Basrah University

College of Engineering
Electrical Engineering Department

Electric Circuits Analysis

Asst. Lect: Hamzah Abdulkareem Asst. Lect: Mohamed Jasim

Chapter Two
Part 2

Transient Circuits

 Second-Order Circuits
 The Source Free Series RLC Circuit
 The Source Free Parallel RLC Circuit
 Step Response of a Series RLC Circuit
 Step Response of a Parallel RLC Circuit
 Chapter Two
Transient Circuits
2.7 Second-Order Circuits
In the previous part, we considered circuits with a single
storage element (a capacitor or an inductor). Such circuits
are first-order because the differential equations
describing them are first-order. In this part, we will
consider circuits containing two storage elements. These
are known as second-order circuits because their responses
are described by differential equations that contain second
derivatives.

Typical examples of second-order circuits are RLC

circuits, in which the three kinds of passive elements are
present. Examples of such circuits are shown in Fig.
2.27(a) and (b). Other examples are RL and RC circuits,
as shown in Fig. 2.27(c) and (d). It is apparent from Fig.
2.27 that a second-order circuit may have two storage
elements of different type or the same type (provided
elements of the same type cannot be represented by an
equivalent single element).

Fig 2.27 Typical examples of

second-order circuits.

Our analysis of second-order circuits will be similar to that used for first-order. We will first
consider circuits that are excited by the initial conditions of the storage elements. Although these
circuits may contain dependent sources, they are free of independent sources. These source-free
circuits will give natural responses as expected. Later we will consider circuits that are excited
by independent sources.
2.8 The Source Free RLC Series Circuit
Consider the series RLC circuit shown in Fig. 2.28. The circuit is being excited by the energy
initially stored in the capacitor and inductor. The energy is represented by the initial capacitor
voltage 𝑉0 and initial inductor current 𝐼0 . Thus, at 𝑡 = 0,

…(2.41)

Applying KVL around the loop in Fig. 2.28, Fig 2.28 A source-free series RLC
circuit.
…(2.42)

To eliminate the integral, we differentiate with respect to 𝑡 and rearrange terms. We get

…(2.43)

Our experience in the preceding chapter on first-order circuits suggests that the solution is of
exponential form. So we let is the solution of Eq (2.43) so, the above equation will be

Or

…(2.44)

Since 𝒊 = 𝑨𝒆𝒔𝒕 is the assumed solution we are trying to find, only the expression in parentheses
can be zero:

…(2.45)

The two roots of above Eq. are

…(2.46)
A more compact way of expressing the roots is

…(2.47)

Where

…(2.48)

The roots 𝒔𝟏 and 𝒔𝟐 are called natural frequencies, measured in nepers per second (𝑁𝑝/𝑠),
because they are associated with the natural response of the circuit; 𝝎𝟎 is known as the resonant
frequency or strictly as the undamped natural frequency, expressed in radians per second
(𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠); and 𝜶 is the neper frequency or the damping factor, expressed in nepers per second. In
terms of 𝜔0 and ∝, Eq. (2.45) can be written as

…(2.49)

The two values of 𝑠 in Eq. (2.46 & 2.247) indicate that there are two possible solutions for 𝑖, that
is,

Since Eq. (2.43) is a linear equation, so the natural response of the series RLC circuit is

…(2.50)

𝑑𝑖(0)
Where 𝐴1 & 𝐴2 are the constants and are determined from the initial values of 𝑖(0) & .
𝑑𝑡

From Eq. (2.47), we can infer that there are three types of solutions:

1- If 𝜶 > 𝝎𝟎 we have the overdamped case.

