Nichol’s Chart

(Log-magnitude vs Phase Plot)

• Another approach to graphically describe the frequency-response
characteristics is to use the log-magnitude-versus-phase plot.

• Which is a plot of the logarithmic magnitude in decibels versus the

phase angle for a frequency range of interest.

• In the manual approach the log-magnitude-versus-phase plot can

easily be constructed by reading values of the log magnitude and
phase angle from the Bode diagram.

• Advantages of the log-magnitude-versus-phase plot are that the

relative stability of the closed-loop system can be determined
quickly and that compensation can be worked out easily. 1
Nichol’s Chart of simple transfer functions
1
G ( jω ) =
jω
1
G ( jω ) = ∠ − 90
ω
ω db φ
0 ∞ -90o
0.5 6 -90o
1 0 -90o
2 -6 -90o
∞ -∞ -90o

2
 Nichol’s Chart of simple transfer functions

1
G ( jω ) =
j ωT + 1

1
G ( jω ) = ∠ − tan −1(ωT )
T 2ω 2 + 1

3
Nichol’s Chart of simple transfer functions
1
G ( jω ) =
jω ( jωT + 1)

4
Relative Stability

5
6
7
 Example#1
• Draw the Nichol’s Chart of following open loop
transfer function and obtain the Gain Margin and
Phase Margin. 1
G( s ) =
s( s + 1)( s + 3)
Solution
1
G ( jω ) =
jω ( jω + 1)( jω + 3)
1
G ( jω ) =
− 4ω 2 − j(ω 3 − 3ω )

1 − 4ω 2 + j(ω 3 − 3ω )
G ( jω ) = ×
− 4ω − j(ω − 3ω )
2 3
− 4ω + j(ω − 3ω )
2 3
8
 Example#1
1 − 4ω 2 + j(ω 3 − 3ω )
G ( jω ) = ×
− 4ω − j(ω − 3ω )
2 3
− 4ω 2 + j(ω 3 − 3ω )

− 4ω 2 + j(ω 3 − 3ω )
G ( jω ) =
− 16ω 4 − (ω 3 − 3ω ) 2

− 4ω 2 (ω 3 − 3ω )
G ( jω ) = + j
− 16ω − (ω − 3ω )
4 3 2
− 16ω 4 − (ω 3 − 3ω ) 2

9
 Example#1
− 4ω 2 (ω 3 − 3ω )
G ( jω ) = + j
− 16ω − (ω − 3ω )
4 3 2
− 16ω 4 − (ω 3 − 3ω ) 2

ω G ( jω )
db
∠G( jω )

0.01 30 -90o
0.1 10.3 -97.5o
0.5 -4.4 -125o
1 -14 -153o
2 -22 -180o
10 -26 -189o
10
 ω G ( jω ) ∠G( jω )
db

0.01 30 -90o

0.1 10.3 -97.5o

0.5 -4.4 -125o

1 -14 -153o

2 -22 -180o

10 -26 -189o

11
 Nichols Chart
40

20
Phase Margin=700
0
Gain Margin=22 db Gain Cross
Open-Loop Gain (dB)

-20 over point

Phase Cross
over point
-40

-60

-80

-100

-120

-140
-270 -225 -180 -135 -90
Open-Loop Phase (deg)
12
 Nichols Chart
40
0.25 dB 0 dB
0.5 dB
20 1 dB -1 dB
3 dB -3 dB
6 dB
0 -6 dB
-12 dB
-20 dB
Open-Loop Gain (dB)

-20

-40 -40 dB

-60 -60 dB

-80 -80 dB

-100 -100 dB

-120 -120 dB
-140 dB
-140
-360 -315 -270 -225 -180 -135 -90 -45 0
Open-Loop Phase (deg) 13