Industrial & Systems
Control Loop Lab
What does turning up the gain actually do? Drag the damping ratio ζ and natural frequency ωn of a standard second-order system and the unit-step response redraws, with the overshoot peak, the ±2% settling band and the transient metrics (overshoot %, peak/rise/settling time) updating live. Underdamped systems overshoot and ring; critical damping is the fastest rise with no overshoot; overdamped is sluggish. It's the intuition equations can't give you.
16.3 %
Overshoot
1.81 s
Peak time
1.21 s
Rise time
4.00 s
Settling (2%)
The method, with your numbers
Second-order step response
- 1
Identify the damping regime
G(s) = ωn² / (s² + 2ζωn·s + ωn²)
ζ = 0.5 < 1 → underdamped (complex poles): it overshoots and rings
ζ alone decides the regime; ωn only sets how fast everything happens.
- 2
Damped natural frequency
ω_d = ωn·√(1 − ζ²)
ω_d = 2·√(1 − 0.5²) = 1.73 rad/s
The ringing oscillates at ω_d — always a little slower than ωn.
- 3
Peak overshoot
Mp = e^(−ζπ / √(1 − ζ²))
Mp = e^(−0.5·π / √(1 − 0.5²)) = 16.3 %
Overshoot depends on ζ only — drag ωn and watch this number stay put. Try ζ ≈ 0.7, the classic design point.
- 4
Time to the first peak
t_p = π / ω_d
t_p = π / 1.73 = 1.81 s
- 5
Rise time (0→100%)
t_r = (π − cos⁻¹ζ) / ω_d
t_r = (π − cos⁻¹ 0.5) / 1.73 = 1.21 s
- 6
Settling time (±2% band)
t_s ≈ 4 / (ζ·ωn)
t_s ≈ 4 / (0.5·2) = 4 s
After t_s the response stays inside the shaded ±2% band around the setpoint for good.
Drag any control above — every number here recalculates. Want this method for any problem? Step Sheets →
Underdamped — it overshoots and rings. Lower ζ ⇒ bigger overshoot, more oscillation. ωn sets the speed: higher ωn ⇒ everything happens sooner.
How to use this simulation
What does turning up the gain actually do? Drag the damping ratio ζ and natural frequency ωn of a standard second-order system and the unit-step response redraws, with the overshoot peak, the ±2% settling band and the transient metrics (overshoot %, peak/rise/settling time) updating live. Underdamped systems overshoot and ring; critical damping is the fastest rise with no overshoot; overdamped is sluggish. It's the intuition equations can't give you.
Everything runs in your browser — no sign-up, no download. Change a value and the result updates instantly, so you can build a feel for how each input shapes the outcome. It pairs with Crameleon's practice exams and step sheets when you want to go from intuition to working the problems.