AC Transients - GATE Study Material in PDF

In the previous article we have seen about Source Free RC Circuits, Source free RLC Circuits
and Networks with Sources along with examples for each. In these free GATE Notes, we will
delve even deeper into Network Theory and Transient Analysis. These GATE Study
Material entitled ‘AC Transients’ will deal with Laplace Transform Approach for Network
Transients and AC Transient Analysis.
These GATE Study Notes is designed to help you ace your GATE EC, GATE EE, IES, BARC,
BSNL, DRDO and other PSU and Placement exams. You can get AC Transients downloaded
in PDF so that your GATE Preparation is made easy.
Before you start reading AC Transients though, you need to understand the basics on which
this topic is built, using the articles listed below.
Recommended Reading –
Laplace Transforms

Basic Network Theory Concepts

Source Transformation & Reciprocity Theorem

Kirchhoff’s Laws – KCL & KVL

Nodal & Mesh Analysis

Voltage Division, Current Division, Star-Delta Conversion

Thevenin’s, Norton's & Tellegen’s Theorems

Maximum Power Transfer & Superposition Theorem for EC

Superposition & Maximum Power Transfer Theorem for EE

Network Transients - 1
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 Network Transients - 2

Network Transients - 3

Laplace Transform Approach for Solving Transient

Problems for (0 ≤ t ≤ ∞):
Case i:
For Resistor

Case ii:
For Inductor

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Case iii:
For Capacitor

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Example:
Determine the current i(t) for t ≥ 0. Assume iL(0) = 2A.

Solution:
1
Given, iL (0) = 2A, L{u(t)} = s

Represent the given network in s-Domain then we get

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From superposition theorem we can calculate I(s)
i.e. I(S) = I1(s) + I2(s)
2s
2 (s||2) 2 s+2 2 2s 1
I1 (s) = s × (s||2+2) = s × 2s = s × 4s+4 = s+1
+2
s+2

1 2 1 1 2 1 s+2
I2 (s) = [ s × 2+2||s] × 2 = 2s . 2s = s × 4s+4
2+
2+s

1 1(s+2)
∴ I(S) = I1 (s) + I2 (s) = s+1 + 4s(s+1)
1
1 1 −
4
I(s) = s+1 + 2s + s+1
1 1
∴ i(t) = e−t + 2 u(t) − 4 e−t

AC Transients
So for we have seen transients in the DC circuits
Now we will discuss transients in AC circuit and transient free condition for RL and RC
circuits.

Series RL Circuit:
Consider the series RL circuit with Vin = Vm sin(ωt+ϕ)

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Complete response = Natural response + forced response
i(t) = itr(t) + iss(t)
R
i(t) = ke−t/τ + iss (t) = k. e− L t + iss (t)

Calculation of iss(t) using Laplace Approach:

I(s) 1 1
H(s) = V(s) = Z(𝑠) = R+sL

1 1 ωL
H(jω) = R+jωL = ∠ − tan−1 ( R )
√R2 +(ωL)2

I(s) = V(s). H(s)

1 ωL
∴ i(t) = Vm . sin(ωt + ϕ − tan−1 ( R ) = iss (t)
√R2 +(ωL)2

∴ i(t) = itr (t) + iss (t)

R
Vm ωL
= k. e− L t + sin (ωt + ϕ − tan−1 ( R ))
√R2 +(ωL)2

i(0− ) = 0A = i(0+ )
Vm ωL
0= k+ sin (ϕ − tan−1 ( R ))
√R2 +(ωL)2

Vm ωL
∴K=− sin (ϕ − tan−1 ( R )) ≪ 1
√R +(ωL)2
2

ωL
If ϕ − tan−1 ( R ) = 0 ⇒ K = 0 ⇒ i(t) = iss (t) i. e. a transient free response

Note:
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So, for Vin = Vm sin(ωt+ϕ), the condition for transient free response is
ωL
(ωt + ϕ)t=t0 = tan−1 ( )
R

Suppose if Vin(t) = Vm cos(ωt+ϕ), then the condition for transient free response is
ωL π
(ωt + ϕ)t=t0 = tan−1 ( ) +
R 2

Series RC Circuit:

Like series RL circuit, we can also obtain transient free condition for series RC circuit by
replacing inductor L by capacitor C and time constant (L/R) by RC. Then we get
i. For Vin = Vm sin(ωt + ϕ), then the transient free condition is
(ωt + ϕ)t=t0 = tan−1(ωCR)

𝐢𝐢. For Vin = Vm cos(ωt + ϕ) , then the transient free condition is,
π
(ωt + ϕ)t=t0 = tan−1(ωCR) +
2

Parallel RL Circuit:
Consider the circuit

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𝐢. If i(t) = Im sin(ωt + ϕ) then condition for transient free response is
ωL
(ωt + ϕ)t=t0 = tan−1 ( )
R
𝐢𝐢. If i(t) = Im cos(ωt + ϕ) then condition for transient free response is
ωL π
(ωt + ϕ)t=t0 = tan−1 ( ) +
R 2

Parallel RC Circuit:
Consider the circuit

𝐢. If i(t) = Im sin(ωt + ϕ) then condition for transient free response is

(ωt + ϕ)t0 = tan−1(ωCR)

𝐢𝐢. If i(t) = Im cos(ωt + ϕ) then condition for transient free response is

π
(ωt + ϕ)t=t0 = tan−1(ωCR) +
2

Example 1:
Determine the value of to which result in a transient free response of the given circuit

Solution:
Given, Vin(t) = sin ωt = sin 100πt
ωL
Transient free condition is, 100πt|t=t0 = tan−1 ( R )
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 2π×50×0.01
100πt 0 = tan−1 ( )
5

∴t0 = 1.79 m sec

Example 2:
Determine the value of ‘to’ for transient free response

Solution:
π
Given, V(t) = 10 cos (2t + 4 )
π π
Transient free condition is, 2t + 4 | = tan−1(ωCR) + 2
t=t0

1 π
2t 0 = tan−1 (2 × 2 × 1) + 4
π π
2t 0 = tan−1(1) + 4 = 2
π
∴ t 0 = 4 sec

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