VELLORE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AMARAVATI ANDHRA PRADESH

DC Transient Analysis

Presented

by
Dr. Arvind Kumar Prajapati

(Assistant Professor Sr. Grade-1)

School of Electronics Engineering

Introduction
1. The transients are produced whenever different circuits are suddenly
switched on or off from the supply voltage. In each case, we will assume that the resultant current
consists of two parts (i) a final steady-stage or normal current and (ii) a transient current
superimposed on the steady-state current.

2. The transient currents are not driven by any part of the applied voltage but are entirely associated
with the changes in the stored energy in inductors and capacitors. Since there is no stored energy in
resistors, there are no transients in pure resistive circuits.

3. Applying Kirchhoff’s laws to purely resistive circuits produces algebraic equations.

4. Applying Kirchhoff’s laws to RC and RL circuits produces differential equations, which are more
difficult to solve than algebraic equations.

5. The differential equations resulting from analyzing RC and RL circuits are of the first order.

6. A first-order circuit is characterized by a first-order differential equation.

7. The first order circuit is two types (RC and RL).

8. The first order circuit is excited by two ways (by initial conditions or by independent sources).

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 Source Free RC Circuit
 A source-free RC circuit occurs when its dc source is suddenly disconnected. The energy already
stored in the capacitor is released to the resistors.
 The natural response of a circuit refers to the behavior (in terms of voltages and currents) of the
circuit itself, with no external sources of excitation.
Since the capacitor is initially charged, let the initial voltage is 0 = at t=0 and corresponding
initial energy stored 0 = .
Applying KVL at the top node of the circuit.

( )+ ( )=0

We know, = , hence, = and = . Thus,

+ =0

Or, =− (1)

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 Source Free RC Circuit
Integrating both sides of (1), we get
ln =− + ln
where, ln is the integration constant. Thus,
ln =−
Taking powers of e produces
=
From the initial condition, at = 0, = 0 = = . Hence,

= (2)

This shows that the voltage response of the RC circuit is an exponential decay of the initial voltage.
Since the response is due to the initial energy stored and the physical characteristics of the circuit and
not due to some external voltage or current source, it is called the natural response of the circuit.

 This response depends upon the general nature of the circuit i.e. (that is) the type of elements, their
size and interconnection.

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 Source Free RC Circuit
 The time constant of a circuit is the time required for the response to decay by a factor of
1/e or 36.8% of its initial value.
 Time constant can be used to determine the length of the transient period, as well as the
transient current at different times.
This implies that at = , Eq. (2) becomes
= = 0.368
Or
=
If circuit has several resistances,
= ( is the internal (Thevenin) resistance seen from the capacitor terminal)

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 Source Free RC Circuit

In terms of time constant Eq. (2) can be written as

⁄
= (3)

With voltage , the current can be obtained as

= = (4)

 At any rate, whether the time constant is small or large, the circuit reaches steady state (It is 0
for source free circuit) in five times of the time constant.

 The current dies out soon with time as → ∞, → 0.

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 Source Free RC Circuit

1. For the following circuit, determine vC, vx, and io for t ≥ 0. Assume that vC(0) = 60 V.

2. The switch in circuit below is opened at t = 0, find v(t) for t ≥ 0

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 Source Free RC Circuit
Solution 1.
We know = ,

= 12 ∥ 6 + 8 = 4 + 8 1 2
= 12
Hence,
1
= = 12 × = 4
3
=
=
(12 ∥ 6)
= 60 4
12 ∥ 6 + 8
=
Applying KVL in mesh 2
− + −8 =0
−60 4 + 20 4−8 =0
=− ⁄A

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 Source Free RC Circuit
Solution 2.
Case 1: When t<0, switch is closed

Case 2: t=0, switch is opened

Thus, the voltage across the capacitor for t ≥ 0 is

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Forced RC Circuit (Charging of a Capacitor)
Let the capacitor is not charged initially . When the switch S is connected to position 1, the circuit
is switched on. Current i will start flowing. Let the instantaneous voltage across the capacitor be
(t), and charge be q.

