Department of Electrical Engineering

Academic year: 2023-24, Semester: III

Electrical Circuit Analysis

Module-4: Electrical Circuit Analysis Using Laplace Transforms

Lecture# 2: Application of Laplace Transform to Circuit Analysis

Dr. Bablesh Kumar Jha

1 The Transformed Circuit

Voltage-current relationships of network elements can also be represented in the frequency domain.
Advantages of analyzing the circuits using frequency domain rather than time domain:

• Each element can easily be replaced by a transform impedance.

• No integration or differentiation is involved in the transform equations.

• The response obtained after solution is a complete response, i.e., both the steady state and
transient responses are obtained.

• Resistor

For the resistor, the v − i relationship in time domain is

v(t) = Ri(t)

The corresponding frequency-domain relation are given as

V (s) = RI(s)

Figure 1: Resistor

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 • Inductor

For the inductor, the v − i relationship in time domain is

1 t
Z
di
v(t) = L i(t) = v(t)dt + i(0)
dt L 0
The corresponding frequency-domain relation are given as
1 i(0)
V (s) = LsI(s) − Li(0) I(s) = V (s) +
Ls s

Figure 2: Inductor

• Capacitor
For the capacitor, the v − i relationship in time domain is

1 t
Z
dv
v(t) = i(t)dt + v(0) i(t) = C
C 0 dt
The corresponding frequency-domain relation are given as
1 v(0)
V (s) = I(s) + I(s) = CsV (s) − Cv(0)
Cs s

Figure 3: Capacitor

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2 Resistor-Inductor Circuit
Consider a series RL circuit as shown in Fig. 4. The switch is closed at time t = 0.

Figure 4: RL Circuit

For t > 0, the transformed network is shown in Fig. 5.

Figure 5: Transformed Circuit

Applying KVL to the mesh,

V
− RI(s) − LsI(s) = 0
s
V
I(s) =  L 
s s+ R
L

By Partial-Fraction expansion,
A B
I(s) = +
s s+ R
L
V
V
A = sI(s)|s=0 =s×  L  =
R
s s+ R
L
s=0

    V
R R L V
B= s+ I(s) = s+ ×   =−
L s=− R L R s=− R R
L s s+ L L

V
R
− VR
I(s) = +
s s+ R L
Taking the inverse Laplace transform,
V V R
i(t) = − e− L t
R R

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V −R t
= 1−e L f or t > 0
R
Example-1 In the network of Fig. 6, the switch is moved from the position 1 to 2 at t = 0,
steady-state condition having been established in the position 1. Determine i(t) for t > 0.

Figure 6: Example-1

Solution: At t = 0− , the network is shown in Fig 7. At t = 0− , the network has attained steady-
state condition. Hence, the inductor acts as a short circuit.

Figure 7: Solution of example-1

10
i(0− ) = = 10 A
1
Since the current through the inductor cannot change instantaneously,

i(0+ ) = 10 A

For t > 0, the transformed network is shown in Fig. 8.

Figure 8: Solution of example-1

Applying KVL to the mesh for t > 0,

−I(s) − I(s) − sI(s) + 10 = 0

I(s)(s + 2) = 10

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 10
I(s) =
s+2
Taking inverse Laplace transform,

i(t) = 10e−2t f or t > 0

Practice Problem-1 The network shown in Fig. 9 has acquired steady-state with the switch
closed for t < 0. At t = 0, the switch is opened. Obtain i(t) for t > 0.

Figure 9: Practice Problem-1

Answer:
i(t) = 1.5e−4t f or t > 10

3 Resistor-Capacitor Circuit
Consider a series RC circuit as shown in Fig. 10. The switch is closed at time t = 0.

Figure 10: RC Circuit

For t > 0, the transformed network is shown in Fig. 11.

Figure 11: Transformed Circuit

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Applying KVL to the mesh,
V 1
− RI(s) − I(s) = 0
s Cs
 
1 V
R+ I(s) =
Cs s
V V
s R
I(s) = 1 = 1
R+ Cs
s+ RC
Taking the inverse Laplace transform,
V − 1 t
i(t) = e RC f or t > 0
R
Example-2 In the network of Fig. 12, the switch is moved from ’a’ to ’b’ at t = 0. Determine i(t)
and vc (t).

Figure 12: Example-2

Solution: At t = 0− the network is shown in Fig. 13. At t = 0− , the network has attained
steady-state condition. Hence, the capacitor of 6 F acts as an open circuit.

Figure 13: Solution of Example-2

v6F (0− ) = 10 V
i0− ) = 0
v3F (0− ) = 0
Since voltage across the capacitor cannot change instantaneously,

v6F (0+ ) = 10 V

v3F (0+ ) = 0

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 Figure 14: Solution of Example-2

For t > 0, the transformed network is shown in Fig. 14.

Applying KVL to the mesh for t > 0,
10 1 1
− I(s) − I(s) − I(s) = 0
s 6s 3s
1 1 10
I(s) + I(s) + I(s) =
6s 3s s
10 60 10
I(s) =  = =
1 1 6s + 3 s + 0.5
s 1 + 6s + 3s

Taking the inverse Laplace transform,

i(t) = 10e−0.5t ‘f or t > 0

Voltage across the 3 F capacitor is given by

1 10
Vc (s) = I(s) =
3s 3s(s + 0.5)

By partial-fraction expansion,
A B
Vc (s) = +
s s + 0.5
10 20
A = sVc (s)|s=0 = =
3(s + 0.5) s=0 3
10 20
B = (s + 0.5)Vc (s)|s=−0.5 = =−
3s s=−0.5 3
20 20 1
Vc (s) = −
3 3 s + 0.5
Taking the inverse Laplace transform,
20 20 −0.5t
vc (t) = − e
3 3
20
= (1 − e−0.5t ) f or t > 0
3

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 Practice Problem-2 The switch in the network shown in Fig. 15 is closed at t = 0. Determine
the voltage cross the capacitor.