From Eqs. (2.41 & 2.42),
2- If 𝜶 < 𝝎𝟎 we have the critically damped case.
𝑑𝑖(0) 1
3- If 𝜶 = 𝝎𝟎 we have the underdamped case. = − (𝑅𝐼0 + 𝑉0 )
𝑑𝑡 𝐿
We will consider each of these cases separately.
A- Overdamped Case (𝜶 > 𝝎𝟎 )

𝟒𝑳
From Eqs. (2.47) and (2.48), 𝜶 > 𝝎𝟎 implies 𝑪 > .
𝑹𝟐
When this happens, both roots 𝒔𝟏 and 𝒔𝟐 are negative
and real. The response is

𝑖(𝑡) = 𝐴1 𝑒 𝑠1𝑡 + 𝐴2 𝑒 𝑠2𝑡 …(2.51) Fig 2.29 Overdamped response.

which decays and approaches zero as 𝑡 increases. Figure 2.29 illustrates a typical overdamped
response.

B- Critically Damped Case (𝜶 = 𝝎𝟎 )

𝟒𝑳
When 𝜶 = 𝝎𝟎 implies 𝑪 = , and 𝑠1 = 𝑠2 =
𝑹𝟐
𝑅
−𝛼 = − , for this case the response is
2𝐿

𝑖(𝑡) = (𝐴1 𝑡 + 𝐴2 )𝑒 −𝛼𝑡 …(2.52)

Fig 2.30 critically damped response.
A critically damped response is shown in Fig. 2.30.

C- Underdamped Case (𝜶 < 𝝎𝟎 )

𝟒𝑳
As 𝜶 < 𝝎𝟎 implies 𝑪 < , the roots can be written
𝑹𝟐

Where 𝝎𝒅 = √𝝎𝟐𝟎 − 𝜶𝟐 , which is called the damping frequency.

The response in this case will be

𝑖(𝑡) = (𝐵1 cos 𝝎𝒅 𝒕 + 𝐵2 sin 𝝎𝒅 𝒕)𝑒 −𝛼𝑡 …(2.53)

Where 𝐵1 = 𝐴1 + 𝐴2 & 𝐵2 = 𝑗(𝐴1 − 𝐴2 )

The response of this case is shown in Fig. 2. 31. Fig 2.31 underdamped response.
Example 2.10:- In Fig. 2.28, 𝑅 = 40Ω , L = 4 H and C = 1/4 F Calculate the characteristic roots
of the circuit. Is the natural response overdamped, underdamped, or critically damped?
Example 2.11:- Find 𝑖(𝑡) in the circuit of Fig. 2.32. Assume that the circuit has reached steady
state at 𝑡 = 0− .

Fig 2.32 For Example 2.11

2.9 The Source Free RLC Parallel Circuit
Parallel RLC circuits find many practical applications,
notably in communications networks and filter designs.
Consider the parallel RLC circuit shown in Fig. 2.33.
Assume initial capacitor voltage 𝑉0 and initial inductor
current 𝐼0 . Thus, at 𝑡 = 0,
Fig 2.33 A source-free parallel
RLC circuit.
…(2.54)

By applying KCL at the top node gives

…(2.55)

Taking the derivative with respect to t and dividing by C results in

…(2.56)

We obtain the characteristic equation by replacing the first derivative by 𝑠 and the second
derivative by 𝑠 2 . By following the same reasoning used in establishing in the previous section,
the characteristic equation is obtained as

…(2.57)

The roots of the characteristic equation are

Or …(2.58)

Where

…(2.59)
The names of these terms remain the same as in the preceding section, as they play the same role
in the solution. Again, there are three possible solutions depending on the values of 𝜶 & 𝝎𝟎 ,
which are:-

A- Overdamped Case (𝜶 > 𝝎𝟎 )

From Eq. (2.59), 𝜶 > 𝝎𝟎 implies 𝑳 > 𝟒𝑹𝟐 𝑪 . When this happens, both roots 𝒔𝟏 and 𝒔𝟐 are
negative and real. The response is

𝑣(𝑡) = 𝐴1 𝑒 𝑠1𝑡 + 𝐴2 𝑒 𝑠2𝑡 …(2.60)

B- Critically Damped Case (𝜶 = 𝝎𝟎 )

