Electrical Mechanical Analogs - Erik Cheever

Analogous Electrical and Mechanical Systems

Contents
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)

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Mechanical
Analog II
(Force Voltage)

Electrical Mechanical Analogs - Erik Cheever

voltage of ground=0

velocity of ground=0

(you can apply any current to

(you can apply any force to

ground and voltage remains 0)

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

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

velocity of ground=0

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Electrical Mechanical Analogs - Erik Cheever

(you can apply any current to (you can apply any force to
ground and voltage remains 0) 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

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.

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Electrical Mechanical Analogs - Erik Cheever

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.

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.
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

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Electrical Mechanical Analogs - Erik Cheever

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.

Label nodes and electrical elements as they were in the original mechanical
system.

Proof that above analog is correct.

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Electrical Mechanical Analogs - Erik Cheever

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.
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.

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Electrical Mechanical Analogs - Erik Cheever

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.

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 to 2015 Erik Cheever This page may be freely used for educational purposes.
Erik Cheever
Department of Engineering
Swarthmore College

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Electrical Mechanical Analogs - Erik Cheever

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