Lecture 15

RLC Circuits
Source Free &
Transient Response
Oct. 31 & Nov. 7, 2011
Material from Textbook by Alexander & Sadiku and Electrical Engineering:
Principles & Applications, A. R. Hambley is used in lecture slides.

Second-Order RLC Circuits

Chapter 8 in Your Textbook

Examples of 2nd order RCL circuit

The source-free series RLC circuit
The source-free parallel RLC circuit
Step response of a series RLC circuit
Step response of a parallel RLC circuit

Examples of Second
Order RLC circuits
What is a 2nd order circuit?
A second-order circuit is characterized by a second-order
differential equation. It consists of resistors and the
equivalent of two energy storage elements (either or both)

RLC
Series

RLC
Parallel

RL

RC

T-config

Pi-config

Source-Free Series
RLC Circuits
The solution of the source-free series
RLC circuit is called as the natural
response of the circuit.
The circuit is excited by the energy
initially stored in the capacitor and
inductor.

The 2nd order DE

turns out to be

How to arrive at this DE and solve it now read on?

Finding Initial & Final Values

Continuity Eqs
Need to find initial &
final values
v across caps
i through inductors
dv/dt
di/dt

Across cap
v(0+) = v(0-)
Through inductor
i(0+) = i(0-)

Take care with

signs:
Define currents
Currents flow from +
to through C & L

Example Initial & Final Values

Need to find initial
& final values
v across caps
i through inductors
dv/dt
di/dt

Specifically find
i(0+) & v(0+)
di(0+)/dt, dv(0+)/dt
i(final), v(final)

Use
Continuity
C & L, v & i
relationships
Circuit laws

Second Order Circuits

KVL:

Differentiating with respect to time:

Second Order Circuits

Define:

Dampening
coefficient
Undamped
resonant
frequency
Forcing function

Solution of the 2nd-Order Equation

Particular solution
2

d i( t )
di( t )
2
+ 0 i( t ) = f ( t )
2 + 2
dt
dt
Complementary solution
(no forcing, f (t) = 0)
2

d i( t )
di( t )
2
+ 0 i( t ) = 0
2 + 2
dt
dt

Solution of the Complementary

Equation

Try iC (t) = Ke st :
s2Ke st + 2sKe st + 02Ke st = 0
Factoring :
(s2 + 2s + 02 )Ke st = 0
Characteristic equation :
s2 + 2s + 02 = 0

Exponential is the
indestructible
function by
differentiation or
integration

Solution of the Complementary

Equation

Solution of the Complementary

Equation
Roots of the characteristic
equation:

Dampening ratio

Source-Free Series
RLC Circuits
There are three possible solutions for the following 2nd
order differential equation:
Resonant
frequency
=>

where
General 2nd order
form
The types of solutions for i(t) depend on the
relative values of and or = /

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There are three possible solutions for the

following 2nd order differential equation
(the complementary equation):

1. If > o, over-damped case ( > 1)

where

2. If = o, critical damped case ( = 1)

where

3. If < o, under-damped case ( < 1)

where

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Source-Free Series
RLC Circuits
Example

If R = 10 , L = 5 H, and
C = 2 mF,
find , o, s1 and s2.
What type of natural response
will the circuit have?

Answer: underdamped

since < 1

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Source-Free Series
RLC Circuits
Example

The circuit shown below has

reached steady state at t = 0-.
If the make-before-break
switch moves to position b at t
= 0, calculate i(t) for t > 0.

Answer: i(t)

= e2.5t[5cos1.6583t 7.538sin1.6583t] A

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Source-Free Parallel
RLC Circuits
Let
v(0) = V0
Apply KCL to the
top node:

Taking the derivative with

respect to t and dividing
by C
The 2nd order
of expression
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Source-Free Parallel
RLC Circuits
There are three possible solutions for the following 2nd
order differential equation (the complementary equation):

1. If > o, over-damped case ( > 1)

where

2. If = o, critical damped case ( = 1)

where

3. If < o, under-damped case( < 1)

where

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Source-Free Parallel
RLC Circuits
Example

Refer to the circuit shown below.

Answer: v(t)

Find v(t) for t > 0.

= 66.67(e10t e2.5t) V
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Step-Response Series
RLC Circuits
The step response is
obtained by the sudden
application of a DC
source.
The 2nd order
of expression

The above equation has the same form as the

equation for source-free series RLC circuit.
The same coefficients (important in determining the
frequency parameters).
Different circuit variable in the equation.
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Step-Response Series
RLC Circuits
The solution of the equation should have two components:
the transient response vt(t), which is the solution to the complementary
equation, & the steady-state response vss(t):

The transient response vt is the same as that for source-free case

(over-damped)
(critically damped)
(under-damped)
The steady-state response is the final value of v(t).
vss(t) = v()
The values of A1 and A2 are obtained from the initial conditions:
v(0) and dv(0)/dt.

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Step-Response Series
RLC Circuits
Example

Having been in position for a long time, the switch in the

circuit below is moved to position b at t = 0. Find v(t) and
vR(t) for t > 0.

Answer: v(t)

= {10 + [(2cos3.464t 1.1547sin3.464t) e2t ]} V

vR(t)= [2.31sin3.464t]e2t V

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Solution Method
Find initial & final
currents & voltages
& their derivatives as
needed
Apply KVL to get DE
Find constants &
o and <1

v(t) = vss + vt
Solve for roots s1, s2
Answer: v(t)

2
dv
) = 8V,
= 0, [v across cap can' t change abruptly]
2 +1
dt t =0
After switch is thrown KVL is applied :

v(0) = 12(

to find =

R
10
=
= 2, o =
2L 2 * 2.5

1
1
=
= 16 = 4
LC
2.5 * (1/40)

Use v(0) = 8 V and dv/dt

at t=0 to get A1 & A2
vss = v() = 10 V

= {10 + [(2cos3.464t 1.1547sin3.464t) e2t ]} V

vR(t)= [2.31sin3.464t]e2t V

Step-Response Parallel
RLC Circuits
The step response is
obtained by the sudden
application of a dc
source.
The 2nd order
of expression

It has the same form as the equation for source-free

parallel RLC circuit.
The same coefficients (important in determining
the frequency parameters).
Different circuit variable in the equation.

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Step-Response Parallel RLC Circuits

The solution of the equation should have two components:
the transient response vt(t), which is the solution to the
complementary equation, & the steady-state response vss(t):

The transient response it is the same as that for source-free case

(over-damped)
(critical damped)
(under-damped)
The steady-state response is the final value of i(t).
iss(t) = i() = Is
The values of A1 and A2 are obtained from the initial conditions:
i(0) and di(0)/dt.

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Step-Response Parallel RLC Circuits

Example

Find i(t) and v(t) for t > 0 in the circuit shown in circuit
shown below:

i(t) = 20(1-cost) A
Answer: v(t) = L di/dt = 5x20sint = 100sint V
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