Electric charge and current response of periodic

time-varying signals in an RLC circuit

1st Alejandro Ferrero Botero
Departamento de Ciencias Básicas
Universidad Católica de Colombia
Bogotá, Colombia
aferrero@ucatolica.edu.co
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8318-8886

Abstract—The existence of a non-vanishing resistance in an
RLC circuit connected to a DC battery is known to generate an
exponentially–decaying behavior in the electrical charge stored
in a capacitor and the electric current flowing across the circuit.
Nonetheless, a connection to an AC power supply—particularly, a
sinusoidal signal—is known to generate oscillatory terms that are
not suppressed for large times. A careful analysis of the charge
and the current induced by arbitrary time-varying signals in
an RLC circuit is performed. It is shown that such exponential
suppression disappears for the particular signals that have been
analyzed. Moreover, results show that there exists a phenomenon
of charge accumulation that takes place in the capacitor and
resistance that slightly changes the behavior of the charge an
current from one cycle to the next.
Index Terms—RLC circuit, periodic signals, charge, current
I. I NTRODUCTION
framework is implemented and the results are obtained with
the aid of numerical analysis.
Some of the applications of periodic signals include analog
fault detection [10], production of clock generators for mi-
croprocessors [11], cyclic block filtered multitone modulation
[12], and many more.
This paper is organized as follows: in section II the formal-
ism implemented in this work is discussed, presenting known
results and obtaining general expressions for the responses
induced by periodic signals, results and their implications are
discussed in section III before finishing with some conclusions,
which are presented in section IV.
II. M ETHODOLOGY
A. General model and known results for common signals

An RLC circuit is a circuit composed by a resistance of For simplicity, we will consider circuits in which the resis-
value R, an inductor of nominal value L, and a capacitor tance, inductor, capacitance, and power supply are connected
with capacitance C. Typically, this system is connected to a in series. Besides, the circuit is activated by flipping a switch
power supply, as the energy stored in the capacitor is quickly at t = 0 —see Fig. 1. A direct application of Kirchhoff’s rules
consumed by the resistance unless an external power supply is
available. While some detailed studies have been done when a
DC battery is used [1], [2], the analysis for sinusoidal signals
is well-studied in the textbooks [3], [4]. Some applications de-
rived from RLC circuits include the magnification in resonant
circuits on hyperspectral signal processing [5], the analysis
of the transient state in a series circuit of the class RLβ Cα
[6], and the optimization of fractional-order RLC filters [10].
Yet the study of electrical circuits is an interesting topic in
education [8], [9], allowing students to become familiarized
with the basic concepts regarding circuits.
In this document, the time evolution of the charge and
electrical current in RLC circuits connected to general time-
Fig. 1. RLC circuit analyzed in this document.
varying power supplies is studied. Particularly, we focus on
batteries generating periodic signals with period T , which leads to the differential equation (DE)
are turned on at t = t0 , where 0 ≤ t0 < T . The main
purpose of this study is to analyze which kinds of signals dQ(t) dQ(t) Q(t)
L +R + = H(t)E(t) , (1)
have a significant chance of not being dissipated over time dt dt C
by the effects of the resistance. Therefore, it is aimed to where Q(t) is the electric charge stored in the circuit. The
determine which signals can be transported by wire cables or Heaviside function, H(t), guarantees that the switch is flipped
other mechanism with a negligible loss of energy. A theoretical at t = 0.
978-1-7281-9466-0/20/$31.00 ©2020 IEEE

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 Last DE can be solved in many different ways; the Laplace any contribution arising from the derivative of the Heaviside
method will be implemented in this analysis. Transforming distribution will be considered.2
last equation using a Laplace transform an expression for the The second signal generates the responses
charge in the dual space can be found, it is
H(t)V0 −γ(t)
Q2 (t) = e sin(ω0 t) , (6a)
I0 + (s + R
L )Q0 E(s) Lω02
Q(s) = + , (2)
2 R
s + L s + LC1
L(s + R
2 1 H(t)V0 −γt
Ls + LC )


