SIGNAL

FLOW
GRAPHS
 Control System Engineering
PROF CHARLTON S. INAO
PUP MANILA

Week 2/3

Topic:

Signal Flow Graph

Mason’s Rule
From Schaums Outlines- Chapter 8
Signal-Flow Graphs

Transfer
function

Nodes Branch
9/30/2024 31 Prof. Charlton S. Inao
9/30/2024 32 Prof. Charlton S. Inao
Solved Exercises:
1. Draw signal flow graph for the following equations:
Alternatively

or
Signal-Flow Graphs cont…..
Signal-flow graphs are an alternative to block diagrams. Unlike block
diagrams, which consist of blocks, signals, summing junctions, and pickoff
points, a signal-flow graph consists only of branches, which represent
systems, and nodes, which represent signals. These elements are shown
in Figure 1(a) and (b), respectively. A system is represented by a line with
an arrow showing the direction of signal flow through the system.
Adjacent to the line we write the transfer function. A signal is a node with
the signal's name written adjacent to the node.

FIGURE 1.Signal-flow graph

components: a. system; b. signal; c
interconnection of systems and
signals

FIGURE 1
Figure 1(c) shows the interconnection of the systems and the signals. Each signal is
the sum of signals flowing into it. For example, the signal

The signal

The signal

Notice that in summing negative signals we associate the negative sign with the system
and not with a summing junction, as in the case of block diagrams.

To show the parallel between block diagrams and signal-flow graphs, we will take
a block diagram form and convert them to signal flow graphs in 1st Example. We
will first convert the signals to nodes and then interconnect the nodes with
system branches. In Example 2, we will convert an intricate block diagram to a
signal-flow graph.
 Example 1: Converting Common Block Diagrams to
Signal-Flow Graphs

PROBLEM: Convert the cascaded, parallel, and feedback forms of the block diagrams shown in
Figures (a), (b), and (c), respectively, into signal-flow graphs.
In each case, we start by
drawing the signal nodes SOLUTION:
for that system. Next we
interconnect the signal
nodes with system
branches. The signal
nodes for the cascaded,
parallel, and feedback
forms are shown in
Figure 2(a), (c), and (e),
respectively. The
interconnection of the
nodes with branches that
represent the subsystems
is shown in Figure 2(c),
(d), and (F) for the
cascaded, parallel, and
feedback forms,
respectively.

Figure 2
Example 2: Converting a Block Diagram to a Signal-
Flow Graph
PROBLEM: Convert the block diagram of Figure 3 to a signal-flow graph.

Figure 3
 SOLUTION:
Begin by drawing the signal
nodes, as shown in Figure (a).
Next, interconnect the nodes,
showing the direction of signal
flow and identifying each transfer
function. The result is shown in
Figure (b). Notice that the
negative signs at the summing
junctions of the block diagram
are represented by the negative
transfer functions of the signal-
flow graph. Finally, if desired,
simplify the signal-flow graph to
the one shown in Figure (c) by
eliminating signals that have a
single flow in and a single flow
out, such as V2(s), V6(s), V7(s),
and Vs(s).
 Mason's Rule

• We discussed how to reduce block diagrams to single

transfer functions. Now we are ready to discuss a technique
for reducing signal-flow graphs to single transfer functions
that relate the output of a system to its input.
• The block diagram reduction technique requires successive
application of fundamental relationships in order to arrive at
the system transfer function. On the other hand, Mason's
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 (Mason, 1953).
➢ In general, it can be complicated to implement the
formula without making mistakes. Specifically, the
existence of what we will later call non touching
loops increases the complexity of the formula.
➢ However, many systems do not have non-touching
loops. For these systems, you may find Mason's rule
easier to use than block diagram reduction.
➢Mason's formula has several components that must
be evaluated.
➢First, we must be sure that the definitions of the
components are well understood.
➢Then we must exert care in evaluating the
components. To that end, we discuss some basic
definitions applicable to signal-flow graphs; then we
state Mason's rule and do an example.
 Definitions:
Loop gain. The product of branch
gains found by traversing a path that
starts at a node and ends at the same
node, following the direction of the
signal flow, without passing through
any other node more than once. For
examples of loop gains, see Figure 3.
There are four loop gains:

Figure 3
Forward-path gain. The product of gains found by traversing a path from
the input node to the output node of the signal-flow graph in the direction of
signal flow. Examples of forward-path gains are also shown in Figure 3. There
are two forward-path gains:

Nontouching loops. Loops that do not have any nodes in common. In

Figure 3, loop G2(s)H1(s) does not touch loops G4(s)H2(s),
G4(s)G5(s)H3(s), and G4(s)G6(s)H3(s).
Nontouching-loop gain. The product of loop gains from
nontouching loops taken two, three, four, or more at a time. In
Figure 3 the product of loop gain G2(s)H1(s) and loop gain
G4(s)H2(s) is a nontouching-loop gain taken two at a time. In
summary, all three of the nontouching-loop gains taken two at a
time are

The product of loop gains [G4(s)G5(s)H3(s)][G4(s)G6(s)H3(s)] is not a nontouching loop

gain since these two loops have nodes in common. In our example there are no
nontouching-loop gains taken three at a time since three nontouching loops do not exist in
the example.

We are now ready to state Mason's rule.

 Mason's Rule
The transfer function, C(s)/R(s), of a system represented by a signal-
flow graph is as (GENERAL EQUATION)
9/30/2024 48 Prof. Charlton S. Inao
SOLUTION:
First, identify the forward-path gains. In this example there is only one:

Eq.1

Second, identify the loop gains. There are four, as follows:

Eq.2

Eq.3

Eq.4

Eq.5
Third, identify the nontouching loops taken two at a time. From equations a, b, c,
d and Figure 2, we can see that loop 1 does not touch loop 2, loop 1 does not
touch loop 3, and loop 2 does not touch loop 3. Notice that loops 1, 2, and 3 all
touch loop 4. Thus, the combinations of nontouching loops taken two at a time
are as follows:

Eq. 6

Eq. 7

Eq. 9

Finally, the nontouching loops taken three at a time are as follows:

Eq. 10
 Now, from General Eq. and its definitions, we form Hence,

Eq. 11

We form by eliminating from A the loop gains that touch the kth forward path:

Eq. 12

Expressions from Eq. 1, Eq.11, and Eq. 12 are now substituted into GENERAL EQUATION
yielding the transfer function:

Since there is only one forward path, G(s) consists of only one term, rather than a sum
of terms, each coming from a forward path.
Formula
Mason’s Rule – Alternative Presentation
Sample Problems:
1. A block diagram of control canonical form is
shown below. Find the transfer function of the
system.
2. Find the transfer function of the following system.
3: Find the transfer function of the following system.
4. The block diagram of a closed-loop system is shown below. For simplicity, all the
blocks represent ideal amplifiers. Determine the ratio C/R
3. Find for the system shown below:
4. Find C/R for the system whose block diagram representation is shown below

Solution:
The signal flow graph for the given block diagram presentation
Forward
Path

Loops

or

or
Homework/Assignment
1. Using signal flow graph technique, find the over all transfer function
C(s)/R(s)
2.Using signal flow graph technique, find the over all transfer
function C(s)/R(s)