Analogous Electrical and Mechanical Systems

Contents
Background
Analogous Quantities
Analogous Equations
Converting Between Systems
Electrical to Mechanical 1 (Force-Current).
Mechanical 1 (Force-Current) to Electrical.
Electrical to Mechanical 2 (Force-Voltage).
Mechanical 2 (Force-Voltage) to Electrical.
Background
It is possible to make electrical and mechanical systems using analogs. An analogous
electrical and mechanical system will have differential equations of the same form. There are two
analogs that are used to go between electrical and mechanical systems. The analogous quantities
are given below.
Key Concept: Analogous Quantities
Electrical
Quantity
Mechanical Analog I
(Force-Current)
Mechanical
Analog II
(Force Voltage)
Voltage, e Velocity, v Force, f
Current, i Force, f Velocity, v
Resistance, R
Lubricity, 1/B
(Inverse friction)
Friction, B
Capacitance, C Mass, M
Compliance, 1/K
(Inverse spring constant)
Inductance, L
Compliance, 1/K
(Inverse spring constant)
Mass, M
Transformer, N1:N2 Lever, L1:L2 Lever, L1:L2
To see the analogies more clearly, examine the following table that shows the constitutive
relationships for the various analogous quantities. The entries for the mechanical analogs are
formed by substituting the analogous quantities into the equations for the electrical elements. For
example the electrical version of Ohm's law is e=iR. The Mechanical I analog stipulates that e is
replaced by v, i by f and R by 1/B, which yields v=f/B.
Key Concept: Analogous Equations

Electrical
Equation
Mechanical
Analog I
(Force-Current)
Mechanical
Analog II
(Force Voltage)
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voltage of ground=0
(you can apply any current to
ground and voltage remains 0)
velocity of ground=0
(you can apply any force to
ground and velocity remains 0)
???

Converting Between Systems
Electrical to Mechanical 1 (Force-Current).
The important relationship when converting from a circuit to the Mechanical 1 analog is that
between Kirchoff's Current Law and D'Alemberts Law (with inertial forces included).
Electrical Mechanical 1
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One deficiency in this analogy is that it only works easily for capacitors that are grounded. This can
be seen by the analogies between energy in a capacitor and energy in a mass, and the analogy
between electrical ground (unchangeable voltage=0) and mechanical "ground" (immoveable
position).
Electrical Mechanical 1
voltage of ground=0
(you can apply any current to
ground and voltage remains 0)
velocity of ground=0
(you can apply any force to
ground and voltage remains 0)
Since the energy of the mass in a Mechanical 1 analogy is measured relative to mechanical
"ground" (i.e., velocity=v=0) the energy of the capacitance must be measured relative to electrical
ground (i.e., voltage=e=0).
To apply this analogy, every node in the electrical circuit becomes a point in the mechanical
system. Ground becomes a fixed location, resistor become friction elements, capacitors become
masses and inductors become springs. Sources must also be transformed. A current source
becomes a force generator, and a voltage source becomes an input velocity. This is best illustrated
with an example.
Procedure for Conversion from Electrical to Mechanical 1
The conversion from an electrical circuit to a mechanical 1 analog is easily accomplished if
capacitors in the circuit are grounded. If they are not, the process results in a mechanical system
where positions must be chosen very carefully, and the process can be much more difficult.

Example: Conversion from Electrical to Mechanical 1 -- Mathematical Method
Start with an electrical circuit.
Label all node voltages.
Write a node equations for each
node voltage
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Re-write the equations using
analogs (make making
substitutions from the table of
analogous quantities), with each
electrical node being replaced by a
position.
Draw the mechanical system that
corresponds with the equations.

Another way to do the switch from electrical to mechanical 1, is by simply redrawing the
electrical circuit using mechanical components.
Example: Conversion from Electrical to Mechanical 1 -- Visual Method
Start with an electrical circuit. Label all node
voltages.
a
Draw over circuit, replacing electrical
elements with their analogs; current sources
replaced by force generators, voltage sources
by input velocities, resistors with friction
elements, inductors with springs, and
capacitors (which must be grounded) by
masses. Each node becomes a position (or
velocity)
Label currents, positions, and mechanical
elements as they were in the original
electrical circuits.

