On the Zeros of an Undamped Three Degrees-of-Freedom Flexible System

The dynamics of flexible systems is of interest in a wide range of motion and vibration control applications including space structures [1–3], dexterous manipulation [4–8], locomotion [9,10], hard-disk drives [11–13], and flexure mechanisms [14–16], among others. These applications typically require a combination of range, speed, settling time, noise and disturbance rejection, control robustness, motion accuracy, etc.—performance specifications that are met by careful choice of sensors, actuators, and associated electronics, as well as design of various control strategies [17–19]. Yet, the presence of resonant peaks along with ill-behaved zero dynamics such as non-minimum phase behavior [20–24] severely limits the performance that can be achieved through feedback and feedforward control strategies [25–28].

Figure 1 shows the various types of zeros that can appear in the single-input single-output (SISO) dynamics of a linear time invariant (LTI) system—marginal minimum phase (MMP) that lie on the imaginary axis, real minimum phase (RMP), real non-minimum phase (RNMP), complex minimum phase (CMP), and complex non-minimum phase (CNMP). These zeros are dictated by the physical design of the LTI system, including the location of sensor and actuator, and cannot be altered by output or state feedback. Given the critical role that zeros play (particularly NMP zeros) in control performance, an intimate knowledge of the existence of the various types of zeros and their dependence on the various system parameters is of interest.

Section 2 of this paper provides a review of the extensive literature on system zeros, but the existing results fail to present an analysis of systems that include all possible types of zeros. Furthermore, an interpretation of the genesis of zeros (particularly CNMP zeros) based on physical parameters and design is still lacking. In our previous work, we mathematically predicted [21] and experimentally demonstrated [22] the existence of CNMP zeros under certain combinations of physical parameters and operating conditions in flexure mechanisms. However, this was a system-specific investigation and did not provide a more fundamental understanding into the origin of these zeros.

To achieve such an understanding, we employ modal decomposition [29] to study zeros in the SISO dynamics of an undamped three degrees-of-freedom (3DOF) LTI flexible system in this paper. This system comprises one rigid-body mode and two flexible modes. The genesis of different types of zeros and their transition from one type to another is shown to depend on mathematical conditions that involve the modal frequencies and residues of the flexible system. Since these modal parameters (i.e., frequencies and residues) can be expressed in terms of physical parameters of the system (e.g., stiffness and mass), the mathematical framework presented here offers a direct connection between the zeros and the physical parameters of the system. The mathematical framework and associated results of this paper can therefore be used to derive key physical insights into the zero dynamics of any flexible system that can be approximated by the undamped 3DOF LTI flexible system investigated here.

There is a significant body of research literature on the zero dynamics of flexible systems. Existing frequency domain studies may be broadly classified into three groups: (1) studies that focus on fundamental system types irrespective of the type of zeros, (2) studies that focus on gaining physical meaning into various types of zeros, and (3) studies that focus on specific types of zeros (e.g., CNMP) irrespective of the system type.

Studying the zeros of LTI systems using fundamental system types is based on the idea of modal decomposition [29]. Since a single mode cannot lead to any zeros, the simplest flexible system type to study zeros is a system with two modes or DOFs. A simpler variation of this 2DOF system is one where the first mode has zero natural frequency (i.e., is a rigid-body mode). In the literature, Miu [30] used such a 2DOF model for a torsional system and studied the variation of zeros due to the variation of sensor location. Rankers [31] studied the interaction between the rigid body mode and the flexible mode on a frequency response plot. It was demonstrated that the variation of zeros arises due to the variation of modal residues (magnitude and signs) associated with these two modes. Coelingh [32] studied a motion stage with flexible guidance and showed the mapping between sensor/actuator locations and various types of zeros. Using a 2DOF flexible system model, this work demonstrated MMP, RMP zeros, and RNMP zeros, but did not capture CNMP zeros.

Studying the zeros of systems with a single flexible beam has also been an active area of research. Spector and Flashner [33,34] studied a non-collocated pinned-free beam model and identified the migration of zeros on the real and imaginary axes due to variation in the sensor location. Wie and Bryson [35] studied the pole-zero patterns in flexible structures including beams, membranes, and triangular trusses. Lee and Speyer [36] used a Bernoulli–Euler beam model and studied the migration of zeros in various input-output transfer functions. In addition, Aphale et al. [37] studied the zeros of a cantilever beam with the impact of a feed-through term, and Vakil et al. [38] studied the location of zeros for a single-flexible beam under the variation of different physical parameters. In all of this work, the migration of zeros is restricted to the real and imaginary axes, i.e., zeros are MMP, RMP, or RNMP, but not CMP or CNMP.

