What's the meaning of a Bode Plot when talking about nonperiodic inputs?

The bode plot itself is built based on a transfer function, regardless of the input signal that will excite the circuit. Based on what I've learned, the bode plot show us how the response amplitude and phase will react when we change the input's frequency.

However, I can only understand the meaning of the plot when the input is a sinusoidal signal. When the input is a non-periodic function, I can't see what would be the meaning of the bode plot, since I can't understand how would be possible to change the "frequency" of a non-periodic function.

So, my question is: Is the bode plot only meaningful when we are analysing a circuit that is excited by a periodic signal? If not, what would be the meaning of the "frequency" (x-axis) of the plot when the input is non-periodic?

I'm a bit confused because I always see bode plot examples when the instructor draw the bode plot of any transfer function, without caring if the circuit will be excited by a period function or not.

Thank you !

• felipeek, I am afraid, you misunderstood your instructor. Plotting a BODE plot for a system or circuit you AUTOMATICALLY are assuming a sinusoidal excitation (steady-state conditions). – LvW Dec 1 '15 at 9:52

Bode Diagram characterizes a system, regardless of the excitation signal.
The transfer function of a system, is valid for any signal. Bode Diagram is another way to visualize the transfer function of a system.

An aperiodic signal, also has representation in the frequency domain. An aperiodic signal, can also be considered as the sum of sinusoidal components, although its spectrum is not "constant" as in the case of a periodic signal.

We can consider that an aperiodic signal has a spectrum that varies every moment in its composition. At one time, this spectrum has a specific distribution of components; at that moment, for the aperiodic signal applied to the system in question, the spectrum will be modified according to the frequency response of the system.

Accordingly, the aperiodic signal will be affected by the frequency response of the system to a greater or lesser extent, according to their instantaneous spectral composition.

For a basic relationship between the frequency response and an aperiodic signal, look at the step response and its relationship to the frequency response.

Example

Consider the following aperiodic signal

wich has this spectrum

Of course, this spectrum is continuous, as for an aperiodic signal. This signal is the input signal for a system with this transfer function

$H(z) = \dfrac{0.2\,z + 1}{0.5\,z^2+1.5\,z}$

and this Bode Plot

As you can see, it is a high-pass filter.
The output signal looks like

and has this spectrum

Note that high frequencies have greater amplitude than the same frequencies in the input signal, as befits a high-pass filter.

• Martin P., The BODE diagram is "valid for any signal"? I rather think, the BODE diagram is a graphic representation of magnitude and phase versus FREQUENCY (f or w=2Pif). Hence, it applies for sinusoidal waveforms only. – LvW Dec 1 '15 at 9:48
• @LvW Maybe you want to check the link in the answer. An aperiodic signal can be represented by a Fourier Series, i.e. as a sinusoidal waves sum. If the system is lineal, it verifies the Superposition Principle, then the response for a sum of signals (e.g. aperiodic signal) is the sum of responses. – Martin Petrei Dec 1 '15 at 10:57
• @Martin Petrei, the link relates to Fourier Transform, not Fourier Series – Chu Dec 1 '15 at 12:33
• @Chu The Fourier Transform is the limit of a Fourier Series when the period of the signal tends to infinit. – Martin Petrei Dec 1 '15 at 12:41
• @LvW There is a basic relationship between a step (aperiodic signal), the step response of a system and the frequency response. I have added a link to useful info about it. This serves as an example for my answer. – Martin Petrei Dec 1 '15 at 13:24

A Bode plot is a means of crystallising system dynamics in a single graphic. It can be obtained, practically, by a series of steady-state measurements that yield dynamic information when plotted. The measurement process normally includes averaging, which provides significant noise filtering.

It gives prominence to high frequency effects, such as troublesome resonances, which may be hidden away, close to the origin in, say, a transient (e.g. step) response.

It gives information on relative stability, and allows the application of design tools such phase-lead, phase-lag, lead-lag. To obtain the same level of information using time domain methods is often more tedious.

It is easily obtained analytically from the TF (for LTI systems).

Not an exhaustive list, by any means.

The transfer function H of a system (2-port) is the output-to-input ratio. Because it makes no sense to find such a ratio if both ports (input, output) have different waveforms, this transfer function is defined for sinusoidal waveforms only (H=H(jw). Only in this case and if the system has linear transfer properties both signals have the same waveform. They differ only in magnitude and phase.

The BODE plot - a graphical representation of the magnitude and phase response versus frequency - is applicable to sinusoidal excitations only. The BODE plot contains the same information as the Nyquist plot, which shows gain and phase in one single diagram.

You can construct a rough approximation of the BODE diagram (asymptotic lines) based on information about the the pole and zero locations only. And - poles and zeros are defined for sinusoidal waveforms only.

• Mathieu, do you know the definition of a BODE diagram? Do you realize that the BODE plot is nothing else than a Nyquist plot that is split into two different diagrams? Question (please answer): Have you ever seen a Nyquist plot for non-periodic signals? This would be a contradiction ! – LvW Dec 1 '15 at 17:26
• Yes - but his has absolutely nothing to do with the question under discussion. Perhaps you like to reconsider your first two comments? By the way: Why didn`t you answer my question regarding the Nyquist diagram? – LvW Dec 1 '15 at 18:57
• Mathieu, try to understand the BODE diagram (and the log fashion of it) and realize that it is NOT possible to "sum the sinus outputs". The BODE plot serves one single purpose: To present the gain (in dB) and phase respose of a transfer function versus frequency. That means, the frequency is tuned over a certain (wide) range - and most important (and this speaks against your claim): It applies for steady-state and continuous signals only. Do you still consider my answer still as "very weak" and wrong? – LvW Dec 1 '15 at 20:52