CHAPTER 7

Laplace Transform Analysis: Circuit

Applications
INTRODUCTION
Idea of Laplace Transformation
Similar concept to using phasors for the analysis of circuits.
Phasor: Transform circuit from time domain to frequency (or phasor)
domain and after finding the result, transform it back to time
domain.
Laplace: Transform circuit from time domain to frequency domain
using Laplace transform and after finding the result,
transform it back to time domain using inverse Laplace
transform.
INTRODUCTION
Why Laplace?
1. Can be applied to wider variety of inputs than phasor analysis.
2. An easy way to solve circuit problems involving initial conditions
>> allows to work with algebraic equations rather than
differential equations.
3. Provide the total response of the circuit, comprising of both the
natural and forced responses, in one single operation.
DEFINITION OF LAPLACE TRANSFORM
The Laplace transform is an integral transformation of a function
f(t) from the time domain into the complex frequency domain, giving
F(s).

Given a function f(t), its Laplace transform is defined by,

∞
L[ f(t)] = F(s) = ∫ − f(t)e − st dt
0
15.2 DEFINITION OF LAPLACE TRANSFORM (2)

Example 1
Determine the Laplace transform of each of the following functions
shown below:
DEFINITION OF LAPLACE TRANSFORM
Solution:
a) The Laplace Transform of unit step, u(t) is given by

∞ 1
L[u ( t )] = F(s) = ∫ − 1e dt =−st
0 s
DEFINITION OF LAPLACE TRANSFORM
Solution:
b) The Laplace Transform of exponential function, e-atu(t), a>0 is
given by

∞ 1
L[u ( t )] = F(s) = ∫ − e e dt =
− at −st
0 s+a
DEFINITION OF LAPLACE TRANSFORM

Solution:
c) The Laplace Transform of unit impulse function, δ(t) is given by

∞
L[u (t )] = F ( s ) = ∫ δ (t )e dt = 1 − st
0
 PROPERTIES OF 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 )] = a1 F1 ( s ) + a2 F2 ( s)

Example:

(
 1 jωt
L[cos(ωt )u (t )] = L  e + e − jωt
) 
u (t ) = 2
s
 s +ω
2
2
 PROPERTIES OF LAPLACE TRANSFORM

Scaling:
If F (s) is the Laplace Transforms of f (t), then
1 s
L[ f (at )] = F ( )
a a

Example:
2ω
L[sin( 2ωt )u (t )] = 2
s + 4ω 2
 PROPERTIES OF LAPLACE TRANSFORM

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:
s
L[cos(ω (t − a ))u (t − a )] = e − as

s2 + ω 2
 PROPERTIES OF 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:
s+a
Le[ − at
]
cos(ωt )u (t ) =
( s + a) 2 + ω 2
 PROPERTIES OF 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:
ω
L[sin(ωt )u(t)] = 2
s +ω2
 PROPERTIES OF LAPLACE TRANSFORM

Time Integration:
If F (s) is the Laplace Transforms of f (t), then the Laplace Transform of
its integral is
1
L ∫ f (t )dt  = F ( s)
 t

 0  s

Example:

L t[ ]=
n n!
s n +1
PROPERTIES OF LAPLACE TRANSFORM

Frequency Differentiation:
If F(s) is the Laplace Transforms of f (t), then the derivative with respect
to s, is
dF ( s )
L[tf (t )] = −
ds

Example:

[ − at
L te u (t ) =] 1
( s + a) 2
PROPERTIES OF LAPLACE TRANSFORM

Initial and Final Values:

The initial-value and final-value properties allow us to find the initial

value f(0) and f(∞) of f(t) directly from its Laplace transform F(s).

f (0) = lim sF ( s )
s →∞ Initial-value theorem

f (∞) = lim sF ( s ) Final-value theorem

s→0
LAPLACE CIRCUIT ELEMENT MODELS
• Here we develop s-domain models of circuit elements
• DC voltage and current sources basically remain unchanged except
that we need to remember that a dc source is really a constant, which
is transformed to a 1/s function in the Laplace domain
RESISTOR
• We start with a simple (and trivial) case, that of the resistor, R
• Begin with the time domain relation for the element
v(t) = R i(t)
• Now Laplace transform the above expression
V(s) = R I(s)
• Hence a resistor, R, in the time domain is simply that same resistor, R,
in the s-domain
CAPACITOR
• Begin with the time domain relation for the element
d v(t)
i(t) = C
dt
• Now Laplace transform the above expression
I(s) = s C V(s) – C v(0)
• Interpretation: a charged capacitor (a capacitor with non-zero initial
conditions at t=0) is equivalent to an uncharged capacitor at t=0 in
parallel with an impulsive current source with strength C·v(0)
CAPACITOR (CONT’D.)
• Rearranging the above expression for the capacitor

I(s) v(0)
V(s) = +
sC s
• Interpretation: a charged capacitor can be replaced by an uncharged
capacitor in series with a step-function voltage source whose height is
v(0)
• Circuit representations of the Laplace transformation of the capacitor
appear on the next page
CAPACITOR (CONT’D.) iC(t)

Time +
Domain
vC(t) C

IC(s)
IC(s)
+
1/sC + Cv(0)
1/sC
VC(s) VC(s)
+ v(0)
s
– –
–

Laplace (Frequency) Domain Equivalents

INDUCTOR
• Begin with the time domain relation for the element
d i(t)
v(t) = L
dt
• Now Laplace transform the above expression
V(s) = s L I(s) – L i(0)
• Interpretation: an energized inductor (an inductor with non-zero initial
conditions) is equivalent to an unenergized inductor at t=0 in series
with an impulsive voltage source with strength L·i(0)
INDUCTOR (CONT’D.)
• Rearranging the above expression for the inductor
V(s) i(0)
I(s) = +
sL s

• Interpretation: an energized inductor at t=0 is equivalent to an

unenergized inductor at t=0 in parallel with a step-function current
source with height i(0)
• Circuit representations of the Laplace transformation of the inductor
appear on the next page
INDUCTOR (CONT’D.)
Time +
Domain
vL(t) iL(0) L

IL(s)
IL(s)
+
sL +

VL(s) sL i(0)
VL(s) s
–
Li(0) –
– +

Laplace (Frequency) Domain Equivalents

ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES
• In this section we apply our tried and tested analysis tools and
techniques to perform transient circuit analyses
– KVL, KCL, Ohm’s Law
– Voltage and Current division
– Loop/mesh and Nodal analyses
– Superposition
– Source Transformation
– Thevenin’s and Norton’s Theorems
 TRANSIENT ANALYSIS
• Sometimes we not only must Laplace transform the circuit, but we must
also find the initial conditions

Element DC Steady-State
Capacitor I = 0; open circuit
Inductor V = 0; short circuit