There are also studies that focus on zeros of systems that extend beyond a 2DOF model. Tohyama and Lyon [39,40] used a system with two modes and a constant remainder to study the transfer function in room acoustics. By varying the remainder, they identified MMP zeros and CNMP zeros. These studies, however, only investigate variation of the remainder without investigating the influence of changing the two modal residues or frequencies. As a result, RMP and RNMP zeros are not captured in this work. Duffour and Woodhouse [41] studied the transfer function of linearized systems with frictional contact. In their investigation, analytical and graphical locus techniques were used to examine cases with only two modes, with two modes with a constant remainder and with three modes. While MMP zeros and CNMP zeros are reported in this work, RNMP zeros were not captured due to inadequate spanning of the parameter space. Martin [24] proposed modal decomposition to identify MMP, RNMP, RMP, and CNMP zeros by studying a numerical model with three modes, but he did not draw any broader conclusions from his numerical results. He concluded that for the situation of sensor and actuator collocation, the zeros are MMP, wherein zeros are alternately located between the system poles. He also argued that such a system is robust against modeling uncertainties and unmodeled high-frequency dynamics when operated in closed-loop.

The second group of studies on zeros focuses on gaining physical meaning into various types of zeros. Miu [42] studied the MMP zeros in serially connected spring mass systems. He concluded that for this simple class of systems, MMP zeros indicate the natural frequencies of several sub-systems defined by the actuator and sensor locations. Chandrasekar et al. [43] showed that all zeros in such serially connected spring-mass systems are MMP zeros. Van de Straete [44] used the approach of bond graphs to study all types of zeros and reached the physical insight that zeros are related to subsystems where energy is “trapped.” In addition, Calafiore's [45] analysis also characterized how sub-systems are related to zeros. Nevertheless, in all of this work, a sub-system-based physical insight is applicable only in simple classes of systems, namely serially connected spring-mass systems. For a general flexible system, sub-systems and any associated physical insights are difficult to identify. Examples include Coelingh's model [32] and the multi-axis flexure mechanism [21,22] that exhibits dynamic coupling between the modes in different axes.

The third group of studies focuses on specific types of zeros irrespective of the system type. In particular, CNMP zeros have been reported in flexible systems [21–23,46–48] but there remains very little physical understanding of these zeros. Cannon and Schmitz [23] identified RNMP and CNMP zeros numerically in the transfer function of a pinned-free beam. Loix et al. [48] studied a 4DOF spring-mass model with spring stiffness variation. They numerically identified the existence of CNMP zeros and the corresponding zero locus. They also provided an experimental observation of CNMP zeros in a cantilever beam setup but did not present a mathematical formulation for these zeros. Hoagg and Bernstein [49] investigated a 3DOF spring-mass-damper model that also captured CNMP zeros. However, they assumed an unusually large damping ratio (ζ > 1.3) to create the CNMP zeros. Awtar and Craig [47] predicted and experimentally measured CNMP zeros in the non-collocated transfer function of a multiple spring-mass servo system. Electromagnetic modeling showed that these zeros arose due to a coupling between the DC motor and the tachometer in this servo system. In our recent work, CNMP zeros have been modeled [21] and measured [22] in a lightly damped flexure mechanism-based motion stage.

In all of these studies, the advantage of focusing on specific systems is that it allows one to validate the existence of certain types of zeros (particularly RNMP and CNMP) via models and experiments. Furthermore, the relationship between physical parameters and the location/existence of zeros can be demonstrated. Yet, all of these existing studies are system-specific and do not provide a deeper understanding into the existence of zeros for flexible systems in general.

Thus, the gap in the existing literature on zeros may be summarized via two key points. First, while zeros of flexible systems have been studied using the technique of modal decomposition by varying modal parameters, the existing results are incomplete in terms of capturing all possible types of zeros in a single, general flexible system. Second, there remains a lack of physical understanding of the conditions for which certain zeros (especially RNMP and CNMP) appear or change from one type to another.

This paper addresses this gap by identifying the simplest LTI system—an undamped 3DOF flexible system—that exhibits all types of zeros. A mathematical framework based on modal decomposition is used to relate system zeros to modal parameters. Specifically, for a 3DOF flexible system with one rigid-body mode, the precise conditions on modal parameters (frequencies and residues) are derived for every possible zero type. This leads to a comprehensive set of necessary and sufficient conditions on modal parameters for the existence of each type of zero. Since modal parameters can be ultimately correlated to physical parameters of the system (e.g., stiffness and mass), the mathematical framework presented here can be used to not only gain physical insights into the origin of zero dynamics but also influence them through the appropriate choice of physical parameters.

