Limit cycle predictions of nonlinear multivariable feedback control systems with large transportation lags

A practical method is developed for limit-cycle predictions in the nonlinear multivariable feedback control systems with large transportation lags. all nonlinear elements considered are linear independent. it needs only to check maximal or minimal frequency points of root loci of equivalent gains for finding a stable limit-cycle. this reduces the computation effort dramatically. the information for stable limit-cycle checking can be shown in the parameter plane also. sinusoidal input describing functions with fundamental components are used to find equivalent gains of nonlinearities. the proposed method is illustrated by a simple numerical example and applied to one 2 × 2 and two 3 × 3 complicated nonlinear multivariable feedback control systems. considered systems have large transportation lags. digital simulation verifications give calculated results provide accurate limit cycle predictions of considered systems. comparisons are made also with other methods in the current literature. copyright © 2011 tain-sou tsay.