Transfer Function

1. Oct 11, 2013

MMCS

Please see attached for problem and diagram.

Equations

R(S) = input
C(S) = Output
G(S) = transfer function = 1 / (1+τs)

R(S) * G(S) = C(S)

Attempt

R(S) = input = Kx?
C(S) = Outputs = Cx +Kx

Kx * 1/(1+τs) = Cx+Kx

***This is a new topic to me***

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2. Oct 11, 2013

Staff: Mentor

What is that thing on the left? And what do they mean by "displacement"? Is that a voltage?

EDIT -- And what do the distances "L" at the bottom of the figure have to do with the problem? Are there transmission line considerations?

3. Oct 11, 2013

Staff: Mentor

I suspect that it's a schematic of a mechanical problem of some form. Maybe a beam fixed at one end and with springs and damping located at certain distances? A model for a beam?

If the OP will enlighten us (or someone familiar with the format can elucidate all the technical nuances encoded in the diagram), maybe we can help.

4. Oct 11, 2013

rude man

The 'thing on the left ' is presumably part of a wall. A massless bar or board runs from x = 0 to x = 3L. If the wall ends at x = -d, then the pivot point is at x = 0, the springs exert a force at x = L , the dashpot about x = 2L and the displacement output y(t) occurs at x = 3L.

The problem deals with torques about the pivot point. x(t) is the input displacement at the top of the top spring. y(t) is the output displacement at x = 3L.

So, OP, write Ʃ torques = angular acceleration and solve for y(t)/x(t). Since it asks for the transfer function I assume you've been exposed to the Laplace transform or the Fourier.

I don't know why they ask for the transfer function and time constant. The transfer function by itself contains all the available information including time constants.

5. Oct 11, 2013

Staff: Mentor

Rude man: To expand on this, it looks like those dark rectangles dangling from the bottom are not masses. It seems to me they are rigid constraints (i.e., with zero displacement). So, in my judgement, the system consists purely of springs and dashpots. x(t) is an arbitrary time-dependent forcing displacement, and y(t) is the time-dependent response of the spring dashpot system. It doesn't seem like the angular accelerations will be required, although the vertical velocities and displacements are important, and, as you said, a balance of moments is required. Also there is a kinematic condition between y(t), and the displacements at other key locations along the plank.

Chet

6. Oct 11, 2013

rude man

I agree, those dark thingies "hanging" at the bottom are additional "walls" i.e. fixed boundaries.

You agree or not, the thing connecting the springs and dashpot is a massless rod or similar? And it's pivoted at that triangular extension away from the wall on the left?

The equation of motion is one of summing torques = angular acceleration of the rod = d2θ/dt2. y(t) is then = 3L*θ(t).

7. Oct 11, 2013

Staff: Mentor

Agree.

Yes.
Not exactly. If the rod is massless, its moment of inertia is zero. The moment balance is then:
sum of torques = 0
Since θ is small, we can work exclusively with y(t). The downward displacements at L and 2L are y/3 and 2y/3.

8. Oct 12, 2013

rude man

I see what you're saying. My thoughts are (for the moment) that a massless bar presents something of a pathological case. I am thinking of treating the problem as though the rod did have finite mass, ergo rotational inertia I, then solve for theta & let I approach zero & see what happens.

9. Oct 12, 2013

MMCS

Thank you for your replies, unfortunately the only infomration i had is the the information i posted and i was equally confused however, your assumtions of the schematic make this problem clearer, i will attampt a solution by taking moments about the triangular pivot using y/3 and 2y/3 and post it here

10. Oct 12, 2013

MMCS

Working:

K (y/3) + K (y/3) + C dy/dt (2y/3) = y(t)

**i have ommitted the x from Kx because of no initial displacement?? **

K(2y/3) + C dy/dt (2y/3) = y(t)

Laplace Transform

K(2y/3) + C(2y/3) S = y(t)

Is this correct? What would be the next step to get the transfer function?

11. Oct 12, 2013

Staff: Mentor

This is not what I get. Instead of

K(2y/3) + C dy/dt (2y/3) = y(t)

I get

K(2y/3) + C dy/dt (4/3) = kx(t)

From this, you should be able to take the Laplace Transform and get the transfer function.

12. Oct 12, 2013

MMCS

How do you get 4/3 for the moment of C?

13. Oct 12, 2013

MMCS

How did you get 4/3 for the moment for c?

14. Oct 12, 2013

Staff: Mentor

The displacement is 2y/3, and the moment arm is 2L.

15. Oct 12, 2013

MMCS

Ok so now i get,

K*2/3*y(s) + C*2/3*y(s) = Kx(S)

y(s)/x(s) + K/ ( K*2/3 ) + (C*4/3*S)

3/2 * K/( K + 2*C*S)

divide through by K

3/2 * 1/ 1 + 2*C/K

3/2 * 1 / 1 + 2τ

Thanks for the help. i dont want to flood the forum but i am stuck on a similar type question, im going to post it on here in a minute, it involves unit impulse

16. Oct 12, 2013

Staff: Mentor

There seem to be a lot of equal signs missing and some s's missing, so none of this looks right. Please reconsider your algebra. For the transfer function, I got

$$\frac{(3/2)}{(1+sτ)}$$

17. Oct 12, 2013

MMCS

Ok let me check...

18. Oct 12, 2013

MMCS

I made a few typo's there

K*2/3*y(s) + C*2/3*y(s) = Kx(S)

y(s)/x(s) = K/ ( K*2/3 ) + (C*4/3*S)

y(s)/x(s) = 3/2 * K/( K + 2*C*S)

divide fraction by K

3/2 * 1/ 1 + 2*(C/K) * S

2*C/K = time constant = τ

3/2 * 1 / 1 + τS

I think thats it, we have the same answer now

19. Oct 12, 2013

rude man

EDIT2:

Assuming a finite rotational inertia I for which my torque-summing equation is

Iθ'' = kL(x - Lθ) - kL2θ - 2cL2θ' or
θ'' + 2kL2θ/I + 2cL2θ'/I = kLx(t)/I

and after Laplace etc. I got

θ(s)/X(s) = kL/(Is2 + 2kL2s + 2cL2

and if we take I → 0,
θ(s)/X(s) = (k/2L)/(cs + k)
and Y(s)/X(s) = (3k/2)/(cs + k)

which looks a lot like what you and the OP got.

Last edited: Oct 12, 2013
20. Oct 12, 2013

Staff: Mentor

Hi Rude Man,

I haven't been able to follow in detail yet what you have written, but I'll try some more. With regard to your BTW question, we took moments around the hinge.

Chet