MECH417 - Exam II Review Topics

reading assignments covered: Chapters 7, 8
(see the syllabus for section details)

  1. Root Locus technique
    1. characteristic equation, open loop function (OLF)
    2. OLF vs. closed loop poles and zeros
    3. time constants and resonant frequencies from poles
    4. pole and response types
    5. points on real axis
    6. breakaway points
    7. j-axis crossings
    8. Routh array stability test
    9. asymptotes
    10. Root Locus construction and interpretation
  2. Bode diagrams
    1. frequency response basics
    2. decibel scale
    3. Bode plot approximations for amplitude and phase
    4. constant gain terms
    5. zeros and poles at origin
    6. real zero and pole
    7. Bode plot construction and interpretation
  3. Nyquist diagram
    1. complex plane mappings
    2. Nyquist path
    3. Nyquist criterion
    4. conditions for stability
    5. dc gain
    6. correspondence to Bode diagram
    7. margins of stability (gain margin, phase margin)
    8. reading and interpreting margins off Bode diagram
    9. pole at origin and segment I orientation
  4. MatLab
    1. poly, tf, abs, angle, margin
  5. miscellaneous
    1. reading assignments
    2. homework assignments
    3. Lab exercises