Simplifying Laplace Transformations for Time Domain Response Analysis

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the time domain response of a control system given a unit ramp input, represented by the Laplace transform C(s) = ((2s²) + 20s) / ((s²) + 4s + 20). Participants explore the manipulation of the Laplace transform and the implications of the input on the output response.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in simplifying the expression for C(s) to match standard forms in the Laplace transformation table.
  • Another participant suggests a manipulation of the numerator to separate terms, proposing that the inverse Laplace transform would yield a delta distribution and an exponentially decaying sinusoid.
  • Clarifications are requested regarding the expectation of a ramp function as the output, with some participants noting that C(s) is the output and not directly the Laplace transform of a ramp function.
  • Several participants discuss the need to consider the input R(s) in the calculation of the time domain response, emphasizing the relationship C(s) = R(s)H(s) and the necessity of including R(s) in the inversion process.
  • One participant mentions that the derived response appears to be the impulse response of the system rather than the response to the ramp input.
  • There is a suggestion to show steps in the calculations to clarify where misunderstandings may arise.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the correct approach to finding the time domain response, with some agreeing on the necessity of including the input R(s) while others question the interpretation of the problem statement. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact form of the time domain response and the implications of the input on the output.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem involves a transfer function and an input, which complicates the direct application of the inverse Laplace transform. There are also references to the final-value theorem and the need for partial-fraction expansion, indicating that some mathematical steps may be missing or require further clarification.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students and professionals in control systems, engineering, and applied mathematics who are interested in Laplace transformations and system response analysis.

Charlie_
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I need the time domain response of this system as a unit RAMP input

C(s) = ((2s²) + 20s) / ((s²) + 4s + 20)

I get that the RAMP input is C(s) = A/s² G(s)

And now I think I need to simplify it so I can get it into a form that's on the Laplace Transformation table but this is what I'm having trouble with, I've tried manipulating it, but the 2s² on the top seems to be causing me an issue. The exponentially decaying
cosine wave on the table seems to look the closest after manipulation, but when I have sketched it out, it doesn't cut the y-axis at 1.

I think it's my manipulation that's the problem. Any ideas? Cheers.
 
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The 2s2 in the numerator can be dealt with easily enough:

\frac{2s^2+20s}{s^2+4s+20}=\frac{2(s^2+4s+20)+12s-40}{s^2+4s+20}=2 + 4\frac{3s-10}{s^2+4s+20}

The inverse Laplace transform will then be the sum of a delta distribution and an exponentially decaying sinusoid. Why were you expecting a ramp function?
 
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The question said it was a unit RAMP input, sorry, I forgot to put that
 
Charlie_ said:
The question said it was a unit RAMP input, sorry, I forgot to put that

Can you post the entire question verbatim (word for word), because the inverse Laplace transform of the given C(s) is not a unit RAMP input
 
A control system is described by the Laplace equation

C(s) = ((2s²) + 20s) / ((s²) + 4s + 20) R(s)

where R(s) is the input and C(s) is the output. A unit RAMP input is applied to the system.

a) Establish the time domain response of the system c(t).

b) What is the steady state value of the system output.

I've worked out the time domain response to be L^-1 (F)(s) = 1 - (e^-2t) * cos4t

Is this correct and how do you start to find the steady state value?
 
Charlie_ said:
A control system is described by the Laplace equation

C(s)/R(s) = (2s² + 20s) / (s² + 4s + 20)
where R(s) is the input and C(s) is the output. A unit RAMP input is applied to the system.

a) Establish the time domain response of the system c(t).

b) What is the steady state value of the system output.

I've worked out the time domain response to be L^-1 (F)(s) = 1 - (e^-2t) * cos4t

Is this correct and how do you start to find the steady state value?

a) What was your C(s)? Then factor the denominator so part of it is of the form (s+s1)(s+s2). You'll be dealing with a complex-conjugate pole pair. The inveresion to the time domain is still of the form 1/(s+a) → e-at after you used partial-fraction expansion on the denominator.

b) Remember the final-value theorem? Steady-state value means the value of the output at t = ∞. Or, use your time-domain answer. Get the same either way ...

P.S. looks like your answer is correct but I haven't worked it out in detail. Your pole pair is right and so is the final value in the time domain using your answer.
 
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Charlie_ said:
A control system is described by the Laplace equation

C(s) = ((2s²) + 20s) / ((s²) + 4s + 20) R(s)

where R(s) is the input and C(s) is the output. A unit RAMP input is applied to the system.

That makes sense now. C(s) is the output, so there is no reason to expect it to be the Laplace transform of a unit ramp function.

I've worked out the time domain response to be L^-1 (F)(s) = 1 - (e^-2t) * cos4t

That doesn't look correct (I get \mathcal{L}^{-1} \left[ C(s) \right] = 2\delta(t) + \left( 12 \cos(4t) - 4 \sin(4t) \right)e^{-2t}u(t)), perhaps you should show your steps so we can see where you are going wrong.
 
gabbagabbahey said:
That makes sense now. C(s) is the output, so there is no reason to expect it to be the Laplace transform of a unit ramp function.



That doesn't look correct (I get \mathcal{L}^{-1} \left[ C(s) \right] = 2\delta(t) + \left( 12 \cos(4t) - 4 \sin(4t) \right)e^{-2t}u(t)), perhaps you should show your steps so we can see where you are going wrong.

His R(s) is a ramp. You need to include that fact in obtaining L-1{C(s)}. When you do you get his answer, or close to it (I'm still too lazy to perform the entire inversion).
 
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rude man said:
His R(s) is a ramp. You need to include that fact in obtaining L-1{C(s)}. When you do you get his answer, or close to it (I'm still too lazy to perform the entire inversion).

I'm not sure what you mean here. Maybe this is just some weird engineering terminology I'm unfamiliar with (I'm not an engineer), so correct me if I'm wrong here: when the problem says "Establish the time domain response of the system c(t)", do you not just compute the inverse Laplace transform of C(s)? Why and how do I need to include the input R(s) in the calculation?
 
  • #10
gabbagabbahey said:
I'm not sure what you mean here. Maybe this is just some weird engineering terminology I'm unfamiliar with (I'm not an engineer), so correct me if I'm wrong here: when the problem says "Establish the time domain response of the system c(t)", do you not just compute the inverse Laplace transform of C(s)? Why and how do I need to include the input R(s) in the calculation?

Because his system has an input R(s), transfer function H(s), and corresponding output
C(s). The formalism is C(s) = R(s)H(s). He was given H(s) = (2s2 + 20s)/(s2 + 4s + 20) and a unit ramp in the Laplace domain is R(s) = 1/s2. So you need to multiply what you deemed to be C(s), which is actually H(s), by 1/s2 before performing the inversion into the time domain.
 
  • #11
Gabba, I might add that what you did was find the impulse response to his system. I.e. R(s) = δ(t), then the output would be as you derived (presumably, I'm too lazy to work the details).
 
  • #12
rude man said:
Because his system has an input R(s), transfer function H(s), and corresponding output
C(s). The formalism is C(s) = R(s)H(s). He was given H(s) = (2s2 + 20s)/(s2 + 4s + 20)

Okay, looking more closely at post #5, I now see the R(s) in his equation for C(s) (which wasn't in his first post).
 
  • #13
gabbagabbahey said:
Okay, looking more closely at post #5, I now see the R(s) in his equation for C(s) (which wasn't in his first post).

Yes, ands I might add that I should have said L{δ(t)} = transform of the impulse input δ(t) = 1.
 

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