Periodic Functions and

Fourier Series

University of Technology
Materials Engineering Dept.
Numerical and Engineering Analysis
By
Dr. Kadhum Muttar
• What is Fourier Series?
– Representation of a periodic function with a weighted, infinite
sum of sinusoids.
• Why Fourier Series?
– Any arbitrary periodic signal, can be approximated by using
some of the computed weights
– These weights are generally easier to manipulate and
analyze than the original signal

• What is a periodic Function?

– A function which remains unchanged when time-shifted by
one period
f(t) = f(t + T) or f(t) = f(t + 2p)
Where T is the period of periodic function (T = 2p)
 f (θ )

0
θ

f (θ )

0
θ

T
 f (θ )

0
θ

T
 Fourier Series
If f (t ) is a periodic function with period 2p

The function can be represented by a trigonometric

series as:

∞
nπt ∞
nπt
f (t ) = + ∑ an cos
a0
+ ∑ bn sin (1)
2 n =1 p n =1 p
We want to determine the coefficients,

an and bn .

Let us first remember some useful integrations.

∫−π
cos nθ cos m θdθ = 0 n≠m

∫−π
cos nθ cos m θdθ = π n=m
 π

∫−π
sin nθ cos m θdθ = 0

for all values of m.

∫ sin nθ sin m θdθ = 0 n≠m

−π

∫ sin nθ sin m θdθ = π n=m

−π
 Determination of a0
Integrate both sides of Eq. (1)

d +2 p d +2 p  a0 ∞ nπt ∞ nπt 
∫ f (t )dt = ∫  2 + ∑ an cos p + ∑ bn sin p  dt
d d
 n =1 n =1 

d +2 p 1 d +2 p
∫ f (t )dt = ∫ a0dt + 0 + 0
d 2 d

1 d +2 p
a0 = ∫ f (t ) dt
p d
 Determine an
nπ t
Multiply Eq.(1) by cos
p
and then integrate both sides from d to d+2p
d +2 p nπ t
∫ f (t ) cos dt
d p
d +2 p  a0 ∞ nπ t ∞ nπ t  nπt
=∫  2 + ∑ an cos p + ∑ bn sin p  cos p dt
d
 n =1 n =1 

1 d +2 p nπt
an = ∫ f (t ) cos dt
p d p
Determine bn
nπt
Multiply Eq.(1) by sin
p
and then Integrate both sides from d to d+2p
d +2 p nπ t
∫ f (t )sin dt
d p
d +2 p  a0 ∞ nπ t ∞ nπ t  nπ t
=∫  2 + ∑ an cos p + ∑ bn sin p  sin p dt
d
 n =1 n =1 

1 d +2 p nπt
bn = ∫ f (t )sin dt
p d p