366 8 Optimal Process Control
from a set of fractions of stable rational functions. Another use of the Youla-
Kuˇcera parametrisation is in the dual parametrisation when a fixed controller
is known and a set of plants that can be stabilised by it is searched. The
dual parametrisation can be used in identification of processes. Finally, the
Youla-Kuˇcera parametrisation can be employed simultaneously for both the
controller and the plant.
The Youla-Kuˇcera parametrisation is based on assumption that a stabilis-
ing controller is known. For its purposes the bounded-input bounded-output
(BIBO) stability definition is suitable.
The closed-loop system is stable if arbitrary bounded input causes results
in a bounded output at any place of the closed-loop system. A system with
transfer function F (s) is BIBO stable if and only if F (s) is proper and Hurwitz-
stable.
From this definition follows that all transfer functions of the closed-loop
system have to be stable and proper.
A system is asymptotically stable if its characteristic polynomial is stable.
We will at first investigate singlevariable systems and then the problem will
be generalised to multivariable systems. Finally, parametrisation of discrete-
time systems will be treated.
8.7.1 Fractional Representation
Fractional representation of systems (plants, controllers) consists in expressing
transfer functions as a fraction of two stable transfer functions. Consider for
example a controlled process of the form
G(s)=
b(s)
a(s)
(8.420)
where a(s), b(s) are coprime polynomials with deg b(s) ≤ deg a(s), and deg
denotes the degree of a polynomial. This transfer function can be rewritten
into a Hurwitz-stable and proper fractional representation as
G(s)=
B(s)
A(s)
(8.421)
where B(s)andA(s) are stable transfer functions of the form
B(s)=
b(s)
c(s)
,A(s)=
a(s)
c(s)
(8.422)
and c(s) is a monic Hurwitz polynomial, i. e. 1/c(s) is asymptotically stable,
and deg c(s) ≥ deg a(s). A monic polynomial contains unit coefficient at the
maximum power of s.
Consider for example a transfer function
G(s)=
b
1
s + b
0
s
2
+ a
1
s + a
0
(8.423)