AC Transients - GATE Study Material in PDF

In the previous article we have seen about Source Free RC Circuits, Source free RLC
Circuits and Networks with Sources along with examples for each. In these free GATE
2018 Notes, we will delve even deeper into Network Theory and Transient Analysis.
These GATE Study Material entitled ‘AC Transients’ will deal with Laplace
Transform Approach for Network Transients and AC Transient Analysis.

These GATE Study Notes is designed to help you ace your GATE EC, GATE EE, IES,
BARC, BSNL, DRDO and other PSU and Placement exams. You can get AC Transients
downloaded in PDF so that your GATE Preparation is made easy.

Before you start reading AC Transients though, you need to understand the basics on
which this topic is built, using the articles listed below.

Recommended Reading –

Laplace Transforms

Basic Network Theory Concepts

Source Transformation & Reciprocity Theorem

Kirchhoff’s Laws – KCL & KVL

Nodal & Mesh Analysis

Voltage Division, Current Division, Star-Delta Conversion

Thevenin’s, Norton's & Tellegen’s Theorems

1|Page
 Maximum Power Transfer & Superposition Theorem for EC

Superposition & Maximum Power Transfer Theorem for EE

Network Transients - 1

Network Transients - 2

Network Transients - 3

Laplace Transform Approach for Solving Transient

Problems for (0 ≤ t ≤ ∞):

Case i:

For Resistor

Case ii:

For Inductor

2|Page
Case iii:

For Capacitor

3|Page
Example:

Determine the current i(t) for t ≥ 0. Assume iL(0) = 2A.

Solution:
1
Given, iL (0) = 2A, L{u(t)} = s

Represent the given network in s-Domain then we get

4|Page
From superposition theorem we can calculate I(s)

i.e. I(S) = I1(s) + I2(s)

2s
2 (s||2) 2 2 2s 1
I1 (s) = s × (s||2+2) = s × s+2
2s = s × 4s+4 = s+1
+2
s+2

1 2 1 1 2 1 s+2
I2 (s) = [ s × 2+2||s] × 2 = 2s . 2s = s × 4s+4
2+
2+s

1 1(s+2)
∴ I(S) = I1 (s) + I2 (s) = s+1 + 4s(s+1)

1
1 1 −
I(s) = s+1 + 2s + 4
s+1

1 1
∴ i(t) = e−t + 2 u(t) − 4 e−t

AC Transients
So for we have seen transients in the DC circuits

Now we will discuss transients in AC circuit and transient free condition for RL and RC
circuits.

5|Page
Series RL Circuit:

Consider the series RL circuit with Vin = Vm sin(ωt+ϕ)

Complete response = Natural response + forced response

i(t) = itr(t) + iss(t)

R
i(t) = ke−t/τ + iss (t) = k. e− L t + iss (t)

Calculation of iss(t) using Laplace Approach:

I(s) 1 1
H(s) = V(s) = Z(𝑠) = R+sL

1 1 ωL
H(jω) = R+jωL = ∠ − tan−1 ( R )
√R2 +(ωL)2

I(s) = V(s). H(s)

1 ωL
∴ i(t) = Vm . sin(ωt + ϕ − tan−1 ( R ) = iss (t)
√R2 +(ωL)2

∴ i(t) = itr (t) + iss (t)

R
Vm ωL
= k. e− L t + sin (ωt + ϕ − tan−1 ( R ))
√R2 +(ωL)2

i(0− ) = 0A = i(0+ )

Vm ωL
0= k+ sin (ϕ − tan−1 ( R ))
√R2 +(ωL)2

6|Page
 Vm ωL
∴K=− sin (ϕ − tan−1 ( R )) ≪ 1
√R +(ωL)2
2

ωL
If ϕ − tan−1 ( R ) = 0 ⇒ K = 0 ⇒ i(t) = iss (t) i. e. a transient free response

Note:

So, for Vin = Vm sin(ωt+ϕ), the condition for transient free response is

ωL
(ωt + ϕ)t=t0 = tan−1 ( )
R

Suppose if Vin(t) = Vm cos(ωt+ϕ), then the condition for transient free response is
ωL π
(ωt + ϕ)t=t0 = tan−1 ( ) +
R 2

Series RC Circuit:

Like series RL circuit, we can also obtain transient free condition for series RC circuit by
replacing inductor L by capacitor C and time constant (L/R) by RC. Then we get

i. For Vin = Vm sin(ωt + ϕ), then the transient free condition is

(ωt + ϕ)t=t0 = tan−1(ωCR)

𝐢𝐢. For Vin = Vm cos(ωt + ϕ) , then the transient free condition is,

7|Page
 π
(ωt + ϕ)t=t0 = tan−1(ωCR) +
2

Parallel RL Circuit:

Consider the circuit

𝐢. If i(t) = Im sin(ωt + ϕ) then condition for transient free response is

ωL
(ωt + ϕ)t=t0 = tan−1 ( )
R

𝐢𝐢. If i(t) = Im cos(ωt + ϕ) then condition for transient free response is

ωL π
(ωt + ϕ)t=t0 = tan−1 ( ) +
R 2

Parallel RC Circuit:

Consider the circuit

𝐢. If i(t) = Im sin(ωt + ϕ) then condition for transient free response is

(ωt + ϕ)t0 = tan−1(ωCR)

𝐢𝐢. If i(t) = Im cos(ωt + ϕ) then condition for transient free response is

π
(ωt + ϕ)t=t0 = tan−1 (ωCR) +
2

8|Page
Example 1:
Determine the value of to which result in a transient free response of the given circuit

Solution:

Given, Vin(t) = sin ωt = sin 100πt

ωL
Transient free condition is, 100πt|t=t0 = tan−1 ( R )

2π×50×0.01
100πt 0 = tan−1 ( )
5

∴t0 = 1.79 m sec

Example 2:

Determine the value of ‘to’ for transient free response

9|Page
Solution:
π
Given, V(t) = 10 cos (2t + 4 )

π π
Transient free condition is, 2t + 4 | = tan−1(ωCR) + 2
t=t0

1 π
2t 0 = tan−1 (2 × 2 × 1) + 4

π π
2t 0 = tan−1(1) + 4 = 2

π
∴ t 0 = 4 sec

Liked this article on AC Transients? Enjoyed reading about Laplace Transform

Approach for Network Transients.? Let us know in the comments. You may also like
some more articles in our series to help you ace your exam and have concepts made
easy –

Magnetic Coupled Circuits

10 | P a g e