CONCEPT BUILDING THROUGH BLOCK DIAGRAM USING

MATLAB/SIMULINK
Sajid Iqbal1, Suhail Aftab Qureshi2, Tahir Husssain Rizvi3, Ghulam Abbas4 and Muhammad Majid Gulzar5
sajid.iqbal@uog.edu.pk

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Abstract — In this paper, basic concepts of block
diagrams have been discussed. Block diagrams have
their own significance in every discipline of , or we can represent a com plete
engineering. A block diagram is reduced to its process by using block diagram representation.
canonical form using block diagram algebra. We
simulated the same problem in MATLAB and Canonical form of a diagram contains only one
SIMULINK. We applied the step input and observed block with single input and single output as shown
the behavior of the system. in fig 1.
Index Terms —Transfer function, block diagram.

I. INTRODUCTION

I n different disciplines of engineering as

Electrical, Chemical and Mechanical engineering,
there are several ways to represent a system or a
Fig. 1 Basic Block Diagram

process like block diagram, signal-flow graph Block diagram of a linear time-invariant (LTI)
(SFG), schematic diagram and layout diagram. system consists of four elements as shown in fig 2
[1]:
Block diagrams are used to represent a system or
process using blocks. Whereas schematic diagrams 1. Signals
are simplified representation of an electrical circuit. 2. Systems
They represent the elements of a system using 3. Summing Junctions
graphic symbols rather than realistic pictures [1-3].
4. Pickoff points
A signal-flow graph is a special type of block
The three fundamental configurations in which
diagram that shows the relations among the
blocks can be connected are [1-3]:
variables of a set with the help of nodes and arrows.
Schematic diagram and layout diagram are used 1. Series form
extensively in electrical engineering. Layout 2. Parallel form
diagram shows the width of each wire on the printed
3. Feedback form
circuit board (PCB) [1-4].
Any finite number of blocks in series may be
Initially key parameters of any physical system are
algebraically combined by multiplication of transfer
defined for doing mathematical modeling. Then
functions [1-3] as shown in fig 3(a).
differential equations governing the system are
developed. Then a transfer function for the whole Any finite number of blocks in parallel may be
system is determined and a block diagram is algebraically combined by either addition or
constructed [1]. subtraction according to the condition as shown in
fig 3(b). Fig 3(c) shows feedback topology, which
II. BASICS OF BLOCK DIAGRAM
forms the basis of control systems engineering [1].
A block diagram is a shorthand, pictorial
Block diagrams can also be simplified using the
representation of the cause-and-effect relationship
rules of block diagram algebra. Summing/pickoff
between the input and output of a physical system.
point(s) can be easily relocated for the purpose of
Block diagrams are equally useful iience
simplification by simply following the shifting rules
[1-3] as shown in fig 4.

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 3. The interactive coupling among all processes in
the system is clearly shown and provided by the
block interconnections.
4. Any input/output relationship is determined from
a straightforward rearrangement of the block
diagram. These simple graphical manipulations
may provide additional insight into the behavior
Fig. 2 Elements of Block Diagram
of the system. Thus it effectively portrays the
interrelationship of distinct parts of the system.
5. Generally the number of operations required to
carry out a complete block diagram reduction are
fewer and more direct than would be necessary to
eliminate variables in the original equations.
(a) Series Configuration Also, the reduction process gives graphical
significance to algebraic operations and is less
susceptible to error.
6. The block diagram representation readily lends
itself to the study of specific problems involving
synthesis and system optimization.
(b). Parallel Configuration
The disadvantages of block diagrams are as follows
[5-7]:
1. The differential equations that describe the
system must be known.
2. The method is essentially a frequency-domain
technique.
(c). Feedback Configuration
3. Block diagrams rely heavily upon the concepts of
Fig. 3 Basic Topologies of Block Diagrams
linear system theory (e.g., transfer functions,
feedback.
4. Since a block diagram involves high-level view
of the system, it does not offer the detailed
information required for comprehensive planning
and analysis.

IV. MANUAL SOLUTION

We will solve an example of block diagram to find
its canonical form. The step by step solution is given
below in fig 5

Fig. 4 Basic Block Diagram Transformations

III. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF BLOCK

DIAGRAMS
Block diagram representation of any system offers
the following educational advantages [5-7]:
1. A block diagram is a direct, graphical illustration
of a set of coupled, linear differential equations.
2. Each block describes a specific process within the
system in terms of a transfer function.
Figure 5(a)
Dimensionally, transfer functions can be ratios of
interdisciplinary quantities.

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Figure 5(b) Figure 5(f)

Figure 5(g)
Figure 5(c)
V. SYSTEM SIMULATION WITH THE HELP OF
MATLAB AND SIMULINK
Now for analyzing the behavior of the system
shown in fig. 6, we used MATLAB and
SIMULINK.

Figure 5(d)

Fig 6
A. MATLAB Simulation
We defined the transfer function by using
MATLAB’s command “tf (num, den)” where num
and den are user defined variables. Then, we used
different commands to solve series, parallel and
feedback configurations.

Figure 5(e)

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Fig 7 MATLAB Commands & Their Outputs

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Fig. 7 shows all the MATLAB commands. After
reducing the block diagram using block diagram
algebra to its canonical form, we applied the step
input to observe the behavior of the given system as
shown in fig 8.
Fig. 8 MATLAB output
B. SIMULINK Simulation
Now we implement the same block diagram in
SIMULINK and applied step input as shown in fig.
9, and observed its output as shown in fig 10.
Fig 9. SIMULINK Implementation
Fig. 10 SIMULINK Output
VI. CONCLUSION
We have revisited the basic concepts of block
diagram as these are being employed for designing
new systems or processes and improving present
ones. Firstly, we solved a block diagram manually.
Secondly, we simulated the same system in
MATLAB and SIMULINK. The output waveforms
showed similar results. This approach makes
teaching of block diagrams a much easier task. It is
concluded that block diagrams are a valuable source
of concept building, and are educationally beneficial
in various engineering and non-engineering
disciplines.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors wish to thank Dr. Muhammad Jamil,
Director Faculty of Engineering, University of
Gujrat for his guidance and encouragement.
REFERENCES
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[5] Preis D., “Block Diagrams: A Tutorial Alternative
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