Electrical Circuit Analysis

Chapter-4
Electrical Circuit Analysis Using
Laplace Transforms
Dr. Mukesh M Bhesaniya
Department of Electrical Engineering
G H Patel College of Engineering and Technology
Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India
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 Content
Review of Laplace Transform

Analysis of Electrical Circuits Using Laplace Transform for Standard Inputs

Convolution Integral

Inverse Laplace Transform

Transformed Network With Initial Conditions

Transfer Function Representation

Poles and Zeros

Frequency Response (Magnitude and Phase Plots)

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 Introduction
Pierre Simon Laplace (1749–1827), a French astronomer and
mathematician, first presented the transform that bears his
name and its applications to differential equations in 1779.
Our goal in this chapters is to use techniques for analyzing
circuits with a wide variety of inputs and responses. Such
circuits are modeled by differential equations whose solutions
describe the total response behavior of the circuits.
Mathematical methods have been devised to systematically
determine the solutions of differential equations.
We now introduce the powerful method of Laplace
transformation, which involves turning differential equations
into algebraic equations, thus greatly facilitating the solution
process.

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 Introduction
When using phasors for the analysis of circuits, we transform the circuit from the
time domain to the frequency or phasor domain. Once we obtain the phasor
result, we transform it back to the time domain.
The Laplace transform method follows the same process: we use the Laplace
transformation to transform the circuit from the time domain to the frequency
domain, obtain the solution, and apply the inverse Laplace transform to the
result to transform it back to the time domain.

Time to Freq Solve variables in Freq Freq to Time

Domain Domain Domain

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 Introduction
The Laplace transform is significant for a number of reasons.
o First, it can be applied to a wider variety of inputs than phasor analysis.
o Second, it provides an easy way to solve circuit problems involving initial
conditions, because it allows us to work with algebraic equations instead of
differential equations.
o Third, the Laplace transform is capable of providing us, in one single
operation, the total response of the circuit comprising both the natural and
forced responses.
We begin with the definition of the Laplace transform which gives rise to its most
essential properties. By examining these properties, we shall see how and why
the method works. This also helps us to better appreciate the idea of
mathematical transformations.
We also consider some properties of the Laplace transform that are very helpful
in circuit analysis.
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 Introduction
The Laplace transform is significant for a number of reasons.
o First, it can be applied to a wider variety of inputs than phasor analysis.
o Second, it provides an easy way to solve circuit problems involving initial
conditions, because it allows us to work with algebraic equations instead of
differential equations.
o Third, the Laplace transform is capable of providing us, in one single
operation, the total response of the circuit comprising both the natural and
forced responses.
We begin with the definition of the Laplace transform which gives rise to its most
essential properties. By examining these properties, we shall see how and why
the method works. This also helps us to better appreciate the idea of
mathematical transformations.
We also consider some properties of the Laplace transform that are very helpful
in circuit analysis.
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 Definition of the Laplace Transform
Given a function f (t), its Laplace transform, denoted by F(s) is defined by

where s is a complex variable.

Determine the Laplace transform of each of the following functions shown below:
(a) unit step function, (b) exponential function, (c) unit impulse function.

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 Definition of the Laplace Transform
a) The Laplace Transform of unit step u(t) is given by

Lu (t ) = F ( s ) = 
 1
− st
1e dt =
0 s
b) The Laplace Transform of exponential function is given by

 1
L e u (t )  = F ( s ) = 
− t − t − st
e e dt =
0 s +
c) The Laplace Transform of impulse function δ(t) is given by


L  (t )  = F ( s ) =   (t )e dt = 1 − st
0

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 Definition of the Laplace Transform
Determine the Laplace transform of sinωt.

HW: Determine the Laplace transform of 10cosωt.

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 Properties of the Laplace Transform
The properties of the Laplace transform help us to obtain transform pairs without
directly using definition. To derive each of these properties, we should keep in
mind the definition of the Laplace transform.

