On the pole placement of scalar linear delay systems with two delays

This paper concerns some spectral properties of the scalar dynamical system defined by a linear delay-differential equation with two positive delays. More precisely, the existing links between the delays and the maximal multiplicity of the characteristic roots are explored, as well as the dominance of such roots compared with the spectrum localization. As a by-product of the analysis, the pole placement issue is revisited with more emphasis on the role of the delays as control parameters in defining a partial pole placement guaranteeing the closed-loop stability with an appropriate decay rate of the corresponding dynamical system.