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.

setpointtime (s) →y

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. 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. 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. 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. 4

    Time to the first peak

    t_p = π / ω_d

    t_p = π / 1.73 = 1.81 s

  5. 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. 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 →

Damping ratio ζ0.5
Natural freq ωn2 rad/s

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.