AIR UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER

ENGINEERING

EXPERIMENT NO 10

Lab Title: Fourier Series Representation of Periodic Signals in MATLAB Objectives:

Student Name: Maisam Abbas REG NO:210344
OBJECTIVE: Familiarizing students with periodic signals and to Calculate the Fourier series of
continuous and discrete time signals and plot the Fourier series coefficients.
LAB ASSESSMENT:
Excellent Good Average Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Attributes
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Ability to Conduct
Experiment

Ability to assimilate the

results

Effective use of lab

equipment and follows
the lab safety rules

Total Marks:
Obtained Marks:

LAB REPORT ASSESSMENT:

Excellent Good Average Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Attributes
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Data presentation

Experimental results

Conclusion

…………….

Total Marks:Obtained Marks:

Date: Mark Signature:

 EXPERIMENT 10

Fourier Series Representation of Periodic Signals in MATLAB Objectives:

• Familiarizing students with periodic signals.
• Calculate the Fourier series of continuous and discrete time signals and plot the Fourier series
coefficients.

Equipment required: •
MATLAB installed on PCs

Background Knowledge:
A Fourier series is a way of representing a periodic function as a sum of sine and cosine functions. It
is a periodic function composed of harmonically related sinusoids, combined by a weighted summation.
With appropriate weights, one cycle of the summation can be made to approximate an arbitrary function in
that interval. Instead of representing the signal amplitude as a function of time, Fourier series represents the
signal by how much information is contained at different frequencies.

Periodic Signals:

A signal is said to be periodic if it satisfies the following condition: or

𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑥(𝑡 + 𝑎𝑇)

where a=0,1,2,3,4…… and T and N are the𝑥(𝑛)fundamental= 𝑥(𝑛 + 𝑎𝑁)time periods in continuous
and discrete
domains. In other words, A periodic signal remains unchanged with a time shift ‘T’. Sinusoidal signals are
the basic example of periodic signals.

Fundamental Period:

The minimum value of T which satisfies is called the fundamental period of the

signal It is the smallest positive value for which𝑥(𝑡)the=equations𝑥(𝑡 + 𝑎𝑇)of periodicity hold. It is
denoted by 𝑇0 for

continuous periodic signals and 𝑁0 for discrete periodic signals.

Harmonics:

The term harmonics is typically applied to repeating signals, such as sinusoidal waves. A harmonic of
a wave is a wave with a frequency that is a positive integer multiple of the frequency of the original wave,
known as the fundamental frequency. The original wave is also called the 1st harmonic, the following
harmonics are known as higher harmonics. higher harmonics for this sinusoid𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛are 𝑠𝑖𝑛) 𝜔 ) ) etc.
𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔 𝑡) is the Consider a sinusoidal signal where is the fundamental frequency of this sinusoid. The
fundamental harmonic while etc. are higher harmonics0 of the fundamental harmonic.
Even and Odd Harmonics:

If the harmonic of a signal has an even co-efficient it is called an even harmonic and if the co-efficient
is odd, it is called an odd harmonic. For example, let 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔0𝑡), then:

𝑠𝑖𝑛(2𝑡), 𝑠𝑖𝑛(4𝑡), 𝑠𝑖𝑛(6 ∗ 𝜔0𝑡) ------------------------------------

Even Harmonics 𝑠𝑖𝑛(3 𝜔0𝑡), 𝑠𝑖𝑛(5 𝜔0𝑡), 𝑠𝑖𝑛(7 ∗ 𝜔0𝑡) ---------------------------------

-- Odd Harmonics
 Fourier Series:
The Fourier series is a representation of a periodic signal in terms of complex exponentials or

sinusoids of frequency multiples of the fundamental frequency𝑥(𝑡)of 𝑥(𝑡). The advantage of using the

Fourier series to represent periodic signals is not only the spectral characterization obtained, but in finding
the response for these signals when applied to LTI systems. Mathematically, the Fourier series is an
expansion of periodic signals in terms of normalized orthogonal complex exponentials.

