Chapter 6 Modeling Physical Systems
Chapter 6 Modeling Physical Systems
1. Introduction
This chapter presents mathematical modeling of mechanical systems, electrical
systems and electromechanical systems.
Mechanical systems can be either translational or rotational. Although the
fundamental relationships for both types are derived from Newton’s law, they are
different enough to warrant separate considerations.
Any physical system consists of mechanical elements. There are three types of basic
elements in such kind of systems:
Translational Motion Rotational Motion
Mass elements Moment of Inertia elements
Linear Spring elements Torsional Spring elements
Linear Dampers elements Torsional Damper elements
Example of physical system that has rotary motion is the Antenna Azimuth Position
Control System shown in Figure below.
Suppose that there are many forces acting on a body of mass, then
∑𝐹 = 𝑀 × 𝑎
Suppose that there are many torques acting on a rotating body of inertia, then
∑𝑇 = 𝐽 × 𝛼
Consider the torsional spring shown in Fig. 2, where one end is fixed and a torque T
is applied to the other end. The angular displacement of the free end is θ. The torque
T in the torsional spring is:
T=kθ
where θ is the angular displacement and k is the spring constant or (stiffness) for
torsional spring and has units of [Torque/angular displacement]=[N-m/rad] in SI
units.
4. Damper (Dashpot)
A damper is a mechanical element that dissipates energy in the form of heat instead
of storing it. Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of a translational damper, or a
dashpot that consists of a piston and an oil-filled cylinder. Any relative motion
between the piston rod and the cylinder is resisted by oil.
Where B relating the damping force F to the velocity and called the viscous friction
coefficient. The dimension of b is [force/Velocity] = [N.s/m] in SI units.
For the torsional damper shown in Fig. 5, the torque T applied to the ends of the
damper is:
𝑇 = 𝐵 𝜃̇
Where B relating the damping torque T to the angular velocity and called the viscous
friction coefficient. The dimension of B is [torque/angular velocity] = [N.m.s/rad] in
SI units.
Example (1):
Write the differential equations describing systems shown in Fig. 6.
At node x1 :
f(t) = k (x1 – x2)
F(s) = k X1(s) – k X2(s)
At node x2 :
0 = k ( x2 − x1 ) + Mx2 + Bx2
0 = k X2(s) – k X1(s) – M S2X2(s) + B SX2(s)
Example (3):
Obtain the transfer functions X1(s)/F(s) of the mechanical system shown in Fig. 8.
Mechanical network
Writing the D.E. at the displacement x1:
𝑓(𝑡) = 𝑚1 𝑥̈ 1 + 𝑏(𝑥̇ 1 − 𝑥̇ 2 ) + 𝑘1 𝑥1 + 𝑘2 (𝑥1 − 𝑥2 )
Taking Laplace:
𝐹 (𝑠) = 𝑚1 𝑆 2 𝑋1 (𝑠) + 𝑏𝑆𝑋1 (𝑠) − 𝑏𝑆𝑋2 (𝑠) + 𝑘1 𝑋1 (𝑠) + 𝑘2 𝑋1 (𝑠) − 𝑘2 𝑋2 (𝑠)
𝐹 (𝑠) = 𝑋1 (𝑠)[𝑚1 𝑆 2 + 𝑏𝑆 + 𝑘1 + 𝑘2 ] − 𝑋2 (𝑠)[𝑏𝑆 + 𝑘2 ] (1)
Taking Laplace:
Example (5):
For the mechanical system shown in Fig. 9, write the differential equation at each
displacement then find the dynamic equation of that system. Consider x2 as output.
Example (8):
For the linear displacement mechanical system shown below, draw the mechanical
network, then write the D.E’s that describe the system and draw the block diagram
where x1(t) is the desired output
Example (9):
For the translational mechanical system shown below, draw the mechanical network,
then write the system differential equations and draw the block diagram. (consider x3
as output)
Example (10):
For the gear train shown in Fig. 14, a load is driven by a motor through the gear train.
Assuming the stiffness of the motor shaft is infinite, draw the block diagram and find
the T.F. 2(s)/Tm(s).
