Time‐Domain Analysis of Linear Control Systems

This chapter explores the basic concepts and analytical techniques used to quantify the dynamics of linearized physiological models. It explains the extensive mathematical analyses of models with first‐ and second‐order dynamics. The chapter demonstrates an example of time‐domain analysis using SIMULINK. It represents the SIMULINK implementation of the neuromuscular reflex model. The chapter illustrates the open‐ and closed‐loop versions of a generalized linear control system. In the range of spontaneous breathing frequencies, studies with reasonably realistic models of respiratory mechanics have demonstrated that airway fluid inertance plays a virtually insignificant role in determining lung pressures and airflow. The descriptors discussed in the chapter are among the most commonly used in systems analysis. The chapter also presents the MATLAB command lines, which demonstrate how transient response analysis can be applied to the linearized lung mechanics model.