14.

4 BODE PLOTS

Sometimes it is not easy to plot the magnitude, H( ) and phase, therefore a more systematic
way to obtain frequency response is to use bode plot (i.e., semi logarithmic plots of magnitude
(dB) and phase (deg) of a transfer function versus frequency).
A general transfer function is expressed in terms of real and imaginary parts

K( j)1(1+ j z1)[1+ j21 k + ( j k ) ]....

2

H() =
(1+ j p1)[1+ j2 2 n + ( j n ) ]....
2 (14.8)

Eqn. (14.8) can be divided up to 7 types of different factors that can appear in various
combinations in a transfer function H ( ) .They are:

1) Constant gain K

2) A pole [ ( j ) 1 = 1 j or zero [ ( j ) at the origin

3) A simple pole [ (1 + j p1 ) (1 + j z1 )

1
4) A quadratic pole or quadratic zero
1 + j 2 2 n + ( j n )
2

1 + j 2 1 k + ( j k )
2

The best way to construct a bode plot is to plot each factor separately and adding up each plot
graphically to obtain the bode plot. We will now make a straight-line (i.e., approximation) plots
of each factor listed above to a reasonable degree of accuracy.

1) Constant gain K , H ( ) = K

The magnitude H ( ) = 20 log K and the phase, = tan1 (0/ K ) = tan1 0 = 0

NOTE: A decade is an interval between two frequencies with a ratio of 10; e.g. between 0.2 to
2 or between 5 to 50Hz. Thus, 40dB/decade means that the magnitude changes 20dB
whenever the frequency changes tenfold or one decade.

A pole at the origin, H ( ) = 1 j

The magnitude is H ( ) = 20 log 1 j and the phase is = tan = 90 .

1

Plotting for 0 < < ;

= 0.1, H (0.1) = 20 dB = 1, H (1) = 0 dB = 10, H (10) = 20 dB

A zero at the origin, H ( ) = j

The magnitude is H ( ) = 20 log j and the phase is = tan = 90

1

NOTE: In general, for (j ) N where N is an integer (i.e. positive/negative number), the

magnitude plot will have a slope of 20N dB/decade, while the phase is 90N degrees.
 1
A Simple Pole, H ( ) =
1 + j p1

1
The magnitude is H ( ) = 20 log and the phase is = tan 1 ( p1 )
(1 + j p1 )

Plotting for 0 < < ;

0 dB, for a small value of ,( 0)

1
H() = 20log = 1
(1 + j p1 ) 20log , for a large value of ,( )
p1

0 dB , = p1
For ( ) , H ( ) =
- 20 dB , = 10 p1

The phase plot for a simple pole will give us

0, =0
= tan ( p1 ) = 45,
1
= p1 .
90,

NOTE: In general, for H ( ) =1/(1+j /z) N where N is a positive integer, the magnitude plot
will give a slope of -20N dB/decade while the phase is -90N degrees.
 A Simple Zero, H ( ) = 1 + j z1

The magnitude is H ( ) = 20 log 1 + j z1 and the phase is = tan 1 ( z1 )

Plotting for 0 < < ;

0 dB, for a small value of ,( 0)

H() = 20log 1+ j z1 =
20log z1 , for a large value of ,( )

0 dB , = z1
For ( ) , H ( ) =
20 dB , = 10 z1

0, =0
The phase plot for a simple zero will give us = tan ( z1 ) = 45, = z1 .
1

90,

NOTE: In general, for H( )=(1+j /z) N where N is a positive integer, the magnitude plot will
give a slope of 20N dB/decade while the phase is 90N degrees.
 1
A Quadratic Pole, H ( ) =
1 + j 2 2 n + ( j n )
2

The magnitude is H ( ) = 20 log 1 + j 2 2 n + ( j n )

2
and

2 2 n
the phase is = tan 1
1 2 n2

Plotting for 0 < < ;

0 dB, for a small value of , ( 0)

H( ) = 20 log 1 + j 2 2 n + ( j n ) =
2

40 log , for a large value of , ( )
n

0 dB , < n
For ( ) , H ( ) =
40 dB , > n

0, =0
2 2 n
The phase plot for a simple zero will give us = tan 1
= 90, = n .
1 2 n2
180,

2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

.Sketch the Quadratic Zero bode plot as you homework!!