EECE 301

Signals & Systems

Prof. Mark Fowler
Discussion #11
Bode Plot Method and Example

1/13

We have seen two cases: Real Pole & Real Zero

|H()| (dB)

40
30
20
10
0

H ( s) =

10

H ( s) =

20

s+a
a

a
s+a

Real zero

Real pole

30
40
50
10

102

a 104
(rad/sec)

103

105

106

This allows us to handle all real poles/zeros in the left-hand plane.

So we still need a way to handle two other cases.
-zero/pole at s = 0
-zero/pole complex conjugate pairs 2nd order term

2/13

Zero/Pole at s = 0
Zero at s = 0

H ( s) = s

Pole at s = 0

H ( s) =

1
s

Replace s j and take magnitude:

20 log10 ( ) vs. log10 ( )

Line of slope 20 that goes through 0dB at = 1

3/13

Complex Conjugate Pair (0 1)

General Form:

Complex pair of poles

Complex pair of zeros

n
2
s 2 + 2n s + n

s 2 + 2n s + n

n breakpoint
for 0 1
on j axis

= 1 gives repeated real roots.

j 2 2

+
20 log10
j + 1 vs. log10 ( )
n n

0dB (constant)

for

<< n

40dB per decade

for

>> n
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For a 2nd order pole:

(shown for n = 100)
20

= 0.1

10
0
-10

=1

-40 dB/decade Slope

-20
-30
-40
-50

Note that as gets smaller the pole gets closer to the j axis
which causes a larger peak.

5/13

For a 2nd order zero:

(shown for n = 100)

Note that as gets smaller the zero gets closer to the j axis
which causes a deeper null.

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General Steps to Sequentially Build Bode Plots

1. Factor H(s) leave complex-root terms as quadratics
2. Convert to j form
3. Pull out constants into a gain term
4. Combine constant term with j terms (if any)
5. Identify break points and put in ascending order
6. Plot constant term with j terms at values below the lowest
break point
7. At break point, change slope by 20dB/decade or
40dB/decade for 1st order or 2nd order terms, repectively.
Repeat this step through ordered list of breakpoints.
8. Make resonant corrections for under damped 2nd order terms
(i.e. when < 0.5).

7/13

)( s + 200)
Example H ( s ) = 0.1s( s + 50
2

1. Already factored

( s + 2)( s + 2 s + 100)

n = 10 2n = 2
2. Convert to j:

= 0.1

complex pair

0.1 j ( j + 50)( j + 200)

H ( ) =
( j + 2)(( j ) 2 + 2 j + 100)

3. Pull Out Constants:

0.1 j ( j + 50)( j + 200)

H ( ) =
( j + 2)(( j ) 2 + 2 j + 100)

0.1 50 200
j (1 + j / 50)(1 + j / 200)
H ( ) =

2
100
(
)
(
)
+
+
+
1
j

/
2
1
2
j

/
100
j

/
10

14
4244
3
=5

Gain Term

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4. Combine gain term with j term :

(5 j )(1 + j / 50)(1 + j / 200 )
H ( ) =
2
(
)
(
)
1
j

/
2
1
2
j

/
100
j

/
10
+
+
+

5. Identify Breakpoints and List in Ascending Order:

(5 j )(1 + j / 50)(1 + j / 200 )
H ( ) =
2
(
)
(
)
1
j

/
2
1
2
j

/
100
j

/
10
+
+
+

List breakpoints in ascending order:

Break Points

Change in slope

-20dB/decade 1st order term in denominator

10

-40dB/decade 2nd order term in denominator

50

+20dB/decade 1st order term in numerator

200

+20dB/decade 1st order term in numerator

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6. Plot constant term with j terms at values

below the lowest break point :
-Pick value that is (at least) 1 decade below the lowest BP: = 0.1
-Evaluate |5j| there in dB:

20 log10 (5 0.1) = 20 log10 (0.5) = 6dB

-Plot a point at -6 dB at = 0.1
-Draw a line of slope 20dB/decade from this point up to the first
BP

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7. At break point, change slope by 20dB/decade or

40dB/decade for 1st order or 2nd order terms, repectively. :
Break Points
2
10
50
200

Change in slope
-20dB/decade 1st order term in denominator
-40dB/decade 2nd order term in denominator
+20dB/decade 1st order term in numerator
+20dB/decade 1st order term in numerator

8. Make resonant corrections for under damped 2nd order

terms (i.e. when < 0.5). :
Finally: Make adjustment for the value from the plot of the 2nd
order term: = 0.1 gives peak 14dB up
value
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5

Adjustment
14 dB
8 dB
5 dB
3 dB
1 dB

11/13

Approximate Bode Plot for Example in Notes

60 dB
Adjust for
= 0.1

|H()| (dB)

40 dB

up 1 decade

20 dB

down
40 dB

up

0 dB

20 dB

down

up 1 decade

20 dB

-20 dB
up 1 decade
-40 dB
0.1

10

50 100 200
(rad/sec)

1000

10,000
12/13

Exact Bode Plot for Example

60
50
40

|H( )| (dB)

30
20

Exact

10
0

Approximate

-10
-20
-30
-40 -1
10

10

10

10

10

10

(rad/sec)
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