# Obtaining stability information from Bode plots

I am trying to understand the theory behind gain and phase margins from Bode Plots for systems with negative feedback, specifically this one:

The transfer function for this system is: $$\frac{KG(s)}{1+KG(s)}$$

The poles of this equation determine the stability, and these poles occur at any s such that KG(s) = -1.

I understand that when all poles are in the left-hand plane (negative real part) the system is stable, when any pole is in the right-hand plane the system is unstable, and when any pole is on the imaginary axis the system is at best marginally stable.

If we let s=jω (i.e. confine ourselves to s along the imaginary axis), we can draw the Bode plot. If there exists ω=φ such that |KG(jφ)| = 1 and ∠(KG(jφ)) = -180°, then we know that s=jφ must be a pole. Since this pole lies on the imaginary axis, we can say that the system is (at best) marginally stable.

I think what I have written above is correct, but if there is anything I am misunderstanding please correct me.

Now what I do not understand is what happens if the Bode plot does not pass through 0dB when the phase is -180°? How can you get any information about the poles in this situation (other than knowing that they're not on the imaginary axis), so how can you assess stability?

I can find a lot of information on how to calculate gain and phase margins from Bode plots, but can't find any proper justification for these rules in terms of the positions of the poles.

I would really appreciate any help.

Thanks!

• As long as the plot does not enclose (0,1) the system is stable. – user207421 Mar 9 '15 at 21:48
• Maybe an alternative question behind this question is "can a pole zero diagram be constructed from a bode plot?" – Andy aka Mar 9 '15 at 22:17
• If there is a pole on the right-hand plane, the system is unstable on static analysis. It can't hold it's bias point: the static analysis does not give an operating condition. The phase margin is negative at DC. – david Mar 10 '15 at 4:03
• David - I think, your comment applies to a REAL pole on the pos. s-plane axis only. A complex pole pair in the RHP will cause rising oscillations. – LvW Mar 10 '15 at 13:50
• Andy aka - a very interesting question. My first guess: Yes, should be possible, but rather complicated becaus we need to combine magnitude and phase informations. – LvW Mar 10 '15 at 13:52

If there exists ω=φ such that |KG(jφ)| = 1 and ∠(KG(jφ)) = -180°, then we know that s=jφ must be a pole.

This is incorrect, and is leading to a misunderstanding.

The poles of the system are the roots of the characteristic equation of the Open Loop transfer function $$KG(s)=0$$

the roots are of the form $$s=\sigma+j\omega$$

These are the poles and zeros that are analysed in the Bode Plot.

Once the loop is closed the poles move location to be the roots of the characteristic equation $$1+KG(s)=0$$ You can view loop compensation as a method of moving the open loop poles into more suitable (stable) locations in the closed loop. This can even by performed directly using pole placement.

However, Bode stability analysis is based on the Nyquist Stability Criterion. So the condition for oscillation in a negative feedback system is unity gain and 180 degree phase shift :$$KG(s) = -1$$ and therefore the Bode plot illustrates the "stability condition" by rearranging $$KG(s)+1=0$$

This happens to be the same equation as the characteristic equation of the Closed Loop. But it is a misunderstanding to see this as relating to Bode stability plots, which are an Open Loop analysis.

The Nyquist Stability Criterion also tells us that in general (but there are exceptions), a closed loop system is stable if the unity gain crossing of the magnitude plot occurs at a lower frequency than the -180 degree crossing of the phase plot.

• "... if the unity gain crossing of the magnitude plot occurs at a lower frequency than the -180 degree crossing of the phase plot." To avoid misunderstandings itshould read ".....unity gain crossing of the LOOP GAINS magnitude plot occurs.... – LvW Mar 11 '15 at 12:35

I can find a lot of information on how to calculate gain and phase margins from Bode plots, but can't find any proper justification for these rules in terms of the positions of the poles.

In principle, you are asking for a relation between the systems behaviour in the time domain (stability properties) and the frequency domain (pole locations), correct?

Well - this can be answered as follows:

• When you are calculating the step response (time domain) you have to solve a differential equation by introducing an exponential "Ansatz" exp(st) (from the beginning without knowing the meaning of the symbol"s"; you only know its dimension: 1/time). As a result, you arrive at a equation to be solved - this is the so called "characteristic equation" P(s)=0 of the system. Solving this equation - together with a proper interpretation of this solution - gives you the following information: The unknown quantitty "s" is complex and can be interpreted as a complex frequency "s=sigma+jw". As a consequence, the step response will be of the form exp(sigma*t)*sin(wt). From this, you can derive that the real part of "s" must be negative for a decaying step response (sigma<0).

• When you are calculating the (second-order) transfer function H(s)=N(s)/D(s) you will see that the denominator D(s) consists of a second-order polynominal of the form (1+As+Bs²). And you will further notice that this polynominal is identical to the above mentioned char. polynoiminal P(s). This identity establishes the relation between time and frequency domain because the poles of the transfer function (resulting from P(s)=0) are identical to the roots of the char. equation. As we have seen that the real part "sigma" of this root must be negative, we have the requirement in the frequency domain: The real part "sigma" of the pole must be negative.

• As far as I know, there is no formula which describes the relation between the phase margin and the pole location. However, there is a fixed relation between (correction:) pole location and the pole quality factor [Qp=1/2*cos(phi)], phi=angle between neg. real axis and pole vector. On the other hand, the gain peaking of the transfer function (in the vicinity of the pole frequency) is related to Qp - and we also can relate the gain peaking to the phase margin. Hence, there is a - more or less - indirect relation between phase margin and pole location (real part).

• One general comment: Finding a DIRECT relation between system poles and stability margin is "problematic" because the stability margins are defined for an open-loop system (LOOP GAIN) whereas the pole location is investigated for the closed-loop system.

Remark: However, it can be shown that - as a rather good approximation - the following expression holds for a second-order system and phase margins PM<65 deg: PM=50/Qp(in deg). In this context, it should be taken into account that phase margins exceeding 65 deg. are rather uncritical.