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Check Step Response Characteristics

Check that model signal satisfies step response bounds during simulation

  • Check Step Response Characteristics block

Libraries:
Simulink Design Optimization / Model Verification
Simulink Design Optimization / Signal Constraints

Description

Check that a signal satisfies the step response bounds during simulation.

  • If the signal satisfies all bounds, the block does nothing.

  • If the signal does not satisfy a bound, a warning message appears in the MATLAB® command window. You can also specify that the block:

    • Evaluate a MATLAB expression.

    • Stop the simulation and return an error message.

During simulation, the block can also return a logical assertion signal.

  • If the signal satisfies all bounds, the assertion signal is true (1).

  • If the signal does not satisfy a bound, the assertion signal is false (0).

You can add Check Step Response Characteristics blocks to multiple signals to check that they satisfy the bounds. You can also plot the bounds on a time plot to graphically verify that the signal satisfies the bounds.

This block and the other blocks in the Model Verification library test that a signal remains within specified time-domain characteristic bounds. When a model does not violate any bound, you can disable the block by clearing the assertion option. If you modify the model, you can re-enable assertion to ensure that your changes do not cause the model to violate a bound.

If the signal does not satisfy the bounds, you can optimize the model parameters to satisfy the bounds. If you have Simulink® Control Design™ software, you can add frequency-domain bounds, such as the Bode magnitude, and optimize the model response to satisfy both time-domain and frequency-domain requirements.

The block can be used in all simulation modes for signal monitoring, but only in Normal or Accelerator simulation mode for response optimization.

Ports

Input

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Signal to check against the specified step response characteristics during simulation.

Data Types: single | double | int8 | int16 | int32 | int64 | uint8 | uint16 | uint32 | uint64 | fixed point | enumerated | bus

Output

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Output signal indicating if the input signal is within bounds of the specified assertion signal. At each time step, the output is returned as one of the following:

  • True (1) if the assertion succeeds, that is, the signal satisfies all bounds

  • False (0) if the assertion fails, that is, the signal violates a bound

The data type of the output signal is double by default. To set the output data type as Boolean for all blocks that generate logic signals in your Simulink model, select Implement logic signals as Boolean data in Configuration Parameters.

Dependencies

To enable this port, on the Assertion tab, select the Output assertion signal parameter.

Data Types: Boolean | double

Parameters

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Use the plot to view the following.

  • System characteristics and signals computed during simulation — Click this button before you simulate the model to view the system characteristics or signal.

    You can display additional characteristics, such as the peak response time, by right-clicking the plot and selecting Characteristics.

  • Bounds — You can specify bounds on the Bounds tab or by right-clicking the plot and selecting Bounds > New Bound.

    You can modify bounds by dragging the bound segment or by right-clicking the plot and selecting Bounds > Edit Bound. Before you simulate the model, click Update Block to update the bound value in the block parameters.

Typical tasks that you perform in the plot window include:

  • Opening the Block Parameters dialog box by clicking Open block parameters dialog icon or selecting Edit.

  • Finding the block that the plot window corresponds to by clicking Highlight block icon or selecting View > Highlight Simulink Block. This action makes the model window active and highlights the block.

  • Simulating the model by clicking Run icon. This action also linearizes the portion of the model between the specified linearization input and output.

  • Adding a legend on the linear system characteristic plot by clicking Insert legend icon.

Open the plot window instead of the block parameters when you double-click the block in the Simulink model.

Use this parameter if you prefer to open and perform tasks, such as adding or modifying bounds, in the plot window instead of the block parameters. If you want to access the block parameters from the plot window, select Edit or click Open block parameters dialog icon.

For more information on the plot, see the Show plot parameter.

Programmatic Use

Parameter: LaunchViewOnOpen
Type: character vector
Value: 'on' | 'off'
Default: 'off'

Open the Response Optimizer to optimize the model response to meet design requirements specified on the Bounds tab.

See Also

Bounds Tab

Check that the signal satisfies all the step response characteristics specified on the Bounds tab. The software displays a warning if the signal violates the specified step response characteristics.

To view the specified step response bounds on a plot, click Show Plot.

