etc
6. Calculate from steps 2,3,4 and 5
7. Calculate i as portion of not touching forward
path i

26
 Example#1
the system represented by following Signal Flow Graph

Therefore,

There are three feedback loops

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 Example#1
the system represented by following Signal Flow Graph

There are no non-touching loops, therefore

- (sum of all individual loop gains)

28
 Example#1
the system represented by following Signal Flow Graph

Eliminate forward path-1

1= 1- (sum of all individual loop gains)+...

1=1

Eliminate forward path-2

2= 1- (sum of all individual loop gains)+...

2=1
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Example#1: Continue

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 Example#2
of the system represented by following Signal Flow Graph

P1

P2

1. Calculate forward path gains for each forward path.

2. Calculate all loop gains.

3. Consider two non-touching loops.

L1L3 L1L4
L2L4 L2L3 31
 Example#2: continue

4. Consider three non-touching loops.

None.

5. Calculate from steps 2,3,4.

32
 Example#2: continue
Eliminate forward path-1

1 1 G6 H 6 G7 H 7

Eliminate forward path-2

2 1 G2 H 2 G3 H 3

33
 Example#2: continue

Y ( s) G1G2G3G4 1 G6 H 6 G7 H 7 G5G6G7 G8 1 G2 H 2 G3 H 3
R( s ) 1 G2 H 2 H 3G3 G6 H 6 G7 H 7 G2 H 2G6 H 6 G2 H 2G7 H 7 H 3G3G6 H 6 H 3G3G7 H 7

34
 Example#3
Find the transfer function, C(s)/R(s), for the signal-flow
graph in figure below.

35
 Example#3
There is only one forward Path.

P1 G1 ( s )G2 ( s )G3 ( s )G4 ( s )G5 ( s )

36
 Example#3
There are four feedback loops.

37
 Example#3
Non-touching loops taken two at a time.

38
 Example#3
Non-touching loops taken three at a time.

39
 Example#3

Eliminate forward path-1

40
 Example#4
of the system represented by following Signal Flow Graph

There are three forward paths, therefore n=3.

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Example#4: Forward Paths

42
 Example#4: Loop Gains of the Feedback Loops

L2 A43 A34

43
 Example#4: two non-touching loops

L1 L4

L1 L6
L1L8
44
 Example#4: Three non-touching loops

L1 L4

L1 L6
L1L8
45
From Block Diagram to Signal-Flow Graph Models
Example#5
H1

R(s) E(s) X1 X3 C(s)

G1 G2 G3 G4
X2
H2

H3

H1
R(s) 1 E(s) G1 X1 G2 X2 G3 X3 G4 C(s)

H2
H3
46
From Block Diagram to Signal-Flow Graph Models
Example#5
H1
R(s) 1 E(s) G1 X1 G2 X2 G3 G4 X3 1 C(s)

H2

H3

1 (G1G2G3G4 H 3 G2G3 H 2 G3G4 H 1 )

P1 G1G2G3G4 ; 1 1

C ( s) G1G2G3G4
G
R( s ) 1 G1G2G3G4 H 3 G2G3 H 2 G3G4 H 1
47
 Example#6
X1 Y1
G1
R(s) + + C(s)
E(s)
+
X2
G2
Y2

-1
X1 G1 Y1
-1
-1 1
R(s) 1 E(s) C(s)
1 1 1
X2 G2 Y2

-1
-1

48
 Example#6
-1
X1 G1 Y1
-1 1
R(s) 1 E(s) -1 C(s)
1 X2 1 Y2 1
G2

-1 -1

7 loops:

49
 Example#6
-1
X1 G1 Y1
-1 1
R(s) 1 E(s) -1 C(s)
1 X2 1 Y2 1
G2

-1 -1

Then:

4 forward paths:

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 Example#6

We have
C( s ) pk k
R( s )
G2 G1 2G1G2
1 2G2 4G1G2

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 Example-7: Determine the transfer function C/R for the block diagram below
by signal flow graph techniques.

The signal flow graph of the above block diagram is shown below.

There are two forward paths. The path gains are

The three feedback loop gains are

No loops are non-touching, hence

Because the loops touch the nodes of P1, Hence the control ratio T = C/R is
hence

Since no loops touch the nodes of P2,

therefore 52
 Example-6: Find the control ratio C/R for the system given below.

The signal flow graph is shown in the figure.

The two forward path gains are

The five feedback loop gains are

There are no non-touching loops, hence

All feedback loops touches the two forward

paths, hence

Hence the control ratio T = 53

 Design Example#1

V2 ( s ) I1 ( s ) R

54