Block Diagram Reduction: A Summary

The block diagram is a pictorial representation of system where

blocks represent the transfer functions of different elements of
system.

In addition to blocks, block diagram also possess summing points and

take-off points. Summing points are used to add the different signals;
however, the take-off points are utilized to take-off the signals.
A simple or canonical form of block diagram consists of one block in
the forward path, one block in the feedback path, one summing point
and one take-off point. This canonical form is generally termed as
closed-loop system, closed-loop feedback system or feedback system.

The closed-loop feedback system is shown in following figure. The

transfer function of closed loop feedback system is given as
C s Gs
 (1)
R s 1 G  s H  s

R  s G s C s


H  s

Figure: The closed-loop feedback block diagram.

Rules for reducing the block diagram:
The complicated block diagram is converted into transfer functions with
the help of block diagram reduction rules. The rules for reducing the
block diagram are summarized in following table.
 Table: Rules for reducing the block diagram.
1. Consecutive The two or
summing more y y

points consecutive  

summing R C R C

points can be  
x x
interchanged
directly
Not only,
interchanging y
y
can be done,  
but also, a
R C R C
single  

summing x x

point can be
used for
 representing
the
consecutive
summing
points
2. Blocks in Transfer
cascade functions of G1 G2 G3 G1G2G3
R C R C
such blocks
get multiplied
3. Blocks in Transfer
G1
parallel functions of
such blocks R
G2
 C R
G1  G2  G3
C

get added G3

algebraically
4. Shifting a Add a block
summing of transfer R G
C
G
point function R C

behind the equal to y

1/ G

block reciprocal of y

block
5. Shifting a Add a block
G
summing of transfer G
R C
R C
point function
y G
beyond the same as the
y
block block
6. Shifting a Add a block
take off of transfer G
R
G
C
R G
point function C
y
behind the same as the y

block block
7. Shifting a Add a block
take off of transfer
point function G
R
G
C
R 1/ G
beyond the equal to C
y
block reciprocal of y

block

8. Removing Replace the

minor feedback
feedback loop with its G
R C R C

loop equivalent G
1  GH
transfer H

function
9. Deriving Obtain Obtain p  q transfer
the transfer transfer functions as given
function of functions below:
MIMO considering C1 C1 C
systems one output , , , 1 ,
R1 R2 Rp
and one input R1 C1
C2 C2 C
at a time
R2
MIMO C2 , , , 2 ,
 System  R1 R2 Rp
Rp Cq

Cq Cq Cq
, , ,
R1 R2 Rp
10. Shifting Add a new
R C
take-off summing R C

point after a point to   z

summing compensate x y
y x
point for the shift
11. Shifting Add a
take off summing R C

point before point to R C


z
a summing compensate y

x


point for a shift of x y

take-off point
Sequence of rules for reducing the block diagram:
1. Reduce the blocks in series.
2. Reduce the blocks in parallel.
3. Reduce minor feedback loops.
4. Try to shift take-off point beyond the block to the output side, if
possible.
5. Try to shift summing point behind the block to the input side, if
possible.
6. Interchange the positions of summing point and take-off point, only
if it is must to interchange.
7. Repeat the steps 1-5 until the transfer function of overall system is
obtained.