Symbolic analysis of large-scale networks using a hierarchical signal flowgraph approach

This paper presents an approach suitable for the symbolic analysis of large-scale active networks. The method depends on the partitioning of the network into smaller networks which are then symbolically analyzed noniteratively using the Mason's signal flowgraph models of each partition. The resulting solutions, which are reduced signal flowgraphs (transfer functions) for the subnetworks are then hierarchically combined to produce the final solution or solutions (transfer functions) for the entire system. The advantage of such an approach is the reduction in the number of symbolic terms compared to the conventional approaches, and the ability to analyze hybrid systems consisting of electrical and nonelectrical parts. The result of the analysis is a series of equations that have an upward hierarchical dependency on each other.