Applying KVL, we can write

= ( )+ ( ) (1)
( )
We know, = , hence, = = = and = . Thus,

( )
= +

( )
Or, = (2)
( )

Integrating both sides of (2), we get

ln( − ( )) = + ln

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Forced RC Circuit (Charging of a Capacitor)
where, ln is the integration constant. Thus,
( − ( ))
ln =
Taking powers of e produces
− ( )=
From the initial condition, at = 0, 0 = 0, = . Hence,
( )= −
( ) = (1 − ) (3)
⁄
( ) = (1 − ) (4)
This shows that the voltage response of the RC circuit is an exponential increasing from zero
voltage. Since the response is due to the some external voltage, it is called the forced
response of the circuit.
If capacitor is initially charged, the Eq. (3) will become as
= 0 + (1 − )
= + 1− = − +( + ) (5)

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Forced RC Circuit (Charging of a Capacitor)
 Time constant can also be defined as the time taken in seconds for the voltage across the
capacitor to reach 63.2 per cent of its final value.
 Time constant can be used to determine the length of the charging period, as well as the
voltage at different times.
This implies that at = , Eq. (4) becomes

(1 − )= (1 − ) = 63.2
Where
=
If circuit has several resistances,
= ( is the internal (Thevenin) resistance seen from the capacitor terminal)

12
Forced RC Circuit (Charging of a Capacitor)
Voltage across the resistor at any instant can be obtained from Eq. (1) as
⁄
( )= − ( )= (6)

The current can be obtained as

( )
= = (7)

 At any rate, whether the time constant is small or large, the circuit reaches steady state in five
times of the time constant.

 The current dies out soon with time as → ∞, → 0. Hence , the charging current
becomes zero when the capacitor is fully charged.

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Forced RC Circuit (Charging of a Capacitor)
 Initial voltage across the capacitor can be obtained from Eq. (4) as

0 = 1− = 1− =0
 Initial current in the circuit can be obtained from the Eq. (6) as

( )
= = = =

 Final voltage across the capacitor can be obtained from Eq. (4) as

0 = 1− = 1− = 1−0 =

 Final current in the circuit can be obtained from the Eq. (6) as

⁄
( ) ×0
= = = = =0

14
15
Forced RC Circuit (Charging of a Capacitor)
1. A capacitor of value 1 μF and a resistor of 5.45 MΩ are connected in series across a 220
V dc supply through a switch. Calculate the time by which the capacitor will be charged to 60
per cent of the supply voltage.

16
 Source Free RL Circuit
 A source-free RL circuit occurs when its dc source is suddenly disconnected. The energy
already stored in the inductor is released to the resistors.

 Our goal is to determine the circuit response, which we will assume to be the current through
the inductor.

The inductor current cannot change instantaneously. At we assume that the inductor has an initial

current is 0 = at t=0 and corresponding initial energy stored 0 = .

Applying KVL around the loop of the circuit.

+ =0

We know, = ⁄ and = . Thus,

+ =0

Or, =− (1)
17
 Source Free RL Circuit
Integrating both sides of (1), we get
ln = − + ln
where, ln is the integration constant. Thus,
ln =−
Taking powers of e produces
( )=
From the initial condition, at = 0, = 0 = = . Hence,

( )= (2)

This shows that the current response of the RL circuit is an exponential decay of the initial
current. Since the response is due to the initial energy stored and the physical characteristics
of the circuit and not due to some external voltage or current source, it is called the natural
response of the circuit.
 This response depends upon the general nature of the circuit i.e. (that is) the type of
elements, their size and interconnection.

18
 Source Free RL Circuit
From Eq. (2), that the time constant for the RL circuit is

=
with again having the unit of seconds. The time constant of a circuit is the time
required for the response to decay by a factor of 1/e or 36.8% of its initial value. The
response decays faster for small and slower for large .

Thus, Eq. (2) may be written as

⁄
( )= (3)
With the current in Eq. (3, we can find the voltage across the resistor as

⁄
= = (4)
The power dissipated in the resistor is
=

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Comparison of Source Free RL and RC Circuit

Source Free RC Circuit Source Free RL Circuit

⁄
( )= ( )=
where = where =

20
 Source Free RL Circuit
1. Assuming that = A, calculate ( ) and ( ) in the following circuit

21
 Source Free RL Circuit
Sol. 1.

Applying KVL in both loop of Fig. (a)

22
 Forced RL Circuit
 Our goal is to determine the circuit response, which we will assume to be the current through
the inductor.

The inductor current cannot change instantaneously. At we assume that the inductor has an initial

current is 0 = at t=0 and corresponding initial energy stored 0 = .