The rest of this paper is organized as follows: Section 3 captures zero dynamics via modal decomposition and presents key results that help narrow down the scope of this investigation to a 3DOF system. Section 4 provides an explicit mathematical and graphical correlation between the modal frequencies and the modal residues of a 3DOF flexible system (with one rigid-body mode) and the associated zeros. This leads to several important mathematical observations and physical insights. Section 5 concludes the paper with a summary of the conclusions and design insights obtained in this work and a brief discussion on the future course of this research.

Here, the total number of second-order modes is n, which is also the DOF of the system per the nomenclature of this paper, and ω_i is the natural frequency of the ith mode. Additionally, it is assumed that G(s) represents a physical system (as opposed to a mathematical system) and is strictly proper (i.e., m < n). In other words, the number of zero pairs is less than the number of modes in the system.

From Eq. (2), it may be seen that the variation of modal residues (α_i) leads to the variation of the numerator coefficients (b_i), and thus, the variation of the zeros of G(s). There are some key results that can be readily derived for a LTI SISO flexible system defined by the above assumptions.

Result 1. For an undamped LTI flexible system whose SISO dynamics is given by Eq. (2), if a pair of CNMP zeros occurs, it will always occur in a quartet along with a pair of CMP zeros.

As a consequence of the assumptions made above, it is evident that N(s) and D(s) are even functions (i.e., N(s) = N(−s) and D(s) = D(−s)).

Therefore, if a ± ib (where a > 0) are CNMP zeros of G(s) (i.e., N(a ± ib) = 0) and N(a ± ib) = N(−(a ± ib)) because N(s) is an even function, then it follows that N(−a ± ib) = 0. In other words, −a ± ib are also zeros of the G(s). Since a > 0, these two zeros constitute a CMP zero pair. Thus, zeros that are neither on the imaginary axis nor on the real axes of the s-plane, always appear as a CMP-CNMP quartet (±a ± ib).▪

Result 2. An undamped LTI flexible system must have a minimum of three modes (i.e., 3DOF) to exhibit a CMP-CNMP zero quartet in its SISO dynamics.

Proof. According to Result 1, CMP-CNMP zeros always appear as a quartet. This means that for such a quartet to appear, the numerator N(s) in Eq. (3) should be at least a fourth-order polynomial in s. Further, because the physical system is strictly proper, the denominator D(s) should at least be a sixth-order polynomial in s. Since all the decomposed modes of G(s) are second-order, it follows that the system should consist of at least three such modes to exhibit a CMP-CNMP zero quartet.

Based on these results, since a 3DOF undamped LTI flexible system is the simplest system that exhibits CMP-CNMP zeros, we choose this system for the intended investigation that captures all the zero types. As discussed in Sec. 2, 2DOF undamped LTI flexible systems have been extensively studied [30–32] but exhibit only MMP, RMP, and RNMP zeros.▪

Yet, the 3DOF model that stems from this assumption can still be used to explain the dynamics of flexible systems that are characterized by a low-frequency rigid body mode and a couple of relatively high-frequency flexible modes. In such instances, the low-frequency flexible mode is approximated as a pure rigid body mode to study its interaction with the two higher frequency modes that give rise to the CMP-CNMP zero quartet trapped between them.

The root-loci of T(s), which correspond to the full zero-loci of G(s), are shown in Fig. 2 for four different value ranges of α_u/α_v. For ease of illustration, only the first quadrant is shown in each case. As noted above, the value ranges of α_u/α_v determine the location range of the second zero pair of T(s) (shown in blue) as follows:

• $αu/αv>0$⁠: second zero pair of T(s) lies between ω_u and ω_v

• $−ωu2/ωv2<αu/αv<0$⁠: second zero pair of T(s) lies b/w origin and ω_u

• $−1<αu/αv<−ωu2/ωv2$⁠: second zero pair of T(s) lies on the real axis

• α_u/α_v < − 1: second zero pair of T(s) lies between ω_v and infinity

Based on these results and Fig. 2, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. By varying α_u/α_v and α_v, all types of zeros (i.e., MMP, RMP-RNMP pair and CMP-CNMP quartet) are obtained in the zero loci of a 3DOF flexible system (with one rigid-body mode).

2. CNMP zeros occur in cases (b), (c), and (d) of the top panel where (α_u/α_v) < 0 and 0 < α_v < ∞. Therefore, the necessary condition for the existence of CNMP zeros is the alternating sequence of modal residue signs, i.e., α_R > 0 (already assumed to be +1), α_u < 0 and α_v > 0. This necessary condition is nevertheless not a sufficient condition. As seen in cases (b), (c), and (d) of the top panel, even when the necessary condition is satisfied, there exist values of α_v for which the zeros are either MMP or RMP-RNMP. These are the values of α_v before the break-away and after the re-join of the zero loci, given by Eq. (7).

