Alexander-Sadiku

Fundamentals of Electric Circuits

Chapter 8
Second-Order Circuits
 Second-Order Circuits
Chapter 8
8.1 Examples of 2nd order RCL circuit
8.2 The source-free series RLC circuit
8.3 The source-free parallel RLC circuit
8.4 Step response of a series RLC circuit
8.5 Step response of a parallel RLC
 8.1 Examples of Second
Order RLC circuits (1)
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.

RLC Series RLC Parallel RL T-config RC Pi-config

 8.2 Source-Free Series
RLC Circuits (1)
• 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 d 2 i R di i
order of 2
+ + =0
expression
dt L dt LC

How to derive and how to solve?

 8.2 Source-Free Series
RLC Circuits (3)
There are three possible solutions for the following
2nd order differential equation:
d 2 i R di i
2
+ + =0
dt L dt LC

d 2i di
=>
2
+ 2a + w 0i =0
2
where a=
R
and w0 =
1
dt dt 2L LC
General 2nd order Form

The types of solutions for i(t) depend

on the relative values of a and w.
 8.2 Source-Free Series
RLC Circuits (4)
There are three possible solutions for the following
2nd order differential equation:

d 2i di
2
+ 2a + w 0i =0
2

dt dt

1. If a > wo, over-damped case

i(t ) = A1e s1t + A2e s2t where s1, 2 = − a  a − w0
2 2

2. If a = wo, critical damped case

i(t ) = ( A2 + A1t )e−at where s1, 2 = − a
3. If a < wo, under-damped case

i(t ) = e −at ( B1 cosw d t + B2 sin w d t ) where wd = w02 − a 2

8.3 Source-Free Parallel
RLC Circuits (1)
0
1
Let i(0) = I 0 =  v(t )dt
L
v(0) = V0
Apply KCL to the top node:

t
v 1 dv
+  vdt + C = 0
R L − dt

Taking the derivative with

respect to t and dividing by C

The 2nd d 2 v 1 dv 1
order of 2
+ + v=0
dt RC dt LC
expression
 8.3 Source-Free Parallel
RLC Circuits (2)
There are three possible solutions for the following
2nd order differential equation:

d 2v dv 1 1
2
+ 2a + w02v = 0 where a = and w0 =
dt dt 2 RC LC

1. If a > wo, over-damped case

v(t ) = A1 e s1t + A2 e s2t where s1, 2 = − a  a 2 − w0 2

2. If a = wo, critical damped case

v(t ) = ( A2 + A1t ) e−at where s1, 2 = − a

3. If a < wo, under-damped case

v(t ) = e −at ( B1 coswd t + B2 sin wd t ) where wd = w02 − a 2