I2 (t) = 2 e ω0 cos(ω0 t) − γ sin(ω0 t) . (6b)
Lω0
where F (s) is the Laplace transform of a function f (t), Q0 the
initial charge stored in the capacitor and I0 the initial charge Notice that the exponential term still persists in the first two
flowing across the circuit. Two main processes can be used signals that have been considered. Consequently, the signal
to invert last expression: a) a direct inversion using tables provided by those two batteries is also strongly suppressed
of Laplace transforms and their properties, and b) finding for large times.
the residues of Q(s) and then using a Bromwich integral This suppression, however, does not take place when the
[3]. Using either mechanism, eq. (2) we can be inverted AC sinusoidal signal mentioned in the third case is analyzed.
to obtain the time–dependent electric charge, which can be It takes the form
R 1


written as Q(t) = Q1 (t) + Q2 (t). In terms of γ = 2L and H(t)V0 LC − ω 2 sin(ωt+φ)−2ωγ cos(ωt+φ)
1 2 1/2 1
ω0 = ( LC − γ ) , Q1 (t) can be written as Q2 (t) =


L γ 2 + (ω + ω0 )2 γ 2 + (ω − ω0 )2
I0 + γQ0 −γt + O(e−γt ) , (7a)
Q1 (t) = Q0 e−γt cos(ω0 t) + e sin(ω0 t) . (3)
ω0 1 2


H(t)V0 ω LC − ω cos(ωt+φ)+2ωγ sin(ωt+φ)
I2 (t) =


Notice that, in this well–know result, Q1 (t) contains all the L γ 2 + (ω + ω0 )2 γ 2 + (ω − ω0 )2
information of the initial conditions. However, for R 6= 0, + O(e−γt ) , (7b)
Q1 (t) always contains an exponential term that suppresses the
signal as t  γ −1 . This fact makes the term Q1 (t) irrelevant where O(e−γt ) are additional exponential contributions that
in this analysis; hence, from now on, it will be ignored. vanish for large times—these contributions are usually called
In principle, the annihilation of the signal across the circuit transient.
may be avoided by the term Q2 (t), which arises due to the Clearly, the appearance of additional oscillatory contribu-
presence of the external power supply. As expected, different tions in the responses provided by a sinusoidal battery is
kinds of batteries will generate different effects in the circuit. extremely important. The reason is that those contributions
Using the convolution theorem, this term can be written for are not suppressed, at least in ideal conditions. Consequently,
arbitrary external batteries as AC (sinusoidal) currents can be transported for large distances
using wire cables—take into account that the resistance of the
H(t) t
Z
Q2 (t) = V (t − z)e−γz sin(ω0 z)dz . (4) cables, although negligible, is not zero.
Lω0 0 Now, a question arises: is this property inherent to any time-
Based on this expression, the behavior of Q2 (t) and the varying periodic signal or is it an exclusive property associated
current, I2 (t) = dQ 2 with sinusoidal power supplies? The following formalism will
dt , for three commonly used signals will
be recalled: 1) a DC battery given by E(t) = V0 , 2) a short attempt to answer this question.
impulse of the form E(t) = ωV00 δ(t), with δ(t) de Dirac Delta B. General treatment for arbitrary periodic signals
distribution, and 3) an AC signal described by the function
E(t) = V0 sin(ωt+φ). Although these three signals are clearly Now, let us suppose that the battery provides a signal of
non-periodic, the following results will be used in further the form VT (t) defined within a period T . For any time t its
analysis. behaviour can be written as
∞
The first signal provides the responses X
E(t) = VT (t − nT ) . (8)
h γ i
Q2 (t) = H(t)V0 C 1 − e−γt sin(ω0 t) + cos(ω0 t) , n=0
ω0 The response of the circuit—particularly, the charge and the
(5a)
electric current—can be found using eq. (4), it is
V0 −γt
I2 (t) = H(t) e sin(ω0 t) . (5b) ∞ Z
Lω0 H(t) X t
Q2 (t) = VT (t − nT − z)e−γz sin(ω0 z)dz ,
The calculation of I2 (t) must be carefully performed, as Lω0 n=0 0
dH(t) (9)
dt = δ(t). However, this fact does not provide an additional
contribution to the current, as it vanishes. From now on, dQ2
I2 (t) = . (10)
dt
1 Here we assume that 1 > γ 2 , which corresponds to the underdamped
LC
1 1
case. Both the critical ( LC = γ 2 ) and overdampded ( LC < γ 2 ) cases can 2 Actually, any possible contribution arising from this fact vanishes in all
also be analyzed, but they do not add anything new to this discussion. the cases that have been analyzed.