3. Conversely, avoiding the alternating sequence of modal residue signs is a sufficient condition for the elimination of CNMP zeros. However, this is not a necessary condition for the elimination of CNMP zeros. The value of α_v can be tuned such that it does not lie between the break-away and re-join points given by Eq. (7). This would guarantee that CNMP zeros do not occur in the system dynamics even in the presence of alternating modal residue signs.

4. Equation (7) gives the break-away point of the zero loci from the imaginary axis and the subsequent re-join of the zero loci onto the imaginary axis or the real axis. This equation mathematically shows the precise conditions under which MMP zeros transition to a CMP-CNMP quartet and then back to either MMP zeros or a RMP-RNMP pair. These break-away and re-join points can be easily visualized in instances (b), (c), and (d) of the top panel (i.e., 0 < α_v < ∞) in Fig. 2.

5. Based on Eq. (7), it can be mathematically observed that as $η(≜ωu/ωv)$ tends to 1, the values of α_v at which break-away and re-join occur tend to zero. Therefore, in the presence of alternating sequence of modal residue signs (represented by (b), (c), and (d) when 0 < α_v < ∞), if a 3DOF flexible system has two closely spaced flexible modes (given by η tending to 1), then the occurrence of CNMP zeros (in form of quartet) becomes very sensitive to small values of α_v. In the presence of closely spaced flexible modes, even a small non-zero value of α_v (modal residue associated with the flexible mode v), can lead to the presence of CNMP zeros in the system dynamics.

6. Equation (8) gives the mathematical condition when MMP zeros transition into a RMP-RNMP pair. This point of transition only depends on the ratio of modal residues (κ) of the two flexible modes. If κ tends to −1, then the transition from MMP zeros to RMP-RNMP pair happens for very large values of α_v. In other words, the transition becomes insensitive to the value of α_v.

7. There are two cases, namely case (a) of the top panel and case (d) of the bottom panel where NMP zeros do not occur in the zero locus for any value of α_v. Case (a) of the top panel leads to a configuration of modal residue signs given by α_R > 0, α_u > 0 and α_v > 0. This is in agreement with Ref. [24] where it was shown that when all modal residues have the same sign, it only leads to MMP zeros in the system dynamics.

This paper investigates the zero dynamics of an undamped 3DOF flexible system that consists of one rigid body mode and two flexible modes. Mathematical formulae are used to provide the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of every type of zero (MMP, RMP-RNMP pair, and CMP-CNMP quartet) in the system. Particular emphasis is given to NMP zeros, which severely impact the closed loop performance of flexible systems. Based on this investigation, it is found that whenever CNMP zeros occur in the system dynamics, they always occur in a quartet of CMP-CNMP zeros and alternating signs of modal residues is a necessary condition for their occurrence. Therefore, in order to avoid CNMP zeros in the system dynamics, avoiding an alternating sequence of modal residue signs is a sufficient condition. The signs of modal residues are closely tied to the location of actuators and sensors on a flexible system through the mode shapes of the associated flexible modes [24]. The mathematical insight from this investigation can be combined with the knowledge of mode shapes of specific flexible systems that can be approximated by an undamped 3DOF flexible system model. This will enable optimal placement of actuators and sensors in order to avoid NMP zeros.

This investigation also reveals that the occurrence of CNMP zeros in undamped 3DOF flexible systems with closely spaced flexible modes is very sensitive to variations in the modal residues and by extension very sensitive to variations in physical parameters of the flexible systems [21]. This phenomenon is usually observed in the dynamics of flexure mechanisms that make use of symmetric/periodic building blocks (or flexure modules) to achieve large range of motion, high constraint direction stiffness, and low sensitivity to thermal effects [51]. The symmetric/periodic structure gives rise to closely spaced flexible modes and a large range of motion gives rise to geometric non-linearities that lead to varying system parameters [21,22].

In this paper, we only presented an investigation on the zeros of an undamped flexible system. In the future, we will also investigate the zero dynamics of damped flexible systems and draw key physical insights on the impact of damping on zero dynamics. We will use these insights to choose actuator-sensor location and damping strategies to show how NMP zeros can be eliminated from the dynamics of large-range multi-axis flexure mechanisms.

This work was supported in part by a National Science Foundation Grant (CMMI No. 1634824).

There are no conflicts of interest.