Root Locus Plot Calculator

Root Locus Plot Calculator

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FAQs

What does a root locus plot show? A root locus plot shows the possible locations of the system’s closed-loop poles as a parameter (usually a gain) varies. It provides insights into how changing this parameter affects system stability and transient response.

How do you plot a root locus diagram? To plot a root locus diagram:

1. Identify the open-loop transfer function (G(s)H(s)) of the system.
2. Determine the characteristic equation by setting the denominator of the transfer function equal to zero.
3. Locate the poles of the characteristic equation (the open-loop poles).
4. Calculate the angles and magnitudes of departure/arrival for each pole as the parameter varies.
5. Plot these points on the complex plane and draw branches connecting them, indicating the possible pole locations.

What is the main objective of drawing a root locus plot? The main objective of drawing a root locus plot is to understand how changes in a system’s gain or parameter affect the stability and behavior of the closed-loop system. It helps in designing controllers to achieve desired system performance.

Where does the root locus plot begin and where does it end? Justify your answer. A root locus plot begins at the open-loop poles (poles of G(s)H(s)) and ends at zeros of the transfer function (G(s)H(s)) that are not canceled by any poles in the transfer function. This is because, as the gain parameter varies from zero to infinity, the closed-loop poles move from the open-loop poles toward the zeros or vice versa. The plot doesn’t extend beyond these points as it would be physically impossible for poles to exist outside these limits.

What is root locus and why is it used? A root locus is a graphical representation of the possible locations of the closed-loop poles as a parameter, often the gain, changes. It is used to analyze and design control systems, helping engineers understand how system stability and transient response are affected by changes in gain or other parameters.

What does the root locus tell us about stability? The root locus provides information about the stability of a system. If the entire root locus is in the left half of the complex plane (where the real parts of poles are negative), the system is stable for all values of the parameter. Conversely, if any part of the root locus crosses into the right half of the complex plane, the system becomes unstable for those parameter values.

What is an example of a root locus in real life? How do you find the root locus example? A real-life example of a root locus is the control of an automobile’s speed using cruise control. The root locus can be found by modeling the cruise control system, determining the open-loop transfer function, and analyzing how changes in the gain of the control system affect the stability and performance of the car’s speed control.

How do you analyze a root locus? To analyze a root locus, you examine the plot to determine:

• Stability: Check if the entire locus is in the left half-plane (LHP) for stability or if any part crosses into the right half-plane (RHP) for instability.
• Damping: Evaluate the damping ratio and natural frequency of the dominant poles for transient response characteristics.
• Gain: Determine the gain values that lead to desired closed-loop pole locations for the desired performance.

What is the advantage of using root locus for design? The advantage of using the root locus for design is that it provides an intuitive and graphical way to understand how changing system parameters, such as gain, affects stability and transient response. Designers can use it to achieve specific performance goals and ensure system stability.

What is design using the root locus method? Design using the root locus method involves selecting a desired closed-loop pole location on the root locus plot to achieve specific system performance objectives. Engineers adjust system parameters, typically gain, to place the poles at desired locations while keeping the system stable.

What are the rules for the root locus? Some common rules for the root locus analysis include:

• The number of branches in the root locus is equal to the number of open-loop poles or zeros not canceled by poles.
• The branches start at open-loop poles and end at open-loop zeros or approach infinity.
• The root locus approaches asymptotes that intersect at a centroid point.
• The angles of departure and arrival sum to multiples of 180 degrees.

What are the characteristics of the root locus? Characteristics of the root locus include:

• Branches starting at open-loop poles.
• Branches ending at open-loop zeros or extending to infinity.
• Symmetrical distribution of branches with respect to the real axis.
• The centroid of asymptotes determines the center of the root locus.
• Branches meet the real axis at breakaway and reentry points.

What are the two ways of obtaining the root locus? The two ways to obtain the root locus are:

1. Using mathematical calculations based on the characteristic equation and its parameters.
2. Graphical construction by plotting points corresponding to different gain values and observing the locus of closed-loop poles.

What is the conclusion of root locus? The conclusion of a root locus analysis is to determine how changes in system parameters, such as gain, affect the stability and transient response of the closed-loop system. Engineers use this information to make design decisions to meet desired performance specifications.

How can a root locus plot be used to design a controller? A root locus plot can be used to design a controller by selecting a desired pole location on the plot to achieve specific performance goals. Engineers then adjust the controller’s parameters, often the gain, to place the poles at the desired locations while ensuring system stability.

What is Rule 7 of root locus? Rule 7 of the root locus states that the locus of points that make an odd number of poles and zeros to the right of them on the real axis is asymptotic to a straight line at infinity, and the asymptote angle (θ_a) can be calculated as: θ_a = (2k + 1) * 180° / n, where k is an integer representing the order of the asymptote and n is the total number of branches.

How can you tell from a root locus if a system is unstable? You can tell if a system is unstable from a root locus if any part of the locus crosses into the right half of the complex plane (right half-plane, RHP). This indicates that for certain parameter values, the system will have poles with positive real parts, which leads to instability.

What are the limitations of using root locus to analyze the system? The limitations of using root locus analysis include:

• Applicability to linear time-invariant systems only.
• Limited to systems with one parameter, typically gain, that can be varied.
• Cannot directly handle systems with time delays.
• Requires a reasonable initial understanding of the system’s dynamics.

What is the breakaway point of a root locus? The breakaway point of a root locus is a point where two branches of the locus are tangent to each other. At this point, the gain and the location of the poles are critical, and small changes in the gain can cause significant changes in the pole locations.

What is an example of a locus in geometry? An example of a locus in geometry is a circle. The locus of points equidistant from a fixed point (center) is a circle. Another example is the locus of points that satisfy a given equation, such as a parabola defined by y = x^2.

How do you prove a part of the root locus is a circle? To prove that a part of the root locus is a circle, you typically need to demonstrate that the angle and magnitude conditions for that part of the locus remain constant as the parameter varies. This can involve mathematical derivations and equations showing that the locus satisfies the circle equation.

What is the main limitation of the root locus method? The main limitation of the root locus method is that it is primarily applicable to linear time-invariant systems with single-parameter variations, such as gain. It may not be suitable for systems with complex dynamics, nonlinearities, or time delays.

What is the difference between root locus and root contour? Root locus and root contour are related concepts, but they have differences:

• Root locus is a graphical representation showing the locations of closed-loop poles as a parameter (typically gain) varies.
• Root contour, on the other hand, is a term less commonly used. It could refer to contour plots that show how a system’s closed-loop poles change with different parameters, possibly in higher dimensions than just the complex plane.

Can a root locus start at a zero? Yes, a root locus can start at a zero of the open-loop transfer function (G(s)H(s)) if that zero is not canceled by any poles in the transfer function. Zeros play a role in determining the behavior of the closed-loop system as the parameter varies.

Is root locus a time domain analysis? No, the root locus is not a time domain analysis. It is a frequency domain technique that deals with the locations of poles in the complex plane as a parameter (usually gain) varies. Time domain analysis involves studying system responses over time to inputs.