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Now, any signal defined within the domain [t0 , T + t0 ], with
0 ≤ t0 < T , can be written as VT (t) = H(t − t0 )H(−t + t0 +
T )V (t). This allows us to write eq. (9) as3
∞
H(t − t0 ) X h

Q2 (t) = H t − t0 − (n + 1)T An (t)
Lω0 n=0

i
+ H −t + t0 + (n + 1)T H(t − nT )Bn (t) , (11)
where
Z t−t0 −nT Fig. 2. Signal composed by a set of periodic impulses.
An (t) = VT (t − t0 − nT − z)e−γz sin(ω0 z)dz ,
t−t0 −(n+1)T
(12a) the period T of each signal. This is due to the fact that,
Z t−t0 −nT
−γz when a next cycle starts, there exists some charge accumulated
Bn (t) = VT (t − t0 − nT − z)e sin(ω0 z)dz .
0
in the capacitor; additionally, some residual current remains
(12b) in the circuit. Such charge and current contribute as initial
Actually, with the aid of the Heaviside distributions, eq. (11) conditions for the next cycle and so they star accumulating.
can be further simplified to The final solution is not, therefore, the simple superposition
of individual impulses (with the appropriate translations). The
N −1
1 h X i asymptotic values (values at t → ∞) for the maxima and
Q2 (t) = An (t) + BN (t) , (13) minima in the three cases that have been studied —for three
Lω0 n=0
different values of T —are also shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4.
with N = b Tt c.
Clearly, the current I2 (t) is now given by
N −1
1 h X dAn (t) dBN (t) i
I2 (t) = + . (14)
Lω0 n=0 dt dt
Therefore, eq. (13) and eq. (14) determine the responses
associated with different periodic signals. Three particular
cases will be carefully analyzed.
III. A NALYSIS AND R ESULTS
The formulas stated above will be applied in this section. In
the following examples, which include three different kinds of
periodic signals, the coefficients An and Bn will be obtained
analytically using eq. (12a) and (12b). The electric charge and
current, Q2 and I2 (t), however, will be evaluated numerically.
Fig. 3. Electric charge Q2 (t) for three periodic signals composed by
A. A periodic set of impulses impulses with different periods such that t0 = 0. The following definitions
V0
have been used: τ = γ −1 and Q̃0 = Lω 2 . The values R = 2Ω,
An impulse–like signal can be modeled by a Dirac Delta 0
C = 500µF and L = 1 mH have been used. The asymptotic values
distribution of the form VT (t) = ωV00 δ(t − t0 ), where the first (values at t → ∞) for the maxima and minima are: (for T = {τ, 2τ, 3τ }
impulse is emitted at t = t0 —see Fig. 2. Using eq. (12a) and Qmax (∞)
respectively) 2 = {0.4854, 0.3241, 0.3114} and
Qmin
2 (∞)
=
Q̃0 Q̃0
eq. (12b), it is clear that {0.4195, 0.1094, 6.961 × 10−3 }.
V0 −γ(t−nT −t0 )  
An (t) = Bn (t) = e sin ω0 (t − nT − t0 ) .
ω0 B. A square wave
(15)
A square wave is a signal whose value alternates between a
Although modeling an impulse by means of a Dirac delta
maximum and minimum voltage given respectively by V0 and
distribution is an idealization, this approximation shows to
0 —see Fig. 5 for more details. The signal can be modeled
provide very accurate results. Impulse-like signals can be used,
by the function
among other possible applications, in digital filters [13].
V0 , t0 ≤ t < 21 T + t0

Notice from Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 that the responses to the
E(t) = . (16)
periodic impulses also repeat periodically. However, the am- 0 , 12 T + t0 ≤ t < T + t0
plitudes of the local peaks slightly vary and depended on As commonly known, square wave signals are particularly
3 The Heaviside distribution H(t) can be absorbed by the distribution H(t− used to control the timing of operations in digital systems,
t0 ), it ensures that the signal in non-existent for t < t0 . including clock generators for microprocessors [11].