At node 1:
𝑇𝑚 (𝑡) = (𝐽𝑚 + 𝐽1 )𝜃̈1 + 𝐵𝑚 𝜃̇1 + 𝑇1 (𝑡)
𝑇𝑚 (𝑠) = 𝜃1 (𝑠)[ (𝐽𝑚 + 𝐽1 )𝑆 2 + 𝐵𝑚 𝑆 ] + 𝑇1 (𝑠) (1)
At node 2:
𝑇2 (𝑡) = (𝐽2 + 𝐽𝐿 )𝜃̈2 + 𝐵(𝜃̇2 ) + 𝑘 𝜃2
𝑇2 (𝑠) = 𝜃2 (𝑠)[ (𝐽2 +𝐽𝐿 )𝑆 2 + 𝐵𝑆 + 𝑘 ] (2)
Also we must consider the two relations of the gear train:
𝑇1 𝜃2 𝑁1
= =
𝑇2 𝜃1 𝑁2
From the above eqns., we can draw the block diagram:
T1(S) 𝑁1 T2(S)
(𝐽𝑚 + 𝐽1 )𝑆 2 + 𝐵𝑚 𝑆 + 𝑘
𝑁2
Example (11):
For the rotational mechanical system given below,
a) Write the differential equations that represent that system,
b) Draw the block diagram considering T(s) as input and L(s) as an output.
Example (12):
For the rotational mechanical system given below,
a) Write the differential equations that represent that system,
b) Draw the block diagram considering T(s) as input and L(s) as an output.
Combining the above two blocks we get the overall block diagram of the RC circuit;
𝐸𝑜 (𝑠) 1
=
𝐸𝑖 (𝑠) 1 + 𝑅𝐶𝑠
RLC Circuit: Consider the electrical circuit shown in Fig. 16. The circuit consists of
an inductance L (henry), a resistance R (ohm), and a capacitance C (farad).
Taking Laplace:
1 𝐿𝐶𝑠 2 + 𝑅𝐶𝑠 + 1
𝐸𝑖 (𝑠) = 𝐼 (𝑠) {𝐿𝑠 + 𝑅 + } = 𝐼 (𝑠 )
𝐶𝑠 𝐶𝑠
1
𝐸𝑜 (𝑠) = 𝐼 (𝑠){ }
𝐶𝑠
The block diagram is given below:
From which the T.F. is:
Repeated RC circuit: as shown in Fig. 17, we need to obtain the T.F. of this circuit.
Therefore the D.E’s. that describe the circuit are as follows:
Example (13):
Obtain the transfer function Xo(s)/Xi(s) of the mechanical system shown in Fig. 18
(a). Also obtain the transfer function Eo(s)/Ei(s) of the electrical system shown in Fig.
18 (b). Show that these transfer functions of the two systems are of identical form and
thus they are analogous systems.
Taking Laplace:
7. Modeling of DC Machines:
Direct-current (DC) motors are one of the most widely used prime movers in the
industry. Years ago, the majority of the small servomotors used for control purposes
were ac. In reality, ac motors are more difficult to control, especially for position
22 Chapter six: Modelling of Physical Systems Dr. Ahmed Mustafa Hussein
Benha University Electrical Engineering Department
Faculty of Engineering at Shubra Dr. Ahmed Mustafa Hussein
control, and their characteristics are quite nonlinear, which makes the analytical task
more difficult. DC motors, on the other hand, are more expensive, because of their
brushes and commutators, and variable-flux DC motors are suitable only for certain
types of control applications. Before permanent-magnet technology was fully
developed, the torque-per-unit volume or weight of a DC motor with a permanent-
magnet (PM) field was far from desirable. Today, with the development of the rare-
earth magnet, it is possible to achieve very high torque-to-volume PM DC motors at
reasonable cost. Furthermore, the advances made in brush-and-commutator
technology have made these wearable parts practically maintenance-free. The
advancements made in power electronics have made brushless dc motors quite
popular in high-performance control systems. Advanced manufacturing techniques
have also produced dc motors with ironless rotors that have very low inertia, thus
achieving a very high torque-to-inertia ratio. Low-time-constant properties have
opened new applications for dc motors in computer peripheral equipment such as
tape drives, printers, disk drives, and word processors, as well as in the automation
and machine-tool industries.
The dc motor is basically a torque transducer that converts electric energy into
mechanical energy. It consists from Stator that contain the field flux and Rotor (
armature) that contains the windings. DC motor is modeled as a circuit with
resistance Ra connected in series with an inductance La, and a voltage source eb,
representing the back emf (electromotive force) in the armature when the rotor rotates
as shown in Fig. 19.
The torque developed (Tm) on the motor shaft is directly proportional to the field flux
() and the armature current (Ia).
𝑇𝑚 (𝑡) = 𝑘∅ 𝑖𝑎 (𝑡)
If the flux is kept constant
𝑇𝑚 (𝑡) = 𝑘𝑖 𝑖𝑎 (𝑡)
Also the induced emf eb is directly proportional to the field flux () and the shaft
speed (m).
