TRANSIENT RESPONSE OF THE

ELECTRICAL CIRUITS USING

MATLAB SIMULATION
P R E PA R E D B Y,
MR. A.VENKADESAN
A S S T P R O F, D E PA R T M E N T O F E E E
FA C U LT Y O F E N G I N E E R I N G A N D T E C H N O L O G Y
SRM UNIVERSITY

OBJECTIVE
To obtain the transient response of the
given RL circuit using MATLAB simulation.

Procedure

Open the MATLAB

Then the window will be

displayed as shown.

Procedure

Go to file, then click the

model as shown.

Procedure

Then

model window
will be displayed as
shown.

The default name for

this model window is

untitled.

Procedure

Open file in the model

window, then save the

model file using any name,
say RL (user defined
name)

Procedure

After saving, the name

untitled is now changed to

RL

Components Required

The components required to obtain the transient

response of RL circuit in MATLAB are,

Resistance
Inductance
DC Voltage Source
Ground

Components Required

Voltage measurement block (ammeter)

To measure voltage

Current measurement block (voltmeter)

To measure current

Scope

To see the waveforms

Breaker

To act as a switch

Steps to take components

To pick out the

required components,

click the
Library
Browser.

Steps to take components

Then

library
browser
window opens as shown.

Steps to take components

To pick R, L and breaker go

to simpowersystems.

Then click elements

Then click and drag RLC
series branch

Click and drag breaker to
the model file which you
have already created.

Steps to take components

To pick dc source voltage,

go to simpowersystems.

Then
click
electrical
source

Then click and drag DC
voltage source to the
model file which you have
already created.

Steps to take components

To

pick ground, go to
simpowersystems.

Then click elements

Then
click and drag
ground to the model file
which you have already
created.

Steps to take components

To pick voltage and current

measurement block, go to
simpowersystems.

Then,click measurement

Then
click and drag
voltage
and
current
measurement block to the
model file which you have
already created.

Steps to take components

Then to run file and make

breaker to act as the ideal

switch, the powergui block
should be placed.

To pick powergui block,

Click simpowersystems, then

click and drag powergui into
the model file.

Steps to take components

To pick scope, go to

simulink.

Then click commonly
used blocks

Then click and drag
scope to the model file
which you have already
created.

Steps to take components

After placing all the

components on the
model, the model file
will look as shown.

To model R and L and Value Settings

To model R and L, the

common RLC series branch

is used.

To model R alone, double
click on the RLC series
branch.

A window will open as
shown

Then select R as shown and
value can be set say 30
ohm.

To model R and L and Value Settings

Another copy of RLC

branch is made and that

can be modeled as L.

The value can be set say
15 H.

To model R and L and Value Settings

After

doing this the

window will look as shown.

R and L are shown.

Procedure to rotate component

Then place the inductor

vertically.

To do this, the command
is ctrl r

Value Setting of DC Voltage Source

To set the value of dc

source, open it by
double clicking and
set the value say 60
V.

Procedure to Connect components

Then make the series

RL
circuit
by
connecting all the
components as shown.

The connection can be
done just by connecting
ends
of
the
components.

The sample is shown.

Procedure to Connect components

Similarly

components
connected.

all

the
are

Settings of Powergui block

Then set the settings of the

powergui block to make the

breaker to act as the ideal
switch.

To do this, double click the
powergui block.

A window will open as
shown.

Settings of Powergui block

Then click configure

parameters

A window will open
as shown

Settings of Powergui block

Then

select
enable use of
ideal
switching
device.

Another window
opens as shown.

Settings of Powergui block

Then

select
disable
snubbers
in
switching
devices and disable on
resistance in switching
devices.

Settings of Powergui block

The

powergui name
changed as shown.

is

Settings of breaker

Open breaker by double

clicking.

A window
shown.

appears

as

Settings of breaker

Disable external switching

and click apply.

A window will appear as
shown.

Then the window shows the
switching time of the
breaker.

Settings of breaker

Once

the
external
switching
time
is
disabled.

The symbol for circuit
breaker gets changed as
shown.

Settings of breaker

The breaker time is user

defined.

If one wishes to on the
switch at 0 sec, then set
the values to 0 after
deleting the default
switching time.

After doing this, the
window appears as
shown.

Simulation settings

Before

start simulation,
the simulation settings
are done.

To
do
this,
click
simulation
in
the
model file and click
configure parameters as
shown.

Simulation settings

When the configure

parameters is clicked.

A window appears as
shown.

Then set the initial
step size as 0.0001

Then select the solver
as ode23tb

Scope Setting

Open the scope by double

clicking it.

Then click parameters as
shown.

A window opens as shown.

Disable limit data points
to last.

Simulation

simulation time is user defined.

Set the simulation time.

The default time 10 sec can be changed or it can be

retained.

Simulation

Click

Start
simulation icon
which
is
triangular
in
shape
as
indicated in red
color.

Procedure to see Waveforms

The voltage drop across the resistance and inductance can

be seen by opening the scope connected to the

corresponding voltage measurement block.

The current in the circuit can be seen by opening the
scope connected to current measurement block.

Procedure to see result

After opening the scope, click auto scale. The
sample current curve is shown.

Voltage Across the Resistance

Voltage Across the Inductance

Steady state values

The steady state current and

voltages can be obtained

using display as shown.
To pick display, select library
browser.
Then select simulink.
Then select sinks.
Then click and drag the
display.
Connect display to the
circuit.
Then simulate again.

Display Showing the Steady State final values

Comparison between the Calculated Value and

Simulated Value

Current
(A)

Voltage Across the Voltage Across the

Time Taken for
resistance
Inductance
RL circuit to reach
(V)
(V)
approximately
steady state value
(sec)

Calculated

Simulated

Calculated

Simulated

Calculated

Simulated

Calculated

Simulated

60

60

1.110-7

2.5

2.5

Conclusions

From results obtained, it is clearly understood that the

simulated values are exactly matching with the calculated

value.

Thus MATLAB is effectively used to study the transient
response of the electrical circuits.

The same procedure can be extended to study the
response of RC and other electrical circuits.

Precaution

Every time, save the model file.

Thank You