UNIT I CONTROL SYSTEM MODELING
PART-A
1. What is control system?
A system consists of a number of components connected together to perform a specific function.
In a system when the output quantity is controlled by varying the input quantity then the system is called
control system.
2. List the two major types of control systems?
Open loop systems
Closed loop systems
3. Define open loop and closed loop systems.
The control system in which the output quantity has no effect upon the input quantity is called
open loop control system. This means that the output is not feedback to the input for correction.
The control system in which the output has an effect upon the input quantity so as to maintain the
desired output values are called closed loop control system.
4. What is a signal flow graph?
A signal flow graph is a diagram that represents a set of simultaneous algebraic equations .By
taking Laplace Transform, the time domain differential equations governing a control system can be
transferred to a set of algebraic equations in s-domain.
5. Write the analogous electrical elements in force voltage analogy for the elements of mechanical
translational system.
Force-voltage e
Velocity v-current i
Displacement x-charge q
Frictional co-efficient B-Resistance R
Mass M- Inductance L
Stiffness K-Inverse of capacitance 1/C
6. Write the analogous electrical elements in force current analogy for the elements of mechanical
translational system.
Force-current i
Velocity v-voltage v
Displacement x-flux φ
Frictional co-efficient B-conductance 1/R
Mass M- capacitance C
Stiffness K-Inverse of inductance 1/L
7. State mason’s gain formula.
Mason’s gain formula states that the overall gain of the system as follows,
Overall gain, T = 1/∆ ∑k Pk∆ k
T = T(s) = Transfer function of the system.
K = Number of forward paths in the signal flow graph.
Pk = Forward path gain of Kth forward path.
∆ = 1-[sum of individual loop gains] + [sum of gain products of all possible combinations of two non-
touching loops]-[sum of gain products of all possible combinations of three non-touching loops] +…
∆ k = [∆ for that part of the graph which is not touching Kth forward path]
8. What is feedback?
The feedback is a control action in which the output is sampled and a proportional signal is given
to input for automatic correction of any changes in desired output.
9. Why is negative feedback invariably preferred in a closed loop systems?
The negative feedback results in better stability in steady state and rejects any disturbance signals.
It’s also has low sensitivity to parameter variations. Hence negative feedback is preferred in closed loop
systems.
10. What are the components of feedback control system?
The components of feedback control system are plant, feedback path elements, error detector and
controller.
11. Define transfer function.
The Transfer function of a system is defined as the ratio of the Laplace transform of output to
Laplace transform of input with zero initial conditions. It’s also defined as the Laplace Transform of the
impulse response of system with zero initial conditions.
12. What are the characteristics of negative feedback?
Accuracy in tracking steady state value.
Rejection of disturbance signals.
Low sensitivity to parameter variations.
Reduction in gain at the expense of better stability.
13. Distinguish between open loop and closed loop systems.
Open loop Closed loop
1.Innaccurate & unreliable Accurate & reliable
2.Simple and economical Complex and costlier
3.The changes in output due to external disturbance are The changes in output due to external disturbances are
not corrected automatically corrected automatically
4.They are generally stable Great efforts are needed to design a stable system
14. Define non-touching loop.
The loops are said to be non-touching if they do not have common nodes.
15. Define linear system.
A system is said to be linear if it obeys the principle of superposition and homogeneity. The
principle of superposition states that the response of a system to a weighed sum of signal is equal to the
corresponding weighed sum of the responses of the system to each of the individual input signals.
16. What is time invariant system?
A system is said to be time invariant if its input output characteristics do not change with time. A
linear time invariant system can be represented by constant coefficient differential equations.
17. What is transmittance?
The transmittance is the gain acquired by the signal when it travels from one node to another
node in signal flow graph
18. What is source and sink?
Source is the input node in the signal flow graph and it has only outgoing branches.
Sink is an output node in the signal flow graph and it has only incoming branches.
19. What are the basic elements used for modeling mechanical translational system?
The model of mechanical translational system can be obtained by using three basic elements
Mass, spring and dashpot.
20. What are the basic elements used for modeling mechanical rotational system?
The model of mechanical translational system can be obtained by using three basic elements
Moment of inertia J, dash-pot with rotational frictional coefficient B and torsional spring with stiffness K
21. What is block diagram?
A block diagram of a system is a pictorial representation of the functions performed by each
component of the system and shows the flow of signals. The basic elements of block diagram are block,
branch point and summing point.
22. What is the basis for framing the rules of block diagram reduction technique?
The rules for block diagram reduction technique are framed such that any modification made on
the diagram does not alter the input output relation.
23. What is servomechanism?
The servomechanism is a feedback control system, in which the output is mechanical position (or
time derivatives of position velocity and acceleration,)
24. Write the force balance equation of ideal mass element.
Let a force f be applied to an ideal mass M. The mass will offer an opposing force f m which is
proportional to acceleration.
f = fm = M d2x / dt2
25. Write the force balance equation of ideal dashpot.
Let a force f be applied to an ideal dashpot, with viscous frictional coefficient B. The dashpot will
offer an opposing force fb which is proportional to velocity.
f = fb = B dx / dt
26. Write the force balance equation of ideal spring.
Let a force f be applied to an ideal spring with spring constant K. The spring will offer an
opposing force fk which is proportional to displacement.
f = fk = Kx
27. Give the Advantages of signal flow graph?
Manson’s gain formula the overall gain of the system can be computed easily.
This method is simpler than the tedious block diagram reduction techniques.
28. What are the basic properties of signal flow graph?
Signal flow graph is applicable to linear systems.
It consists of nodes and branches. A node is a point representing a variable or signal. A branch
indicates functional dependence of one signal on the other.
A node adds the signals of all incoming branches and transmits this sum to all outgoing branches.
Signals travel along branches only in the marked direction and is multiplied by the gain of the
branch.
The algebraic equation must be in the form of cause and effect relationship.