Linearity: If F1(s) and F2(s) are, respectively, the Laplace Transforms of f1(t) and
f2(t)

La1 f1 (t ) + a2 f 2 (t ) = a1F1 (s) + a2 F2 (s)

Example:

(
 1 jt
Lcos(t )u (t ) = L  e + e − jt
) 
u (t ) = 2
s
2  s +
2

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 Properties of the Laplace Transform
Scaling: If F (s) is the Laplace Transforms of f (t), then

L f (at ) = F ( )
1 s
a a

Example:
2
Lsin( 2t )u (t ) = 2
s + 4 2

Time Shift: If F (s) is the Laplace Transforms of f (t), then

L f (t − a)u (t − a) = e − as F ( s)

Example:
Lcos( (t − a ))u (t − a ) = e − as s
s2 +  2
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 Properties of the Laplace Transform
Frequency Shift: If F (s) is the Laplace Transforms of f (t), then

 
L e − at f (t )u (t ) = F ( s + a)

Example:
Le  − at
cos(t )u (t ) =  s+a
( s + a) 2 +  2

Frequency Differentiation: If F(s) is the Laplace Transforms of f (t), then the

derivative with respect to s, is

Ltf (t ) = −
dF ( s )
ds
Example:
 − at
L te u (t ) =  1
( s + a) 2
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 Properties of the Laplace Transform
Time Differentiation: If F (s) is the Laplace Transforms of f (t), then the Laplace
Transform of its derivative is
 df 
L  u (t ) = sF ( s) − f (0− )
 dt 
Example:

Lsin( ωt )u(t) = 2
s +2
The Laplace transform of
the second derivative of
f(t) is
We can obtain the
Laplace transform of the
nth derivative of f(t) as

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 Properties of the Laplace Transform
Time Integration: If F (s) is the Laplace Transforms of f (t), then the Laplace
Transform of its integral is

 t
 1
L  f (t )dt = F ( s )
 0  s

As an example, if we let, f (t) = u(t)

In general

  n!
L t = n +1
n

s
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 Initial-Value Theorem
Initial and Final Values: The initial-value and final-value properties allow us to
find the initial value f(0) and final value f(∞) of f(t) directly from its Laplace
transform F(s).
Initial-value theorem:
f (0) = lim sF ( s)
s →
Example:

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 Final-Value Theorem
Final-value theorem:

f () = lim sF (s)

s→0

In order for the final value theorem to hold, all poles of F(s) must be located in
the left half of the s plane; that is, the poles must have negative real parts.
The only exception to this requirement is the case in which F(s) has a simple pole
at s=0 because the effect of will be nullified by sF(s). For Example

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 Final-Value Theorem
As another example

This is incorrect, because f(t)=sint oscillates between +1 and -1 and does not
have a limit as t -> ∞. Thus, the final-value theorem cannot be used to find the
final value of f(t)=sint because F(s) has poles at s=±j which are not in the left
half of the s plane.
In general, the final value theorem does not apply in finding the final values of
sinusoidal functions—these functions oscillate forever and do not have final
values.
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 Convolution Integral
It is defined as


y(t ) =  x( )h(t −  )d or y(t ) = x(t ) * h(t )
−

Given two functions, f1(t) and f2(t) with Laplace Transforms F1(s) and F2(s),
respectively

F1 (s) F2 (s) = L f1 (t ) * f 2 (t )

• Example: y (t ) = 4e −t and h(t ) = 5e −2t

 5  4 
h(t ) * x(t ) = L H ( s ) X ( s ) = L 
−1 −1

−t − 2t
 = 20(e − e ), t  0
 s + 2  s + 1 

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 Laplace Transform
Laplace transform pairs:

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 Properties of Laplace Transform

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 Properties of Laplace Transform

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 Example
Example: Obtain the Laplace transform of

Solution:
By the linearity property,

HW Example: Find the Laplace transform of

Ans:

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 Example
Example: Obtain the Laplace transform of

Solution:
Using frequency differentiation,

HW Example: Find the Laplace transform of

Ans:

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 The Inverse Laplace Transform
Suppose F(s) has the general form of

N (s)......numerator polynomial
F ( s) =
D(s)...denominato r polynomial
The finding the inverse Laplace transform of F(s) involves two steps:
1. Decompose F(s) into simple terms using partial fraction expansion.
2. Find the inverse of each term by matching entries in Laplace Transform
Table.
Let us consider the three possible forms F(s) may take and how to apply the two
steps to each form.
1. Simple Poles
2. Repeated Poles
3. Complex Poles

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 The Inverse Laplace Transform
Simple Poles: If F(s) has only simple poles, then D(s) becomes a product of
factors, so that

where s=-p1, -p2,…., -pn are the simple poles, and pi ≠ pj for all i ≠ j (i.e., the
poles are distinct).
Assuming that the degree of N(s) is less than the degree of D(s), we use partial
fraction expansion to decompose F(s) as

The expansion coefficients are known as the residues of F(s). There are many
ways of finding the expansion coefficients.
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 The Inverse Laplace Transform
One way is using the residue method.

