BLOCK DIAGRAM FUNDAMENTALS

REDUCTION TECHNIQUES
 INTRODUCTION
A complex control system is difficult to analyze as various factors are associated with it.
Block diagram representation and reduction rules of block diagram helps to easily
analyze a control system. This representation of a system involves summing points,
functional blocks, etc., connected through branches which makes the analysis easy,
simple, and step by step, crystal clear.
Two methods to analyze a system are
1. Transfer Function Approach
2. State Variable Approach
1. Transfer Function Approach : The ratio of the Laplace transform of the output
variable to the Laplace transform of the input variable assuming all the initial
conditions to be zero is called Transfer Function.
2. State Variable Approach : The advantage of the Transfer Function Approach is that it
gives a simple mathematical algebraic equation and it directly gives poles and zeroes
of the system. The stability of the system and output of the system for any input can be
directly determined from this approach.
 INTRODUCTION
• Transfer Function G(S) = L[c(t)]/L[r(t)] all the initial conditions are zeroes.
G(s) = C(s) / R(s)
• It’s difficult traditionally to determine the complete transfer function for the very
complex control system. Hence function of each element of the control system is
depicted in the form of a block diagram.
• The symbol representation in short form gives a relation of output to input in the
control system. The complete system can be formed by connecting each block as per
the need of the 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 𝑑𝑡 𝑌
 BLOCK DIAGRAM
• A Block Diagram is a shorthand pictorial representation of the cause-and-effect
relationship of a system
• Block diagram is a shorthand, graphical representation of a physical system,
illustrating the functional relationships among its components.
e.g. coffee making

1. Manual
2. Automatic: Vending Machine
 COMPONENTS OF A BLOCK DIAGRAM 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

• To have the same signal or variable be an input to more than one block
or summing point, a take-off 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.
 Summing point
Signals

𝐶 𝑠 = 𝑅1 𝑠 + 𝑅2 𝑠 − 𝑅3 (𝑠)
𝑅(𝑠) 𝐶(𝑠)
𝑅1 𝑠 +
+
-
System
𝑅2 𝑠
𝑅(𝑠) 𝐶(𝑠)
𝐺(𝑠) 𝑅3 𝑠
Input Output

Takeoff point Pickoff point

𝑅(𝑠)
𝑅(𝑠) T 𝑅(𝑠)
𝑅(𝑠) P 𝑅(𝑠)
𝑅(𝑠)

𝑅(𝑠)
 • 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.

Can Be Shown As
• The output is the algebraic sum of the inputs.

• Some books put a cross in the circle

𝑈(𝑠)
+
+ 𝒁(𝒔) = 𝑿(𝒔) + 𝑹(𝑺) + 𝒁(𝒔) = (𝒔) − 𝑹(𝒔)
𝑿(s) 𝑿(𝒔) 𝑋(𝑠) +
- 𝑍 = 𝑋(𝑠) − 𝑅(𝑠) + 𝑈(s)
+ -
𝑹(𝑺) 𝑹(𝑺)
𝑅(s)
 BLOCK DIAGRAM REDUCTION
TECHNIQUES/RULES
• To form a control system the blocks are arranged together as required and the steps
followed to obtain the transfer function are called Block Diagram Reduction Method.
Rule 1 : when more than one block are cascaded than overall transfer function is
multiplication of all the individual transfer function .

𝑅(𝑠) 𝐶1 (𝑠) 𝐶2 (𝑠) 𝐶(𝑠)

𝐺1 (𝑠) 𝐺2 (𝑠) 𝐺3 (𝑠)
Input Output

𝐶1 𝑆 𝐶2 𝑆 𝐶 𝑆
𝐺1 𝑆 = 𝐺2 𝑆 = 𝐺3 𝑆 =
𝑅 𝑆 𝐶1 𝑆 𝐶2 𝑆

𝑅(𝑠) 𝐶(𝑠)
𝑪(𝑺)
𝐺1 (𝑠). 𝐺2 (𝑠). 𝐺3 (𝑠) = 𝑮 𝟏 𝑺 . 𝑮𝟐 𝑺 . 𝑮𝟑 𝑺
𝑹 𝑺
Input Output
Rule 2 : One or more blocks connected in parallel to other block then final equivalent
transfer function can be find as following

𝐶1 (𝑠)
𝐺1 (𝑠)

𝑅(𝑠)
+ 𝐶 𝑠 = 𝐶1 (s) + 𝐶2 (s)+ 𝐶3 (s)
𝐶2 (𝑠) +
𝐺2 (𝑠)
Input
+
Equivalent Block Diagram
𝐶3 (𝑠)
𝐺3 (𝑠) 𝑅(𝑠) 𝐶(𝑠)
𝐺1 𝑠 + 𝐺2 𝑠 + 𝐺3 (𝑠)
Input Output

𝐶 𝑠 = 𝑅 𝑠 . 𝐺1 (s) + 𝑅 𝑠 . 𝐺2 (s)+ 𝑅 𝑠 . 𝐺3 (s)

𝐶(𝑠) = 𝑅 𝑠 [ 𝐺1 (s) + 𝐺1 (s) + 𝐺1 (s) ]

𝐶(𝑠)
= 𝐺1 (s) + 𝐺1 (s) + 𝐺1 (s)
𝑅(𝑠)
Rule 3 : Changing the position of summing point with each other [For consecutive two
or more summing points]

+ 𝑅 𝑠 + 𝑋(𝑠) + 𝑅 𝑠 + 𝑋 𝑠 − 𝑌(𝑠)
Input_1
+ Input_2 -
𝑋(𝑠) 𝑌(𝑠)

