Complete solution of transient response of series RLC circuit for step excitation

Partha Sarathi Sengupta

To analyze the response of series RLC we must first know two fundamental concepts.
1.
General Solution of a 2nd order ODE with constant forcing function (V) consists of
complementary function and particular integral.
2.
The important physical property concerning this problem is initial conditions in a
capacitor and inductor, we should know that current in an inductor or voltage in a
capacitor cant rise abruptly unless there are impulses or their derivatives driving them.

Applying KVL in the above circuit loop

.We know that the

current through and voltage across a capacitor is related by,

. Substituting

this relation in KVL equation above we get the differential equation:-

For non-homogeneous 2nd order linear ODE with constant coefficients the general
solution is obtained by finding the roots of Auxiliary equation (m 1, m2) using the roots to
form the C.F (complementary function) and adding the P.I (particular integral) with it.

The roots of A.E

are

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Damping Factor

; Natural frequency

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The form of C.F will depend on the nature of the roots of A.E which in turn depends upon the value of .
Range of
>1
= 1

<1

Nature of roots of A.E

Real and distinct

Form of Complementary Function

A1 em1x + A2 em2x (m1,m2 roots of A.E)

Real and equal

(double root)
Complex conjugate

(A1 + A2x) emx (m is the double root)

(p + jq),(p -

epx ( A1 cos qx + A2 sin qx )

jq)

Case 1: >1
The Particular integral (P.I) of a non-homogeneous O.D.E is defined as any function of
independent variable which satisfies the O.D.E . In case the excitation function is constant
(as in this case) the constant is the P.I . This can be verified by substituting V 0(t)=V in the
O.D.E and finding that L.H.S = R.H.S thereby satisfying the requirement of P.I. Hence as
the general solution is defined as C.F + P.I ,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The remaining problem is to find the constants A 1 and A2. In order to find the values of
constants we will use the initial conditions of the series RLC circuit. The initial conditions
are derived from physical properties of inductor and capacitor.
Inductor current cant change abruptly at t=0 unless either an impulse voltage or its
derivative exist at t=0.

Capacitor voltage cant change abruptly at t=0 unless either an impulse current or its
derivative exist at t=0.

since impulses dont exist in practical circuits initial conditions of voltage across
capacitor and current through inductor are zero. Substituting V0 (0)=0 in G.S we get

A1 + A2 + V = 0 ......................... 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Since

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Substituting i(0)= 0 we get

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Solving A1 , A2 from 1 & 2 and substituting values in V 0(t) expression we get the output
(capacitor) voltage function as
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lets plot the responses for some value of >1 to try gauge the shape and nature of the response:

2-1

(- +2-1 ) (- -2-1 )

1.5

1.12

-0.38

-2.62

Response V0(t)
V0(t)= 1+ 0.17 e-2.620t - 1.17 e-0.380t
i(t)= -0.450 e-2.620t + 0.445 0 e-0.380t

Response V0(t), i(t) in terms of x ; scale of x axis =100 0t ; V= 1 volt, 0= 1Khz, C=1F

For the above values it can be seen that transient voltage and current ceases in 1.6 ms

Case 2: = 1
Substituting root (m1, m2) as (-0) we can form the C.F as
(A1 +A2t) e-0 t
and G.S

V0 (t) = V + (A1 +A2t) e-0 t

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Substituting initial conditions V0(0)= 0 we find that A1 = -V

and i(0)=0 we can derive A2= -0V, substituting vales of constants

Using

in G.S we find V0(t) and i(t).

V0(t)= V [1- (1 + 0t) e-0 t ] and i(t)= CV 02t e-0

t

From the values of this example it can be said that transient voltage and current ceases at approx 10ms.

Case 3: < 1
For <1 roots are complex conjugate, G.S is of the form
Substituting initial condition of V0(0)=0 we can find A1=-V. Substituting i(0)=0 we find

let us define =cos-1 and

negative

lies in 3rd quadrant and its value is in between and

useful reference actual value of

since A1 and A2 both are

, the below circle will be an

calculated using the below expression, brackets denote

magnitude.

Solving by substituting value of A1 and A2 we get the voltage and current expressions as below

, we can further derive that

Next we plot

and i (t) for particular values of

, 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8

Hope this answers a lot of questions that arise during study of transient response of series RLC to step
response, some important observations can be made concerning Rise time and speed of response
depending on damping factor which in turn depends on circuit parameters R, L, C. Thank U.