Introduction to Simulink with Engineering Applications

This chapter is an introduction to the Discontinuities Blocks library. This is the third library in the Simulink group of libraries and contains the blocks shown below. We will describe the function of each block included in this library and we will perform simulation examples to illustrate their application.


The Saturation block sets upper and lower bounds on a signal. When the input signal is within the range specified by the Lower limit and Upper limit parameters, the input signal passes through unchanged. When the input signal is outside these bounds, the signal is clipped to the upper or lower bound. When the Lower limit and Upper limit parameters are set to the same value, the block outputs that value. This block is also described in Section 2.13, Chapter 2, Page 2 19.
We will create a model with a Saturation block where the upper limit is clipped at +0.5 and the lower limit is clipped at -0.5. The input will be a sine function with amplitude 1 and frequency 0.25 Hz.
The model is shown in Figure 4.1 and the input and output waveforms are shown in Figure 4.2.
[1] Another example with the Saturation block was given as Example 2.13, Chapter 2 , Page 2.19.

The Saturation Dynamic block bounds the range of the...