UNIT-IV

TRANSIENT
RESPONSE FOR
DC CIRCUITS
 TRANSIENT RESPONSE
 Electrical circuits are connected to supply by closing the switch
and disconnected from the supply by opening the switch. This
switching operation will change the current and voltage in the
device.

A purely resistive device will allow instantaneous change in

current and voltage.

An inductive device will not allow sudden change in current or

delay the change in current.

A capacitive device will not allow sudden change in voltage or

delay the change in voltage.
 TRANSIENT RESPONSE
 Hence when switching operation is performed in inductive or
capacitive device the current and voltage in the device will take a
certain time to change from pre-switching value to steady value
after switching.

 This study of switching condition in network is called transient

analysis.

 The state (or condition) of the current from the instant of

switching to attainment of steady state is called transient state or
transient.

 The current and voltage of circuit elements during transient period

is called TRANSIENT RESPONSE.
 TRANSIENT RESPONSE
 The transient may also occur due to variation in circuit elements.

 Transient analysis is an useful tool in electrical engineering for

analysis of switching conditions in Circuit breakers,
Relays,Generators, etc.

 It is also useful for the analysis of faulty conditions in electrical

devices.

 Transient analysis is also useful for analyzing switching Conditions

in analog and digital Electronic devices.
 I I

1Ω 1Ω
1V 2V

I = 1A I = 2A

Voltage source change from 1V to 2V immediately

Does the current change immediately too?
 Voltage
AC voltage

2V

1V

time

Current

2A

1A

time
 I I

1Ω 1Ω
1V L 2V L

I = 1A I = 2A

Voltage source change from 1V to 2V immediately

Does the current change immediately too?
 Voltage
AC voltage

2V

1V

time

Current

2A

1A Forced Response

time

Transient Response + Forced Response

 Unit Step Input and Switches
Voltage

1V

0V time

This kind of source is frequently used in circuit analysis.

AC
Step input = change suddenly from x volts to y volts
u(t) Unit-step input = change suddenly from 0 volts to 1 volt at t=0
This kind of input is normal because it come from on-off switches.
 Pendulum Example
I am holding a ball with a rope attached, what is the movement of the ball if
I move my hand to another point?

Movements

1. Oscillation

2. Forced position change

• Transient Response or Natural Response
(e.g. oscillation, position change temporarily)

Fade over time

Resist changes

• Forced Response
(e.g. position change permanently)

Follows input
Independent of time passed
 Forced response Natural response
at different time

Mechanical systems are similar to electrical system

 i(t)

R
connect AC L

i(t)

Changing Stable

Transient Analysis Phasor Analysis

 Transient Response

• RL Circuit
First-order differential equation

• RC Circuit

• RLC Circuit Second-order differential equation

 R-L SERIES CIRCUIT TRANSIENT
R L

i(t)
K

t=0
V
Consider The R-L series circuit shown in the fig. Switch K is
closed at t=0. Referring to the circuit, balance equation
using Kirchoff’s law can be written as
Taking Laplace Transform we get
l di t 
V t   R  t  
i
dt

V  s
 I s  R  L SI s   i 0 
s
 R-L SERIES CIRCUIT TRANSIENT
Assuming there is no stored energy in the inductor I(0)=0
V s
 R I s  L S I s
s
 
V s V  s  1 
I s    
S R  SL  L   R 
S S  
  L  
A B
I s   
S R
S
L
 R V s
A S    BS 
 L L
Put s=0  R  V s V s
A   A 
L  L R
 R-L SERIES CIRCUIT TRANSIENT
R   R  V s
put S  B 
L  L  L
 
 V s V s  1 1 
B  I s   
R R S S  R

 
Taking inverse Laplace we get  L

V    t 
R 

i t   1  e  L  
R 
 

The equation clearly indicates transient nature of current, which is also

shown in figure.
 R-L SERIES CIRCUIT TRANSIENT
L/R = Time constant of the circuit, which is
denoted by Z given in seconds. Hence
Z
V  
i t   1  e t 
R 
 V
Putting t =z, we get i(z) = 0.632 R
V
where = steady state current.
R

Hence Time constant for an R-L series current circuit is

defined as the time taken by the circuit to reach 63.2%
of its final steady value.
 R - C series circuit Transient

Consider the RC circuit. Let the switch be closed at t=0.

Writing the balance equation using Kirchoff’s voltage law ,
1
v  t   iR   i dt
c
Taking Laplace transform, we get

V s 1 I s Q 0 
 I s R   
 

S c s s 
 R - C series circuit Transient
Let us assume that there is no stored energy in
the circuit. Hence Q(0+) = 0
V s I s  1 
 I s R   I s R  
s CS  CS 
 

V s  1 
I s   
R  1 
S  
 RC 

Taking Laplace inverse we get

 1 
V t   t
i t   e  RC 
R
 R - C series circuit Transient
The sketch of transient current is
shown in figure, Where the time
constant of the circuit 1  
RC

1
Putting  in the current equation we get
RC
i(z) = 0.367 V
R
Hence time constant of RC series current can be
defined as the time taken by current transient to fall
to 36.7% of its initial value.
 R-L-C Series Transient circuit

Assuming zero initial conditions when switch K is closed the balanced equation is given by
di 1
V  iR  L   idt
dt C
Taking Laplace transformation we get

V(s) I(s)  I(s)R  SL  1 

 I(s) R  LS I(s)  
s CS CS 

V(s)
V(s) L
I(s)  
1 R 1
S(R  SL  ) S2  S 
CS L LC
 R-L-C Series Transient circuit
The time response of the circuit depends on the poles or roots of
the characteristic equation
2 R 1
S S  0
L LC
Roots of the characteristic equation are given by
2
R R  1
     4
L L  LC
S1, S 2 
2

2
R R  1
S1, S 2      
2L  2L  LC
 R-L-C Series Transient circuit
2
R  1
  
Case 1: If  2L  the
LC
roots S1 and S2 are real positive
and unequal. The response of such
a case is known as over damped.
2
R  1
  
Case 2 : If 2L  the roots S1 and S2
LC
are complex conjugate the response of such a case
is called as undamped.
R 1
2

Case 3 : If  2L   LC
then the roots
S1 and S2 are complex conjugates. The
response of such a case is called as
under damped