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Question

What is the relation between k and T such that a unity feedback control system whose open loop transfer function below is stable :

\(G(s)=\dfrac{k}{s\left[s(s+10)+T\right]}\)

This question was previously asked in
UGC NET 2014 Paper 2 History Question Paper (28-Dec-2014)
The correct answer is

\(0 \lt k \lt 10T\)

 Form the characteristic equation first, then run the Routh array.

Step 1 — expand the open-loop function.

\(G(s)=\dfrac{k}{s\left[s^{2}+10s+T\right]}=\dfrac{k}{s^{3}+10s^{2}+Ts}\)

Step 2 — for unity feedback the characteristic equation is \(1+G(s)=0\):

\(s^{3}+10s^{2}+Ts+k=0\)

Step 3 — build the Routh array.

RowColumn 1Column 2
s31T
s210k
s1\(\dfrac{10T-k}{10}\)0
s0k 

Step 4 — impose no sign change in the first column. Every entry must be positive:

\(k\gt0\qquad\text{and}\qquad\dfrac{10T-k}{10}\gt0\ \Rightarrow\ k\lt10T\)

Combining,

\(0\lt k\lt10T\)

which is option 1.

Sanity-check the other options. Option 2 requires k to be simultaneously negative and greater than 10T, which is self-contradictory for positive T. Option 4, "\(0\lt k\gt T\)", is not a well-formed inequality at all. Option 3 uses T where the array plainly produces 10T — the factor of 10 comes from the \(s^{2}\) coefficient, so dropping it discards the very term the Routh calculation supplies.

What the boundary means physically. At \(k=10T\) the entire \(s^{1}\) row becomes zero — the classic signal of roots exactly on the imaginary axis. The auxiliary equation formed from the row above,

\(10s^{2}+k=0\qquad\Rightarrow\qquad s=\pm j\sqrt{\dfrac{k}{10}}=\pm j\sqrt{T}\)

gives the frequency of the sustained oscillation that appears at that gain. The system is then marginally stable, and any further increase in k drives a pair of roots into the right half plane.

The design lesson is the familiar one: raising loop gain improves accuracy and speed but eventually destabilises the loop, and the Routh criterion tells you exactly where the limit lies without factorising anything.

Hence, the system is stable for 0 < k < 10T.

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Similar Questions

  1. The number of sign changes in the first column of Routh array reveals.

  2. Routh-Hurwitz criterion applicable for

    A. absolute stability

    B. the number of roots lying on the right half of the S-plane

    C. the gain margin and phase margin

    D. the phase crossover frequency

    E. the gain crossover frequency

    Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :

  3. Consider a sixth order system with characteristic equation s6 + 2s5 + 8s4 + 12s3 + 20s2 + 16s + 16 = 0, The control system is:

  4. Assertion (A) : According to Routh-Hurwitz criterion, the system represented by characteristic equation F(S) will be unstable, if the first column of the array contains no sign change.

    Reason (R) : If any row of the Routh's table is multiplied or divided by a positive integer, then the system stability will not be affected.

    Select your answer using the codes given below.

  5. Assertion (A) : The roots of the characteristic equation must lie in the left hand s-plane for the system to exhibit a stable time response.

    Reason (R) : Routh-Hurwitz criterion is a necessary and sufficient criterion for stability.

    Select your answer using the codes given below.

  6. A fourth order system is characterised by the equation S4 + 8S3 + 18S2 + 16S + 5 = 0. This is a :

  7. According to Routh's stability criterion the necessary conditions for the system to be stable are defined as :

    (a) All the coefficients of the characteristics equation should be missing.
    (b) None of the coefficients should be real and should have different sign.
    (c) None of the coefficients of the characteristics equation should be missing or zero.
    (d) All the coefficients should be real and should have the same sign.

    Which of the above statements are correct ?

  8. Assertion (A) : Routh Hurwitz criterion gives both absolute as well as relative stability using characteristic equation.

    Reason (R) : For a system to be stable all roots of characteristic equation must lie in left half of s-plane.

    Select your answer using the codes given below :

  9. Which of the following statements are correct in respect of Routh's stability criterion ?

    (A) This stability orientation applies to polynomials with only finite number of terms
    (B) When this criterion is applied to a control system, the information about absolute stability can be obtained directly from the coefficients of the characteristic equations
    (C) The Routh's stability criterion tells whether or not there are unstable roots in polynomial equation without actually solving for them
    (D) Routh's criterion is not related to system stability

    Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :


Important Questions from Routh-Hurwitz Stability Criteria

  1. Match List I with List II:

    List I

    (Coefficients of s 2+ a 1s + a 2= 0)

    List II

    (Nature of Roots)

    (A)a \(_1^2\) > 4a 2(I)Negative real and equal
    (B)a \(_1^2\) = 4a 2(II)Conjugate Imaginary
    (C)a \(_1^2\) < 4a 2(III)Negative Real and Unequal
    (D)

    a 1= 0

    a 2≠ 0

    (IV)Conjugate Complex (Real part negative)

    Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

  2. A closed-loop control system has a characteristic equation given by s 3 + 2.4s + 1.8s + 0.5 = 0. Find out the value of a, b, c, and d using the Routh Hurwitz criterion.

    s 3

    1

    1.8

    s 2

    2.4

    0.5

    s 1

    a

    c

    s 0

    b

    d

  3. Determine the stability of system:

    S 3+ S 2+ S + 4

  4. Which of the following is NOT the advantage of Routh-Hurwitz criterion of control systems?

  5. The number of roots of s 3+ 5s 2+ 7s + 3 = 0 in the left half of the s-plane is

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