By default, the line segments represent the following step response requirements:

  • Amplitude greater than or equal to –0.01 up to the rise time of 5 seconds for 1% undershoot

  • Amplitude greater than or equal to 0.8 between 5 and 7 seconds for 80% rise

  • Amplitude less than or equal to 1.1 up to the settling time of 7 seconds for 10% overshoot

  • Amplitude between 0.99 and 1.01 beyond the settling time for 1% settling

When you disable this parameter, the software stops checking that the input signal satisfies the bounds during simulation. The bound segments are also grayed out on the plot.

To view only the bounds and input signal on the plot, clear Enable assertion.

Dependencies

To use this parameter, on the Assertion tab, select Enable assertion. If you clear Enable assertion, the software does not use the bounds for assertion, but they continue to appear on the plot.

Programmatic Use

Parameter: EnableStepResponseBound
Type: character vector
Value: 'on' | 'off'
Default: 'on'

Time, in seconds, when the step response bounds start, specified as a finite, real, nonnegative scalar.

To modify the step time value from the plot window, drag the corresponding bound segment. Alternatively, right-click the segment, and select Edit. Specify the new value in Step time. Click Update Block before simulating the model.

To check that the input signal satisfies the step time value, select both Include step response bound in assertion and Enable assertion.

Programmatic Use

Parameter: StepTime
Type: character vector
Value: nonnegative scalar
Default: 0

Value of the signal before the step occurs, specified as a finite real scalar not equal to the Final value parameter.

To modify the initial value from the plot window, drag the corresponding bound segment. Alternatively, right-click the segment, and select Edit. Specify the new value in Initial value. Click Update Block before simulating the model.

To check that the input signal satisfies the initial value, select both Include step response bound in assertion and Enable assertion.

Programmatic Use

Parameter: InitialValue
Type: character vector
Value: scalar
Default: 0

Value of the signal after the step occurs, specified as a finite real scalar not equal to the Initial value parameter.

To modify the final value from the plot window, drag the corresponding bound segment. Alternatively, right-click the segment, and select Edit. Specify the new value in Final value. You must click Update Block before simulating the model.

To check the input signal satisfies the final value, select both Include step response bound in assertion and Enable assertion.

Programmatic Use

Parameter: FinalValue
Type: character vector
Value: scalar
Default: 1

Time taken, in seconds, for the signal to reach the percentage of the step range (Final valueInitial value) specified in % Rise, specified as a finite, positive, real scalar less than the Settling time parameter.

To modify the rise time from the plot window, drag the corresponding bound segment. Alternatively, right-click the segment, and select Edit. Specify the new value in Rise time. Click Update Block before simulating the model.

To check that the input signal satisfies the rise time value, select both Include step response bound in assertion and Enable assertion.

Programmatic Use

Parameter: RiseTime
Type: character vector
Value: positive scalar
Default: 5

The percentage of the step range value to use along with Rise time to define the overall rise time characteristics, specified as a real finite scalar in range 0–100 and less than 100 – % Settling.

To modify the percent rise from the plot window, drag the corresponding bound segment. Alternatively, right-click the segment, and select Edit. Specify the new value in % Rise. Click Update Block before simulating the model.

To check that the input signal satisfies the percent rise value, select both Include step response bound in assertion and Enable assertion.

Programmatic Use

Parameter: PercentRise
Type: character vector
Value: scalar in range 0–100
Default: 80

The time taken, in seconds, for the signal to settle within a specified range around the final value, specified as a finite positive real scalar greater than Rise time. This settling range is defined as the final value plus or minus the settling range value. Specify the settling range in the % Settling parameter.

To modify the settling time from the plot window, drag the corresponding bound segment. Alternatively, right-click the segment, and select Edit. Specify the new value in Settling time. Click Update Block before simulating the model.

To check that the input signal satisfies the settling time value, select both Include step response bound in assertion and Enable assertion.

Programmatic Use

Parameter: SettlingTime
Type: character vector
Value: positive scalar
Default: 7

The percentage of the step range value (Final valueInitial value) that defines the settling range of the Settling time characteristic, specified as a finite real scalar in the range 0–100. Specify a value less than both 100 – % Rise and % Overshoot.

To modify the percent settling from the plot window, drag the corresponding bound segment. Alternatively, right-click the segment, and select Edit. Specify the new value in % Settling. Click Update Block before simulating the model.