Applying KVL around the loop of the circuit.

= +

We know, = ⁄ and = . Thus,

+ =

Or, = (1)

23
 Forced RL Circuit
Integrating both sides of (1), we get
ln( − ) = − + ln
where, ln is the integration constant. Thus,
( − )
ln =−
Taking powers of e produces
( − )=
From the initial condition, at = 0, = 0 = 0. Hence, A = .

= −
= (1 − )
= (1 − ) (2)
This shows that the current response of the RL circuit is an exponential increasing from the zero current
to steady state current. Since the response is due to external voltage source, it is called the forced
response of the circuit.
If the inductor has initial current , the Eq. (20) will become as

= +( − )

24
 Forced RL Circuit
From Eq. (2), that the time constant for the RL circuit is

=
with again having the unit of seconds. The time constant of a circuit is the time
required for the response to attain 63.2% of its final value. The response increase
faster for small and slower for large .
Thus, Eq. (2) may be written as
⁄
= (1 − ) (3)
With this current in Eq. (3), we can find the voltage across the resistor as

⁄ ⁄
= = 1− = (1 − ) (4)
The voltage across inductor at any instant is obtained as
= +
= − = − 1− =

25
 Forced RL Circuit
1. Find ( ) in the following circuit for >0 . Assume that the switch
has been closed for a long time.

2. A d.c. voltage of 120V is applied to a coil having a resistance of 8 ohms and inductance of
12H. Calculate (a) the value of current 0.3 s after switching on the supply (b) after switching
off the supply, how much time it would take for the current to reach a value of 6A.

26
 Forced RL Circuit
Sol.

27
 Forced RL Circuit
Answer 2.
.
(a) i = 15 1 − e . = 15 1 − 0.8187 = 2.72A
(b) 6= . ® = 0.9162 × 1.5 = 1.375

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Second order circuits

29
Second Order Circuits Circuit

 A second-order circuit is characterized by a second-order differential equation. It

consists of resistors and two energy storage elements.

 Typical examples of second-order circuits:(a) series RLC circuit, (b) parallel

RLC circuit, (c) RL circuit, (d) RC circuit.

30
Source Free Series RLC Circuit
 Let the initial capacitor voltage V0 and initial inductor current I0.
Applying KVL in loop 1
+ + =0 (1)
We know
=
=
∫
= =
Putting all these value in Eq. (1), we get
∫
+ + =0 (2)
To eliminate the integral, we differentiate Eq. (2) with respect to t and rearrange terms. We
get
+ + =0 (3)
This is a second-order differential equation.

31
Source Free Series RLC Circuit
The Eq. (3), can be rewritten as
+ + =0 (4)

+ + =0 (5)

where = , = . This quadratic equation is known as the characteristic equation of

the differential Eq. (5).
 The roots of the Eq. (5) shows the characteristic of with respect to time

± ( )
, = (6)

=− + ( ) − , =− − ( ) − (7)
A more compact way of expressing the roots is

= −α + α − , = −α − α − (8)
where, α= , = .

32
Source Free Series RLC Circuit
The Eq. (8), has three type of solution as

1. If > , we have the overdamped case.

2. If = , we have the critically damped case.

3. If < , we have the underdamped case.

33
 Source Free Series RLC Circuit
1. If > , we have the overdamped case.
When this happens, both roots are negative and real. The solution of Eq. (3) that is the
response of source free RLC is become as
= + (9)
which decays and approaches zero as t increases. Following figure illustrates a typical
overdamped response.

34
 Source Free Series RLC Circuit
2. If = , we have the critically damped case.
When this happens, both roots are negative and equal ( = = ). The solution of Eq. (3)
that is the response of source free RLC is become as
=( + ) (10)
which decays and approaches zero as t increases. Following figure illustrates a critically
damped response.

35
 Source Free Series RLC Circuit
3. If < , we have the underdamped case.
When this happens, both roots are complex ( = −α + −( − ) = −α + ,
= −α − −( − ) = −α − ). The solution of Eq. (3) that is the response of
source free RLC is become as
= ( + ) (11)
which decays and approaches zero as t increases. Following figure illustrates a typical
underdamped response.

36
Source Free Series RLC Circuit
Numerical Example
1. In the following figure, = 40Ω, = 4 , = . Calculate the characteristic roots of
the circuit. Is the natural response overdamped, underdamped, or critically damped?