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Fig. 4. Electric current I2 (t) for three periodic signals composed by
impulses with different periods such that t0 = 0. The following definitions Fig. 6. Electric charge Q2 (t) for periodic signals composed by square waves
V0
have been used: τ = γ −1 and I˜0 = Lω . The values R = 2Ω, for different periods such that t0 = 0. The following definitions have been
0
C = 500µF and L = 1 mH have been used. The asymptotic values used: τ = γ −1 and Q̃0 = Lω V0
2 . The values R = 2Ω, C = 500µF and
(values at t → ∞) for the maxima and minima are: (for T = {τ, 2τ, 3τ } 0
I max (∞) I2min (∞) L = 1 mH have been used. The asymptotic values (values at t →max ∞) for the
respectively) are 2 ˜ = {0.6664, 0.8252, 0.9438} and = maxima and minima are: (for T = {τ, 2τ, 3τ } respectively) 2
Q (∞)
=
I0 I˜0
Q̃0
{−0.3336, −0.1748, −5.33 × 10−2 }. Qmin (∞)
{0.8251, 1.0226, 1.0427} and 2
= {0.5106, 0.5805, 0.5982}.
Q̃0

Fig. 5. Signal composed by a set of periodic square waves turned on at

t = t0 .

For simplicity, we will make t0 = 0. Using eq. (16), it is

found (in terms of t1 = t − (n + 1)T , t2 = t − (n + 12 )T , and
t3 = t − nT )
Fig. 7. Electric current I2 (t) for periodic signals composed by square waves
h γ for different periods such that t0 = 0. The following definitions have been
An (t) = V0 Ce−γt1 cos(ω0 t1 ) + sin(ω0 t1 ) used: τ = γ −1 and I˜0 = Lω V0
. The values R = 2Ω, C = 500µF and
ω 0 0
h γ i L = 1 mH have been used. The asymptotic values (values at t → ∞)
− V0 Ce−γt2 cos(ω0 t2 ) + sin(ω0 t2 ) , (17) for the maxima and minima are: (for T = {τ, 2τ, 3τ } respectively) are
ω0 I2max (∞) I2min (∞)
γ = {0.2391, 6.37 × 10−2 , −3.13 × 10−4 } and =
I˜0 I˜0
h i
Bn (t) = V0 C 1 − e−γt3 cos(ω0 t3 ) +
 
sin(ω0 t3 ) . (18) {−0.9794, −1.033, −1.054}.
ω0
Results for some particular parameters can now be observed
in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. Once again, it can be seen how the
asymptotic values for the charges and currents slightly change
due to the charge and current accumulation taking place in
the circuit. However, the shapes of the functions considerably
differ.

C. Triangular signal
A triangular wave holds its name because of its shape, as
shown in Fig. 8. This kind of idealized signals are commonly
Fig. 8. Signal composed by a set of periodic triangular waves turned on at
applied in pulse code modulation for transmitting digital t = t0 .
signals. This signal can be modeled by the function

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 V0
, t0 ≤ t < 12 T + t0

E(t) = 2T (t − t0 ) . Although results were obtained under ideal conditions,
V0
− 2T (t − t0 − T /2) , 21 T + t0 ≤ t < T + t0 experiments can test the validity of the theoretical results that
(19) were described.
Again, the value t0 = 0 will be used. The analytical results R EFERENCES
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It has been shown that, in the cases that have been ana-
lyzed, the electric charge and current are not suppressed for
large times, which is also found for the commonly used AC
(sinusoidal) power supply. In the tree kinds of signals that
were specifically analyzed, results show that the charge and
current accumulation in the circuit change the values obtained
for the next cycle. Therefore, the final solution is not simply
the superposition of the results obtained for the first cycle
(after an appropriate translation).
Interestingly, the amplitude values for the responses depend
on the period of the signal. This fact might depend, among
others, on the resonance phenomenon that occurs when the
frequency of the power supply and the natural frequency of the
circuit have the same values. Nonetheless, additional analysis
must be performed to have a more clear dependence between
the period of the signal and the amplitude of the response.
Further analysis could also study the response for other kind
of periodic signals and test if any unexpected behavior takes
place in such cases.

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