There are two types of Fourier series representations:

1. Complex Exponential Fourier series Representation

2. Trigonometric Fourier series Representation

Fourier Series Representation of Continuous Time Signals:

Complex Exponential Fourier series Representation:

The complex exponential Fourier series representation of a periodic signal with fundamental

period 𝑇0 is given by: 𝑥(𝑡)

𝑥 𝑘 𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑗𝑘𝑤0𝑡

where 𝑎𝑘 is known as the complex Fourier coefficient is given by:

𝑎𝑘 𝑇 𝑇 𝑒𝑡𝑑𝑡
 Trigonometric Fourier series Representation:

is givenTheby:trigonometric Fourier series representation of a periodic signal 𝑥(𝑡) with fundamental period
𝑇0

𝑥 𝑘

where 𝑎𝑘 and 𝑏𝑘 are the Fourier coefficients given by:

𝑎𝑘 𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑇

𝑏𝑘𝑇𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑇

Fourier Series Representation of Discrete Time Signals:

Complex Exponential Fourier series Representation:

The complex exponential Fourier series representation of a periodic signal with fundamental

period 𝑁 is given by: 𝑥[𝑛]

𝑥𝑘 𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑗𝑘𝑤0𝑛

where 𝑎𝑘 is known as the complex Fourier coefficient is given by:

𝑎𝑘 𝑒 𝑛

Trigonometric Fourier series Representation:

The trigonometric Fourier series representation of a periodic signal 𝑥[𝑛] with fundamental period 𝑁

is given by: 𝑥 𝑘
 where 𝑎𝑘 and 𝑏𝑘 are the Fourier coefficients.

Fourier Spectrum:

spectrum,The plotwhileofthemagnitudesgraph of theof anglesFourierof coefficientsFourier coefficients|𝑎𝑘|

versus𝑎 versusfrequencyfrequencyis knownis knownas magnitudeas phase spectrum. 𝑘

Example:
Consider the following function 𝑥(𝑡) where:

𝑥(𝑡) = { 0 𝑡 − 𝜋 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝜋

Calculate the Fourier series coefficients (𝑎𝑘 , 𝑏𝑘 and 𝑎). Use these coefficients to approximate 𝑥(𝑡).

Theoretical Calculations:

When the given function is extended periodically, its period will be T = 2π. The corresponding
integrals have to be evaluated𝜔 using integration by parts. frequency is therefore = 1. While substituting
this function into appropriate formulas, two of the three
 Thus, we get:

This problem can be solved in MATLAB using Symbolic Toolkit. The following code generates the
Fourier coefficients and reconstruct the signal.
 Realization of periodic signal decomposition with MATLAB based on Fourier series:

The Fourier series representation of the given square wave is:

By increasing the number of harmonics, the Fourier series can be used to approximate the original
square wave. The code given below is used to realize the square wave by using its Fourier series
representation.
 As more terms are added together the approximation over the flat, continuous part of the square wave
improves. However, the approximation is always poor close to the discontinuity. This is called Gibbs
phenomenon and is caused by approximating a discontinuous function with a finite series of continuous
functions. It is the peculiar manner in which the Fourier series of a piecewise continuously differentiable
periodic function behaves at a jump discontinuity. The nth partial sum of the Fourier series has large
oscillations near the jump, which might increase the maximum of the partial sum above that of the function
itself. The overshoot does not die out as n increases but approaches a finite limit.

Lab Tasks:
1. Consider the given function where:

Calculateto approximatethe Fourier𝑥(𝑡)series coefficients𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑡2 𝑓𝑜𝑟(𝑎−,

1𝑏≤and𝑡 ≤ 1𝑎

coefficients . 𝑘 𝑘, 0 ) using MATLAB. Use these

CODE: 𝑥(𝑡)

clear all
clc tic
syms t
To=2;
wo=2*pi/To;
x=t^2;
k=1:4;
ao=(2/To)*int(x,t,-1,1)
ak=(2/To)*int(x*cos(k*wo*t),t,-1,1)

bk=(2/To)*int(x*sin(k*wo*t),t,-1,1)
a_new=vpa(ak,length(k))
b_new=vpa(bk,length(k))
x_f=ao+ak*cos(k*wo*t)'+bk*sin(k*wo*t)'
x_new=vpa(x_f,length(k))
 toc
OUTPUT:

Consider the following periodic signal:

𝑥 𝑘 ∗ 𝜋 𝑘=1

Use MATLAB to plot the results up to = 15, take and t = 0:0.01:5. Increase up to
1000 and see the effect. Explain the effect. 𝑘 𝑤 = 2𝜋 𝑘

CODE:
close all
clear all
clc
tic t=0:0.01:5;
w=2*pi;
s=square(2*pi*t);
k=100; sq_f=0; for i=1:1:k
sq_f=sq_f+(4./(i*pi))*(sin(w*i*t));
plot(t,s,'r')
grid on
hold on
plot(t,sq_f,'b') hold off
title('comparison with square wave');
xlabel('t');
ylabel('function[x(t)]');
end toc

OUTPUT:

graph:
 2.