Figure 15: Practice Problem-2

Answer:
vc (t) = 5 − 5e−0.1t f or t > 0

4 Resistor-Inductor-Capacitor Circuit
The switch is closed at time t = 0.

Figure 16: RLC Circuit

For t > 0,

Figure 17: Transformed circuit

Applying KVL to the mesh,

V 1
− RI(s) − LsI(s) − I(s) = 0
s Cs

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  1  V
I(s) R + Ls + =
Cs s
V V V
s L L
I(s) = LCs2 +RCs+1
= R 1
=
Cs
s2 + L
s + LC
(s − s1 )(s − s2 )
where s1 & s2 are the roots of the equation s2 + R
L
s+ 1
LC
r r
R R2 1 R R2 1
s1 = − + 2
− ; & s 2 = − − 2
−
2L 4L LC 2L 4L LC
q
1 R
Let, ωo = √LC and ζωo = 2L , i.e., ζ = R2 CL = damping ratio.
p p
Then, s1 = −ζωo + ωo ζ 2 − 1 and s2 = −ζωo − ωo ζ 2 − 1
so,
V
L A B
I(s) = = +
(s − s1 )(s − s2 ) s − s1 s − s2
V V
L L V
A = (s − s1 )I(s) s=s1
= = = p
(s − s2 ) s=s1 s1 − s2 2ω0 L ζ 2 − 1
V V
L L V
B = (s − s2 )I(s) s=s2
= = =− p
(s − s1 ) s=s2 s2 − s1 2ω0 L ζ 2 − 1
Putting these values of A and B, we get,
V h 1 1 i
I(s) = p −
2ω0 L ζ 2 − 1 s − s1 s − s2

Taking inverse Laplace transform,

V h √ √ i
2 2
i(t) = p e−ζω0 t e(ω0 ζ −1)t − e(−ω0 ζ −1)t
2ω0 L ζ 2 − 1

Depending upon the values of R, L and C, three case may appear:

R √1
1. 2L
> LC
(Under-damped Condition)
R √1
2. 2L
< LC
(Over-damped Condition)
R √1
3. 2L
= LC
(Critical-damped Condition)

• Over-damped Condition:
R 1 1
The condition is 2L < √LC or, ζ > 1 or, Q < 2
Under this condition, the current becomes
V h √ √ i
−ζω0 t (ω0 ζ 2 −1)t (−ω0 ζ 2 −1)t
i(t) = p e e −e
2ω0 L ζ 2 − 1

V p
⇒ i(t) = p e−ζω0 t sinh (ω0 ζ 2 − 1)t
ω0 L ζ 2 − 1

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 • Critically-damped Condition:
R 1 1
The condition is 2L = √LC or, ζ = 1 or, Q = 2
Under this condition, the current becomes
!
V
L V 1
I(s) = 2 2
=
s + 2ω0 s + ω0 L (s + ω0 )2

Taking inverse Laplace transform

V −ω0 t
i(t) = te
L

Figure 18: Different condition of RLC Circuit

• Under-damped Condition:
R 1 1
The condition is 2L > √LC or, ζ < 1 or, Q > 2
Under this condition, the current becomes
V h √ √ i
−ζω0 t (ω0 ζ 2 −1)t (−ω0 ζ 2 −1)t
i(t) = p e e −e
2ω0 L ζ 2 − 1
√ √
V h e(ω0 ζ 2 −1)t − e(−ω0 ζ 2 −1)t i
⇒ i(t) = p e−ζω0 t
ω0 L ζ 2 − 1 2j
V p
⇒ i(t) = p e−ζω0 t sin (ω0 ζ 2 − 1)t
ω0 L ζ 2 − 1

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 Example-3: In the network as shown in Fig. 19, the switch is closed and steady-state is
attained. At t = 0, switch is opened. Determine the current through the inductor. Solution: At

Figure 19: Example-3

t = 0− , the switch is closed and steady-state condition is attained. Hence, the inductor acts as a
short circuit and the capacitor acts as an open circuit.
Current through inductor is same as the current through the resistor.
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iL (0− ) = =2A
2.5
vc (0− ) = 0

Figure 20: Solution of Example-3

Since voltage across the capacitor and current through the inductor cannot change instantaneously,

iL (0+ ) = 2 & vc (0+ ) = 0

For t > 0, Applying KVL to the mesh,

1
− I(s) − 0.5I(s) + 1 = 0
200 × 10−6 s

I(s)
0.5I(s) − 1 + 5000 =0
s
1 2s
⇒ I(s) = 5000 = 2
0.5I(s) + s s + 10000

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 Figure 21: Solution of Example-3

Taking inverse Laplace transform,

i(t) = 2 cos 100t F or t > 0

Practice Problem-3: In the network as shown in Fig. 22, the switch is opened at t = 0. Steady-
state condition is achieved before t = 0. Find i(t).

Figure 22: Practice Problem-4

Answer:
i(t) = e−t cos t + e−t sin t F or t > 0
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If you have any doubts or queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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