This is known as Heaviside’s theorem. Once the values of ki are known, we

proceed to find the inverse of F(s)
Example: Find the inverse Laplace transform of

3 5 6
F (s) = − + 2
s s +1 s + 4
Solution:
 3  −1  5  −1  6 
−1
f (t ) = L   − L  + L  2 
s  s +1  s +4
= (3 − 5e −t + 3 sin( 2t )u (t ), t  0
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 The Inverse Laplace Transform
Example: Find f (t) given that

Solution:
Unlike in the previous example where the partial fractions have beenprovided,
we first need to determine the partial fractions. Since thereare three poles, we
let

where A, B, and C are the constants to be determined.

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 The Inverse Laplace Transform

Thus,

By finding the inverse transform of each term, we obtain

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 The Inverse Laplace Transform
HW Example: Determine the inverse Laplace transform of

Ans:

HW Example: Determine the inverse Laplace transform of

Ans:

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 The Inverse Laplace Transform
Repeated Poles: Suppose F(s) has n repeated poles at s = -p. Then we may
represent F(s) as

where F1(s) is the remaining part of F(s) that does not have a pole at s = -p.
We determine the expansion coefficient as

The mth term becomes (m=1,2,…, n-1)

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 The Inverse Laplace Transform
Example: Calculate v(t) given that

Solution:
While the previous example is on simple roots, this example is on repeated roots.
Let

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 The Inverse Laplace Transform

Thus,

By finding the inverse transform of each term, we obtain

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 The Inverse Laplace Transform
HW Example: Obtain g(t) if

Ans:

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 The Inverse Laplace Transform
Complex Poles: Simple complex poles may be handled the same way as simple
real poles. Other approach is completing the square.

Example: Find the inverse transform of the frequency-domain function in

Solution:
We let,

We now determine the expansion coefficients.

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 The Inverse Laplace Transform
We can obtain A using the method of residue,

Although B and C can be obtained using the method of residue, we will not do so,
to avoid complex algebra. Rather, we can substitute two specific values of s [say ,
s=0 and 1, which are not poles of F(s)].
If we let s =0, we obtain

Or

Since A=2, we get

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 The Inverse Laplace Transform
If we let s =1, we obtain

Or

But A=2 and C=-10, thus

Using this constants in H(s) we get

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 The Inverse Laplace Transform
Taking the inverse of each term, we obtain

HW Example: Find g(t) given that

Ans:

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 Application to Integro-differential Equations
Example: Use the Laplace transform to solve the differential equation

Subject to v(0)=1 and v’(0)=2.

Solution:
We take the Laplace transform of each term in the given differential equation
and obtain

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 Application to Integro-differential Equations

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 Application to Integro-differential Equations

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 Application to Integro-differential Equations
HW Example:

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 Application to Integro-differential Equations
Example: Solve for the response y(t) in the following integro-differential
equation.

Solution:

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 Application to Integro-differential Equations

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 Application to Integro-differential Equations
HW Example:

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 Circuit Element Models
Having studied how to obtain the Laplace transform and its inverse, we are now
prepared to employ the Laplace transform to analyze circuits. This usually
involves three steps.
Steps in Applying the Laplace Transform:
1. Transform the circuit from the time domain to the s-domain.
2. Solve the circuit using nodal analysis, mesh analysis, source transformation,
superposition, or any circuit analysis technique with which we are familiar.
3. Take the inverse transform of the solution and thus obtain the solution in
the time domain.

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 Circuit Element Models
For a resistor, the voltage-current relationship in the time domain is

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 Circuit Element Models

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 Circuit Element Models
If we assume zero initial conditions for the inductor and the capacitor, the above
equations reduce to:
Resistor : V(s)=RI(s)
Inductor: V(s)=sLI(s)
Capacitor: V(s) = I(s)/sC

The impedance in the s-domain is

defined as
Z(s) = V(s)/I(s)

The admittance in the s-domain is

defined as
Y(s) = I(s)/V(s)

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 Example
Example: Determine i(t) in the following circuit by means of the Laplace
transform. (Assume zero initial conditions).