To check that the input signal satisfies the percent settling value, select both Include step response bound in assertion and Enable assertion.

Programmatic Use

Parameter: PercentSettling
Type: character vector
Value: scalar in range 0–100
Default: 1

The amount by which the signal can exceed the final value before settling, specified as a positive real scalar in the range 0–100 and greater than % Settling. This amount is specified as a percentage of step range. The step range is the difference between the final and initial values.

To modify the percent overshoot from the plot window, drag the corresponding bound segment. Alternatively, right-click the segment, and select Edit. Specify the new value in % Overshoot. Click Update Block before simulating the model.

To check that the input signal satisfies the percent overshoot value, select both Include step response bound in assertion and Enable assertion.

Programmatic Use

Parameter: PercentOvershoot
Type: character vector
Value: scalar in range 0–100
Default: 10

The amount by which the signal can undershoot the initial value before rising, specified as a positive real scalar in the range 0–100. This amount is specified as a percentage of the step range. The step range is the difference between the final and initial values.

To modify the percent undershoot from the plot window, drag the corresponding bound segment. Alternatively, right-click the segment, and select Edit. Specify the new value in % Undershoot. Click Update Block before simulating the model.

To check that the input signal satisfies the percent undershoot value, select both Include step response bound in assertion and Enable assertion.

Programmatic Use

Parameter: PercentUndershoot
Type: character vector
Value: scalar in range 0–100
Default: 1

Ensure that the software simulates the model to produce output at the bound edges. Simulating the model at the bound edges prevents the simulation solver from missing an assertion that the signal satisfies that bound at its edge.

For more information, see Zero-Crossing Detection.

Programmatic Use

Parameter: ZeroCross
Type: character vector
Value: 'on' | 'off'
Default: 'on'

Assertion Tab

Enable the block to check that bounds specified and included for assertion on the Bounds tab are satisfied during simulation. Assertion fails if a bound is not satisfied. A warning, reporting the assertion failure, appears at the MATLAB prompt.

If the assertion fails, you can optionally specify that the block:

  • Execute a MATLAB expression, specified in Simulation callback when assertion fails (optional).

  • Stop the simulation and return an error message, by selecting Stop simulation when assertion fails.

This parameter has no effect if you do not specify any bounds.

When you disable this parameter, the block no longer checks that the input signal satisfies the specified bounds. The block icon also updates to indicate that assertion is disabled.

Crossed out block icon

In the Simulink model, in the Configuration Parameters, the Model Verification block enabling parameter lets you enable or disable all model verification blocks in a model, regardless of the setting of this option in the block.

Programmatic Use

Parameter: enabled
Type: character vector
Value: 'on' | 'off'
Default: 'on'

MATLAB expression to execute when assertion fails.

Because the expression is evaluated in the MATLAB workspace, first define all variables used in the expression in the workspace.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Enable assertion.

Programmatic Use

Parameter: callback
Type: character vector
Value: MATLAB expression
Default: ''

Stop the simulation when the input signal violates a bound specified on the Bounds tab during simulation, that is, when assertion fails.

If you run the simulation from a Simulink model window, the Simulation Diagnostics window opens to display an error message. The block where the bound violation occurs is highlighted in the model.

Because selecting this option stops the simulation as soon as the assertion fails, the software does not report assertion failures that might occur later during the simulation. If you want to report all assertion failures, do not select this option.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Enable assertion.

Programmatic Use

Parameter: stopWhenAssertionFail
Type: character vector
Value: 'on' | 'off'
Default: 'off'

Output a Boolean signal that, at each time step, is:

  • True (1) if assertion succeeds, that is, the input signal satisfies all bounds

  • False (0) if assertion fails, that is, the input signal violates a bound

The data type of the output signal is double by default. To set the output data type as Boolean for all blocks that generate logic signals in your Simulink model, select Implement logic signals as Boolean data in Configuration Parameters.

Selecting this parameter adds an output port to the block that you can connect to any block in the model.

Use this parameter to design complex assertion logic. For an example, see Verify Model Using Simulink Control Design and Simulink Verification Blocks (Simulink Control Design).

Programmatic Use

Parameter: export
Type: character vector
Value: 'on' | 'off'
Default: 'off'

Extended Capabilities

Version History

Introduced in R2011b