2. In the above figure, if = 10Ω, = 5 , = 2mF. Calculate the characteristic roots of

the circuit. Is the natural response overdamped, underdamped, or critically damped?

37
 Source Free Series RLC Circuit
3. Find ( ) in the following circuit. Assume that the circuit has reached steady state at = 0

4. The following circuit has reached steady state at = 0 . If the make before-break switch
moves to position b at = 0, calculate ( ) for > 0.

38
Source Free Series RLC Circuit
Sol. 1.

Sol. 2.

39
Source Free Series RLC Circuit
Solution 3. Find ( ) in the following circuit. Assume that the circuit has reached
steady state at = 0

For < 0 , the switch is closed. The capacitor acts like an open circuit
while the inductor acts like a short circuit. The equivalent circuit is shown in Fig. a.

where (0) is the initial current through the inductor and (0) is the initial voltage across the
capacitor.
40
Source Free Series RLC Circuit
For > 0 the switch is opened and the voltage source is disconnected. The equivalent circuit is
shown in Fig. (b), which is a source free series RLC circuit. Notice that the 3 and 6 resistors,
which are in series, when the switch is opened, have been combined to give = 9 in Fig. b.
The roots are calculated as follows

Since = and (0) = 6

41
 Forced RLC Circuit
 Let the initial capacitor voltage V0 and initial inductor current I0. Applying KVL in loop 1
= + + (1)
We know
=

= = =

= =
Putting all these value in Eq. (1), we get
+ + = (2)

+ + = (3)

+ + = (4)

 The transient response is the circuit’s temporary response that will die out with time.

 The steady-state response is the behavior of the circuit a long time after an external excitation
is applied.
42
Forced RLC Circuit
The solution of Eq. (4), has two components: the transient response ( ) and the steady-state
response ( ) that is
= + ( ) (5)
The transient response is the component of the total response that dies out with time.
The form of the transient response is the same as the form of the solution obtained in the
source-free circuit.
= + (Overdamped) (6)
=( + ) (Critically damped) (7)
= ( + ) (Underdamped) (8)
The steady-state response is the final value of .

= ∞ = (9)

Thus, the complete solutions for the overdamped, underdamped, and

critically damped cases are
= + + (Overdamped) (10)
= + + (Critically damped) (11)
= + + (Underdamped) (12)
43
Forced RLC Circuit

44
Forced RLC Circuit
Numerical Example
1. For the following circuit, find and ( ) for > 0. Consider =5

2. Having been in position a for a long time, the switch in following circuit is
moved to position b at = 0. Find ( ) and ( ) for > 0.

45
Forced RLC Circuit
Solution
1. The initial current through the inductor is

and the initial voltage across the capacitor is the same as the voltage across the 1 ohm
resistor; that is,
0 = 1 0 = 1 × 4 = 4V

The characteristic roots of the Eq. (1) are obtained as

+5 +4 =4 (1)

46
Forced RLC Circuit
Since > , we have the overdamped natural response. The total response is therefore

= + + (Overdamped) (2)

Where is the steady-state response. It is the final value of the capacitor voltage. From
the circuit diagram = 24V, Thus,

= + + 24 (3)
By using the initial conditions

0 =4= + + 24 (4)
+ = −20 (5)
And,
0 = =4→ = = .
= 16
From Eq. (3),
0
=− −4

47
Forced RLC Circuit

= 16 = − −4 (6)
From Eq. (5) and (6),

64 4
=− , =
3 3
Hence Eq. (3) can be written as

= + + (6)

48
Forced RLC Circuit
Answer 2.

49
 References

1. Charles K Alexander, Mathew N O Sadiku, Fundamentals of Electric Circuits, 5th edition,

Tata McGraw Hill, 2012.
2. Ashfaq Husain, Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering, 3rd Edition, Dhanpat Rai & Co.
(Pvt.) Ltd. 2005.

3. B. L. Theraja, A. K. Theraja and S. G. Tarnekar, A Textbook of Electrical Technology Volume I

Basic Electrical Engineering in S. I. System of Units, S. Chand & Company Ltd. 2005.

4. John Bird, Electrical Circuit Theory And Technology, 4th edition, Newnes Publications, 2010.

50
DC Transients

circuits

End of Module 2
Thanks…

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