+ 𝑅 𝑠 − 𝑌(𝑠) + 𝑅 𝑠 − 𝑌 𝑠 + 𝑋(𝑠)

Input_1
- +
𝑌(𝑠) 𝑋(𝑠) Input_2
Rule 4 : Shifting a summing point from a position before a block to position after the
block , a block is added to summing point having gain equals to current gain

𝑅(𝑠) + A B 𝐶 𝑠 =𝐺 𝑠 𝑅 𝑠 ±𝑋 𝑠 = 𝑅 𝑠 . 𝐺 𝑠 + 𝑋 𝑠 . 𝐺(𝑠)

Input_1 Output
±
𝑋(𝑠) Input_2

Shift from A To B

B
𝑅(𝑠) A 𝑅 𝑠 . 𝐺(𝑠) + 𝐶 𝑠 = 𝑅 𝑠 . 𝐺 𝑠 ± 𝐺 𝑠 . 𝑋(𝑠)

Input ±

𝑮(𝒔)

𝑋(𝑠)
Shifted from A To B
Rule 5 : Shifting a summing point from a position after a block to a position before the
block , a block is added having gain equals to reciprocal of current gain .

B
A 𝑅 𝑠 . 𝐺(𝑠) + 𝐶 𝑠 = 𝑅 𝑠 . 𝐺 𝑠 ± 𝑋(𝑠)
𝐺(𝑠)
Input_1
±
X(𝑠) Input_2

1
𝑅 𝑠 ± 𝑋 𝑠 .
1 B 𝐺(𝑠) 𝑅 𝑠 ± 𝑋 𝑠 .
A + 𝐺(𝑠) 𝐺(𝑠)
𝐺(𝑠)
Input
±
1 X(𝑠) 𝑪 𝒔 = 𝑮 𝒔 . 𝑹(𝒔) ± 𝑿(𝒔)
𝐺(𝑠) Input_2 Expected output after B Shifted from A
Rule 6 : Shifted a take off point from position before block to a position after block.
A block is added having gain equals to reciprocal of current gain .

A 𝐶 𝑠 = R s . G(s)
𝐺(𝑠)
Input B Output

𝐶 𝑠 =R s

A 𝐶 𝑠 =𝑅 𝑠 . 𝐺(𝑠)
𝐺(𝑠)
Input B
𝑅 𝑠 .𝐺 𝑠 𝐶 𝑠 = R s . G(s)
Rule 7 : Shifting a take off point from position after a block to a position before block.
A block is added having gain equals to the current gain .

A 𝐶 𝑠 = 𝐺 𝑠 . 𝑅(𝑠)
𝐺(𝑠)
Input B Output

𝐶 𝑠 = 𝐺 𝑠 . 𝑅(𝑠)

A 𝐺(𝑠)
𝐶 𝑠 =𝑅 𝑠 . 𝐺(𝑠)

Input B Output

𝑅 𝑠 𝐶 𝑠 = 𝐺 𝑠 . 𝑅(𝑠)
𝐺(𝑠)
Rule 8 : Shifting a take off point from a position before a summing point to position
after the summing point .

+ 𝐶 𝑠 = 𝑅 𝑠 ±𝑋 𝑠

Input A B Output
±
X(𝑠) 𝐶 𝑠 = 𝑅 𝑠

+ 𝐶 𝑠 = 𝑅 𝑠 ± 𝑋(𝑠)

A B Output
±
𝐶 𝑠 = 𝑅 𝑠 ± 𝑋 𝑠 ∓ X s = R(s)
+
X(𝑠)
±
X(𝑠)
Rule 9 : Shifting a take off point from a position after a summing point to position
before summing point .

+ 𝐶 𝑠 = 𝑅 𝑠 ±𝑋 𝑠

A B Output
±
𝐶 𝑠 = 𝑅 𝑠 ±𝑋 𝑠
X(𝑠)

+ 𝐶 𝑠 = 𝑅 𝑠 ±𝑋 𝑠

A B
± Output

X(𝑠)
+ 𝐶 𝑠 = 𝑅 𝑠 ±𝑋 𝑠

± X(𝑠)
Rule 11 : Eliminating a summing point in closed loop system[Eliminating take and summing point in
closed loop system].

+ 𝐸(𝑠) 𝐶(𝑠)
𝐺(𝑠)

± B(𝑠)

𝐻(𝑠)

𝑅(𝑠) 𝐺(𝑠) 𝐶(𝑠)

1 ± 𝐺 𝑠 . 𝐻(𝑠)
 ADVANTAGES :BLOCK DIAGRAM REDUCTION

1. Block diagram reduction helps to construct easily block diagrams of complex

control systems.
2. It helps in analyzing the performance of each block individually and obtain the
transfer function of the given control system.
3. Its helps to analyze the system stability through the type of feedback in the system.
4. It helps in observing the functional operation of the Block diagram through it.
DISADVANTAGES :BLOCK DIAGRAM REDUCTION

1. Block diagram reduction proves time consuming for a complex control system.
2. Block diagram reduction removes some important functions of the system may
be eliminated.
3. Insufficient information about how the system is constructed physically.
4. Do not provide any information about the source of energy in the system.
APPLICATIONS : BLOCK DIAGRAM REDUCTION

1. Hardware design.
2. Electric System Design.
3. Software Design.
4. Process Flow Diagram.
5. In determining the transfer function of the system
6. Stability analysis of control systems.
 SUMMARY
1. The block Diagram reduction rule prove to be helpful for the determination of the
transfer function of a complex system.
2. It helps to simplify the complex control system into a simple control system so that
it can be analyzed for stability and other performance of the system easily.
3. It is a handy way for engineers to troubleshoot and do the observation of complex
systems by connecting a simple blocks to form a complete system.