This diagram is that same diagram as that obtained previously, so we know it is correct.
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This circuit was drawn with the capacitor grounded. If the capacitor is grounded the position of
the mass can be chosen as an absolute position (relative to the fixed reference). If the capacitor is
not grounded we must use relative positions and the result is much more complicated.
Mechanical 1 (Force-Current) to Electrical.
The procedure to go from Mechanical 1 to Electrical is simply the reverse of Electrical to
Mechanical 1. Either a mathematical method can be used (refer to previous example, Electrical to
Mechanical 1, and read the table from bottom to top, or a simple visual method can be used where
force generators are replaced by current sources, friction elements by resistors, springs by
inductors, and masses by capacitors (which are grounded). Each position becomes a node in the
circuit.
Example: Conversion from Mechanical 1 to Electrical -- Visual Method
Start with the mechanical system. Label all positions.
Draw over circuit, replacing mechanical elements with
their analogs; force generators by current sources,
input velocities by voltage sources, friction elements
by resistors, springs by inductors, and masses by
capacitors (which are grounded). Each position
becomes a node.
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Label nodes and electrical elements as they were in
the original mechanical system.
Proof that above analog is correct.
Key Concept: Simple method to go between Electrical and Mechanical 1
Draw over circuit (or over mechanical system). Swap:
current sourcesforce generators;
voltage sourcesinput velocities;
resistorsfriction elements;
inductorssprings;
capacitors (which must be grounded)masses;
and groundfixed reference.
Each node becomes a position (or velocity)
Electrical to Mechanical 2 (Force-Voltage).
The important relationship when converting from a circuit to the Mechanical 2 analog is that
between Kirchoff's Voltage Law and D'Alemberts Law (with inertial forces included).
Electrical Mechanical 2
One deficiency in this analogy is that it only works easily for inductors with only one current
defined through them. This can be seen by the analogies between energy in an inductor and
energy in a mass.
Electrical Mechanical 2
Since the energy of the mass in a Mechanical 2 analogy is measured relative to a fixed
reference (i.e., a single velocity=v=0) the energy of the inductance must be measured relative to a
single current.
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To apply this analogy, every loop in the electrical circuit becomes a point in the mechanical
system. Resistors become friction elements, capacitors become springs and inductors become
masses. Sources must also be transformed. A current source becomes an input velocity, and a
voltage source becomes a force generator. This is best illustrated with an example.
Procedure for Conversion from Electrical to Mechanical 2
Converting a circuit diagram to a mechanical 2 analog uses a similar procedure as electrical to
mechanical 1 except that the voltages around a loop summed to zero (instead of the sum of
currents at a node) is analogous to the sum of forces at a point being summed to zero .

Example: Conversion from Electrical to Mechanical 2 -- Mathematical Method
Start with an
electrical
circuit. Label
all currents.
Choose
currents so
that only one
current flows
through
inductors.
Write a loop
equations for
each loop.
Re-write the
equations
using
analogs
(make
making
substitutions
from the
table of
analogous
quantities),
with each
electrical
loop being
replaced by
a position.
Analogous Electrical and Mechanical Systems http://lpsa.swarthmore.edu/Analogs/ElectricalMechanicalAnalogs.html
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Draw the
mechanical
system that
corresponds
with the
equations.
The reason for choosing the currents so that only one current flows through the inductor now
becomes apparent -- if chosen in this way, the position of the mass can be chosen as an absolute
position (relative to the fixed reference). It needn't be done this way but, if not, the result is much
more complex.
In general, to draw a mechanical 2 analog of an electrical circuit, simply sum voltages around
each loop, and equate these to the forces being applied at a point. If possible, draw currents such
that only one current flow through inductors (so that the velocity of the mass can be defined in
absolute terms relative to a fixed reference).
A visual method can be done, but will not be discussed here. It is similar to the method for
drawing dual circuits (i.e., mechanical elements are drawn perpendicular to the electrical elements
so the each loop in the electrical circuit becomes a position in the mechanical circuit).
Mechanical 2 (Force-Voltage) to Electrical.
The procedure to go from Mechanical 2 to Electrical is simply the reverse of Electrical to
Mechanical 1. Refer to the previous example, Electrical to Mechanical 2, and read the table from
bottom to top. A visual method can be done, but will not be discussed here.
References
Copyright 2005-2013 Erik Cheever This page may be
freely used for educational purposes.
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Corrections?
Erik Cheever Department of Engineering Swarthmore College
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