𝑒𝑏 (𝑡) = 𝑘∅ 𝜔𝑚 (𝑡)
If the flux is kept constant
𝑒𝑏 (𝑡) = 𝑘𝑏 𝜔𝑚 (𝑡)
Mechanical Equation:
𝑇𝑚 (𝑡) = 𝐽𝑚 𝜃̈𝑚 (𝑡) + 𝐵𝑚 𝜃̇𝑚 (𝑡) + 𝑇𝐿
1 𝐵𝑚 1
𝜃̈𝑚 (𝑡) = 𝑇𝑚 (𝑡) − 𝜃̇𝑚 (𝑡) − 𝑇𝐿
𝐽𝑚 𝐽𝑚 𝐽𝑚
The state variables of the system can be defined as ia(t), m(t), and m(t). The state
equations of the dc-motor system are written in vector-matrix form:
At steady-state, the term di/dt is zero, and Eqn (1) can be rewritten as:
𝑒𝑎 (𝑡) = 𝑅𝑎 𝑖𝑎 (𝑡) + 𝑒𝑏 (𝑡)
𝑇𝑚 (𝑡)
𝑒𝑎 (𝑡) = 𝑅𝑎 + 𝑘𝑏 𝜔𝑚 (𝑡)
𝑘𝑡
𝑒𝑎 (𝑡) 𝑅𝑎
𝜔𝑚 (𝑡) = − 𝑇 (𝑡 )
𝑘𝑏 𝑘𝑏 𝑘𝑡 𝑚
The above equation represents the torque-speed characteristic of separately-excited
DC motor and shown in figure below.
From this characteristic, at starting: ωm=0 and Tm = Tst
𝑇𝑠𝑡 𝑇𝑠𝑡
𝑒𝑎 (𝑡) = 𝑅𝑎 → 𝑘𝑡 = 𝑅𝑎
𝑘𝑡 𝑒𝑎 (𝑡)
At no load, the speed is no-load speed (ωnL) and the torque is zero, Tm = 0
𝑒𝑎 (𝑡) 𝑒𝑎 (𝑡)
𝜔𝑛𝐿 (𝑡) = → 𝑘𝑏 =
𝑘𝑏 𝜔𝑛𝐿
From the above two equations, the electrical constants kt & kb can be determined.
Example (13)
For the separately-excited DC motor with torque-speed characteristic given below,
draw the block diagram then find the transfer function L(S)/Ea(S). Take the armature
resistance and inductance are 0.06 and 0.2 H respectively.
From the torque-Speed characteristic above, ωnL=50 rad/s, Tst=500 N.m at Ea 100V.
Therefore, the motor constants can be obtained as:
𝑇𝑠𝑡 0.06 × 500
𝑘𝑡 = 𝑅𝑎 = = 0.3 𝑁. 𝑚/𝐴
𝑒𝑎 (𝑡) 100
𝑒𝑎 (𝑡) 100
𝑘𝑏 = = = 2 𝑉. 𝑠/𝑟𝑎𝑑
𝜔𝑛𝐿 50
Electrical equation at constant flux (S-domain):
26 Chapter six: Modelling of Physical Systems Dr. Ahmed Mustafa Hussein
Benha University Electrical Engineering Department
Faculty of Engineering at Shubra Dr. Ahmed Mustafa Hussein
Example (15):
Consider the speed control system shown in Fig. 20. The armature of the motor is
supplied with a controlled voltage through a DC generator. The generator field
current controls the generated voltage Eg. Draw the block diagram representing this
system and deduce the T.F. m(s)/Ei(s)
Ra
Rf
Ei e If Ia TL
A
_ J
+ G Eg Eb M
Lf Tm m
B
Const.
Speed
Kb
f (t) R1
𝐾 V1 Vo
M1 x1 1 + 𝑇𝑠
C
K1 B
R
M2 L
x2
K2/2 K2/2
E
2) Find the D.E’s that relates the distance X3 to 1 for the system shown below, then
draw the block diagram considering X3(s) as output. (the radius of the shaft is r).
4) For the mechanical system shown below, the solenoid produces a magnetic
force fc = Kc i. Draw the block diagram then find X(s)/V(s)
6) For the system shown below, determine the closed loop T.F.
7) For the motor-generator set shown below, the torque constant is KT for the
motor and KV for the generator. If the generator field current is assumed
constant, draw the block diagram then find the T.F. Y(s)/U(s).
References:
[1] Bosch, R. GmbH. Automotive Electrics and Automotive Electronics, 5th ed. John Wiley & Sons
Ltd., UK, 2007.
[2] Franklin, G. F., Powell, J. D., and Emami-Naeini, A. Feedback Control of Dynamic Systems.
Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1986.
[3] Dorf, R. C. Modern Control Systems, 5th ed. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1989.
[4] Nise, N. S. Control System Engineering, 6th ed. John Wiley & Sons Ltd., UK, 2011.
[5] Ogata, K. Modern Control Engineering, 5th ed ed. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2010.
[6] Kuo, B. C. Automatic Control Systems, 5th ed. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 1987.