1
When 𝜶 = 𝝎𝟎 implies 𝑳 = 𝟒𝑹𝟐 𝑪 , and 𝑠1 = 𝑠2 = −𝛼 = − , for this case the response is
𝑅𝐶

𝑣(𝑡) = (𝐴1 𝑡 + 𝐴2 )𝑒 −𝛼𝑡 …(2.61)

C- Underdamped Case (𝜶 < 𝝎𝟎 )

As 𝜶 < 𝝎𝟎 implies 𝑳 < 𝟒𝑹𝟐 𝑪 , In this case the roots are complex and may be expressed as

Where 𝝎𝒅 = √𝝎𝟐𝟎 − 𝜶𝟐 , & the response is

𝑣(𝑡) = (𝐴1 cos 𝝎𝒅 𝒕 + 𝐴2 sin 𝝎𝒅 𝒕)𝑒 −𝛼𝑡 …(2.62)

The constants 𝐴1 and 𝐴2 in each case can be determined from the initial conditions. We need
𝑣(0) and 𝑑𝑣(0)/𝑑𝑡 .The first term is known from Eq. (2.54). We find the second term by
combining Eqs. (2.54) and (2.55), as

Or

…(2.63)
Example 2.12:- In the parallel circuit in the figure 2.33, find 𝑣(𝑡), for 𝑣(0) = 5𝑉, 𝑖(0) = 0, 𝐿 =
1 𝐻 & 𝐶 = 10 𝑚𝐹. Consider three case 𝑅 = 1.923 Ω, 𝑅 = 5 Ω & 𝑅 = 6.25 Ω .
Example 2.13:- Find 𝑣(𝑡) for 𝑡 > 0 in the RLC circuit of Fig. 2.34.

Fig 2.34 For Example 2.13

2.10 Step Response of a Series RLC Circuit
As we learned in the preceding chapter, the step response
is obtained by the sudden application of a dc source.
Consider the series RLC circuit shown in Fig. 2.35.
Applying KVL around the loop for 𝑡 > 0,
Fig 2.35 Step voltage applied to
a series RLC circuit.
…(2.63)
𝑑𝑣
But 𝑖 = 𝐶 , so by substituting 𝑖 in Eq. (2.63) and rearranging terms , we will have
𝑑𝑡

…(2.64)

The solution to above Eq. has two components: the transient response 𝑣𝑡 (𝑡) and the steady-state
response 𝑣𝑠𝑠 (𝑡) that is,

Thus, the complete solutions for the overdamped, underdamped, and critically damped cases
are:

…(2.65)

The constants 𝐴1 and 𝐴2 in each case can be determined from the initial conditions 𝑣(0) and
𝑑𝑣(0)/𝑑𝑡 .
Example 2.14:- Find 𝑣(𝑡) & 𝑖(𝑡) for 𝑡 > 0 in circuit in the Fig. 2.36. Consider three case 𝑅 =
5 Ω, 𝑅 = 4 Ω & 𝑅 = 1 Ω .

Fig 2.36 For Example 2.14

2.11 Step Response of a Parallel RLC Circuit
Consider the parallel RLC circuit shown in Fig. 2.37. We
want to find 𝑖 due to a sudden application of a dc current.
Applying KCL at the top node for 𝑡 > 0

…(2.66) Fig 2.37 Parallel RLC circuit

with an applied
𝑑𝑖 current..
But 𝑣 = 𝐿 , so by substituting 𝑣 in Eq. (2.63) and rearranging terms , we get
𝑑𝑡

…(2.67)

The solution to above Eq. has two components: the transient response 𝑖𝑡 (𝑡) and the steady-state
response 𝑖𝑠𝑠 (𝑡) that is,

…(2.68)

As we proceed in the last section, the response will be

…(2.69)

The constants 𝐴1 and 𝐴2 in each case can be determined from the initial conditions 𝑖(0) and
𝑑𝑖(0)/𝑑𝑡.
Example 2.15:- Find 𝑖(𝑡) & 𝑖𝑅 (𝑡) for 𝑡 > 0 in circuit in the Fig. 2.38.

Fig 2.36 For Example 2.15