Understanding System Zeros

Abstract

An intuitive physical interpretation of a transfer function's poles is easily made: the natural frequencies of the system. A similar physical interpretation of a transfer function's zeros can also be made: the natural frequencies of special subsystems. In this paper, such an interpretation is advanced for certain spring-mass-damper systems using a rigorous and intuitive demonstration. This interpretation may serve as a useful paradigm for understanding the relationship between structural dynamics and transfer functions.

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