Solution:
Consider the s-domain form of the circuit which is shown below.

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 Example
HW Example: If is(t) = e −2t u(t) A in the following circuit, find the value of i0 (t).
(Assume zero initial conditions).

Ans:

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 Example
Example: Find v(t) for t > 0 in the following circuit. Let vs= 20 V.

Solution:
For t<0, v(0) = vs = 20 V.
For t>0, the circuit in the s-domain is as shown below.

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 Example
HW Example: In the following circuit, the switch moves from position a to
position b at t=0. Find i(t) for t>0.

Ans:

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 Example
Example: Consider the circuit shown in Fig. Find the value of the voltage across
the capacitor assuming that the value of vs(t) = 10u(t) V and assume that at t = 0,
-1 A flows through the inductor and +5 V is across the capacitor.

Solution:
Figure represents the entire circuit in
the s-domain with the initial
conditions incorporated.

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 Example
We now have a straightforward nodal analysis problem. Using KCL,

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 Example
HW Example: In the following circuit, if v0(0) = -1V, obtain v0(t).

Ans:

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 Transfer Functions
The transfer function of a network describes how the output behaves with
respect to the input. It specifies the transfer from the input to the output in the
s-domain, assuming no initial energy.
The transfer function H(s) is the ratio of the output response Y(s) to the input
excitation X(s), assuming all initial conditions are zero.

Y ( s)
H (s) =
X ( s)
The transfer function depends on what we define as input and output. Since the
input and output can be either current or voltage at any place in the circuit,
there are four possible transfer functions:

1. H(s) = Voltage gain = V0(s)/Vi(s) 3. H(s) = Impedance = V(s)/I(s)

2. H(s) = Current gain = I0(s)/Ii(s) 4. H(s) = Admittance = I(s)/V(s)

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 Example
Example: The output of a linear system is y(t)=10e-tcos4t when the input is
x(t)=e-tu(t). Find the transfer function of the system and its impulse response.
Solution:

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 Example
Example: Determine the transfer function H(s) = Vo(s)/Io(s) of the circuit.

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 Example
Solution: By current division,

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 Example
HW Example: The transfer function of a certain circuit is

Ans:

HW Example: Refer to the network shown in Fig. Find the following transfer
functions:

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 Frequency Response of a Circuit
In our sinusoidal circuit analysis, we have learned how to find voltages and
currents in a circuit with a constant frequency source.
If we let the amplitude of the sinusoidal source remain constant and vary the
frequency, we obtain the circuit’s frequency response. The frequency response
may be regarded as a complete description of the sinusoidal steady-state
behavior of a circuit as a function of frequency.
The frequency response of a circuit is the variation in its behavior with change
in signal frequency.
Let us condsider the frequency response of simple circuits using their transfer
functions.

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 Frequency Response of a Circuit
The transfer function H(ω) (also called the network function) of a circuit is the
frequency-dependent ratio of a phasor output Y(ω) (an element voltage or
current ) to a phasor input X(ω) (source voltage or current).
A transfer function is the frequency-dependent ratio of a forced function to a
forcing function (or of an output to an input). The idea of a transfer function was
implicit when we used the concepts of impedance and admittance to relate
voltage and current. In general, a linear network can be represented by the block
diagram shown in Fig.

Y( )
H( ) = = | H( ) | 
X( )
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 Frequency Response of a Circuit
Since the input and output can be either voltage or current at any place in the
circuit, there are four possible transfer functions:

Vo ( ) Vo ( )
H( ) = Voltage gain = H( ) = Transfer Impedance =
Vi ( ) Ii ( )

Y( )
H( ) =
X( )

I o ( ) I o ( )
H( ) = Current gain = H( ) = Transfer Admittance =
Ii ( ) Vi ( )

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 Example
Example: For the circuit shown in Fig., calculate the gain Io(ω)/Ii(ω) and its poles
and zeros.
Solution:

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 HW Example
Example: For the circuit shown in Fig., calculate the gain vo(ω)/Ii(ω) and its poles
and zeros.

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 References
1 Title: Fundamentals of Electric Circuits
Author(s): C. K. Alexander and M. N. O. Sadiku
Publisher: McGraw Hill Education
2 Title: Network Analysis
Author(s): M. E. Van Valkenburg
Publisher: Prentice Hall

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 Thank you

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