96 2 Kinematics
5
v
+
R
2
C L
1
R
(a) (b) (c)
(d)
i i
i i
i
1
2
3
4
Flow assignment
In the figure shown above we have assigned the flow i
1
through the voltage
source, i
2
through the resistor R
1
, i
3
through the capacitor, i
4
through the
resistor R
2
, and i
5
through the inductor. The actual flow directions, for
these passive elements, are determined by solving the dynamic equations
of motion.
Annotating a network model as described above can lead to a large number
of flow variables. However, due to the interconnections in the system not all
these flow variables are independent. In fact if we assume continuity of flow
at the nodes in the network then we can develop a set of equations that relate
the flow variables in the model. If continuity of flow is satisfied then the sum
of all the flows into a node must be zero. In the analysis of electrical circuits
this continuity principle is known as Kirchhoff’s current law.
As in mechanical systems it is important to know how many of the flow
variables are independent, i.e., how many degrees of freedom exists in the
network. To determine the number of independent flow variables in a network
we can borrow some results from graph theory.
Networks contain entities called nodes, branches, trees and chords. These
terms will be defined with the aid of the electrical circuit shown in Fig. 2.9.
This circuit contains the following system elements; an effort (voltage) source,
v(t), resistors R
1
and R
2
, a capacitor, C, and an inductor, L.
• Nodes:
The nodes in the network have already been defined above. These are the
points at the terminals of the system elements. Hence, a, b, c and d rep-
resent nodes in the network. Let N denote the number of nodes in the
network. (Therefore, N = 4 for the circuit in Fig. 2.9).
• Branches:
The system elements themselves are called branches in the network. Thus,
v(t), R
1
, R
2
, C and L are the branches of the network. Let B denote the
number of branches in the network. (Therefore, B = 5 for the circuit in
Fig. 2.9).