Find the Fourier series for the given triangle wave defined on the interval [-𝜋, 𝜋]

coefficientsCalculateto theapproximateFourierseries𝑥(𝑡). coefficientsPlot your results.(𝑎𝑘, 𝑏𝑘,Compareand

𝑎0)theseusingresultsMATLAB.with theoreticalUse these

calculations.

CODE:
close all
clear all
clc tic
syms x
To=2;
wo=2*pi/To;
x1=(pi/2)+x;
x2=(pi/2)-x;
k=1:4;
ao=(2/To)*(int(x1,x,-pi,0)+int(x2,x,0,pi))
ak=(2/To)*(int(x1*cos(k*wo*x),x,-
pi,0)+int(x2*cos(k*wo*x),x,0,pi))
bk=(2/To)*(int(x1*sin(k*wo*x),x,-pi,0)+int(x2*sin(k*wo*x),x,0,pi))
a_new=vpa(ak,length(k)) b_new=vpa(bk,length(k))
x_f=ao+ak*cos(k*wo*x)'+bk*sin(k*wo*x)'
x_new=vpa(x_f,length(k)) toc

OUTPUT:
 3.

Plot:

Find the Fourier series for the given function:

 4.

coefficientsCalculateto theapproximateFourierseries𝑓(𝑥). coefficientsPlot the results.(𝑎𝑘 , Compare𝑏𝑘 and

𝑎0)theseusingresultsMATLAB.with theoreticalUse these

calculations.
[Hint: The central segment is 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 𝑓𝑜𝑟 − 𝐿 < 𝑥 < 𝐿 and 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 2𝐿 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐿 < 𝑥 < 3𝐿 and

CODE:
 5.

close all
clear all
clc tic
syms x L=2; To=2*L; wo=2*pi/To; x1=x; x2=x-
2*L; k=-1:10; z1=x*(heaviside(x+1)-
heaviside(x-1)); ao1=(2/To)*(int(x1,x,-L,L))
ak1=(2/To)*(int(x1*cos(k*wo*x),x,-L,L))
bk1=(2/To)*(int(x1*sin(k*wo*x),x,-L,L))
a_new1=vpa(ak1,length(k))
b_new1=vpa(bk1,length(k))
x_f1=ao1+ak1*cos(k*wo*x)'+bk1*sin(k*wo*x)'
x_new1=vpa(x_f1,length(k)); pretty(x_new1);
ezplot(x_new1,[-1,1,-1,1])
hold on
ezplot(z1,[-1,1,-1,1])
hold on grid on

ao2=(2/To)*(int(x2,x,L,3*L))
ak2=(2/To)*(int(x2*cos(k*wo*x),x,L,3*L))
bk2=(2/To)*(int(x2*sin(k*wo*x),x,-L,3*L))
a_new2=vpa(ak2,length(k))
b_new2=vpa(bk2,length(k))
x_f2=ao2+ak2*cos(k*wo*x)'+bk2*sin(k*wo*x)'
x_new2=vpa(x_f2,length(k)); pretty(x_new2);
ezplot(x_new2,[1,3,-1,1])
hold off
grid on
toc

OUTPUT:
6.
 7.

graph:
 8.

Conclusion:
This lab was about the Fourier series. In this lab, we learned about the Fourier series and
how to find the coefficient of the Fourier series, and also how to plot the Fourier. As the time
period increases the variation between the harmonics becomes similar to that of the original
wave. Fourier series is the periodic signal that contains harmonics this is because it repeats the
signal after its one cycle. A non-periodic signal can never be a Fourier series signal because of
its non-repetition of the same cycle.