Transient Analysis of

AC Circuits
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 2
Transients
The time-varying currents and voltages
resulting from the sudden application of
sources, usually due to switching, are
called transients.

R-L Circuit
Current Buildup Transients
For the simple R-L circuit the voltage differential
equation at the transient period is given by:
) sin( 2
v
L R
t V v(t)
dt
di(t)
L Ri(t) v(t)
(t) v (t) v v(t)
u e + =
+ =
+ =
Transient of AC Circuits 3 Dr. H.H. Hanafy
) ( ) ( ) ( t i t i t i
tr ss
+ =
Where:
i
ss
(t) = the steady state current.
i
tr
(t)= the transient current which is a decaying
current with time.
Transient of AC Circuits 4 Dr. H.H. Hanafy
This Equation is a first order differential equation and
has a solution given by:
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 5
To get i
ss
(t) we solve the circuit in steady state
conditions:
) ( u

u
Z =
Z
Z
=
v
v
ss
Z
V
Z
V
I
) sin( 2 ) ( u e + =
v ss
t
Z
V
t i
R
X
X R Z
Z JX R Z
Z I JX R I V
L
L
L
L
1
2
2
t an
) ( Impedance
) (

= + =
Z = + = =
= + =

Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 6

The i
tr
(t) could be assumed in the following form:
t / t
tr
e A i

=
Where :
A is a constant
R
L
= t t : by given and constant time the is
t /
) ( ) (
t
ss
Ae t i t i

+ =
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 7
To get the constant A we use the initial conditions
Let at t = 0 the current i(t) has an initial value of I
o
) sin( 2
) sin( 2
u
u
=
+ =
v o
v o
Z
V
I A
A
Z
V
I
t
u u e
/
)} sin( 2 { ) sin( 2 ) (
t
v o v
e
Z
V
I t
Z
V
t i

+ + =
Hence:
) ( ) ( t i R t v
R
=
) ( ) ( ) ( t v t v t v
R L
=
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 8
If I
o
= 0

) sin( 2 u =
v
Z
V
A
t
u u e
/
)} sin( 2 { ) sin( 2 ) (
t
v v
e
Z
V
t
Z
V
t i

+ =
Hence:
) ( ) ( t i R t v
R
=
) ( ) ( ) ( t v t v t v
R L
=
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 9
If (
v
-) = 90 and >> T
If (
v
-) = 0 then i
tr
= 0
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 10
De-energizing Transients
For the simple R-L circuit the voltage differential equation
at the transient period is given by:
dt
t di
L t Ri
t V t V
L R
) (
) ( 0
) ( ) ( 0
+ =
+ =
This Equation is a first order differential equation and
has a solution given by:
t /
) ( ) (
t
ss
Ae t i t i

+ =
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 11
i
ss
(t) =0
t /
) (
t
Ae t i

=
To get the constant A we use the initial conditions
Let at t = 0 the current i(t) has an initial value of I
o
A I
o
=
t /
) (
t
o
e I t i

=
Hence:
) ( ) ( t i R t V
R
=
t /
) (
t
o R
e RI t V

=
) ( ) ( t V t V
R L
=
t /
) (
t
o L
e RI t V

=
R-C Circuit
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 12
Capacitor Charging Equations
For the simple R-C circuit the voltage differential
equation at the transient period is given by:
) sin( 2
) (
) (
) (
) ( ) ( ) (
) ( ) ( ) (
v
c
c
c c
c R
t V v(t)
t v
dt
t dv
RC t v
t v t Ri t v
t v t v t v
u e + =
+ =
+ =
+ =
) ( ) ( ) ( t v t v t v
tr ss c
+ =
Where:
v
ss
(t) = the steady state voltage.
V
tr
(t)= the transient voltage which is a decaying
voltage with time.
Transient of AC Circuits 13 Dr. H.H. Hanafy
This Equation is a first order differential equation and
has a solution given by:
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 14
To get v
ss
(t) we solve the circuit in steady state
conditions:
R
X
X R Z
Z JX R Z
Z I JX R I V
C
C
C
c C c
1
2
2
t an
) ( Impedance
) (

= + =
Z = = =
= =

u
+ Z =
Z
Z
=
v
v
css
Z
V
Z
V
I
) sin( 2 ) ( u e + + =
v css
t I t i
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 15
) 90 sin( 2 ) ( + + = u e
v c ss
t X I t v
) 90 sin( 2 ) ( + + = u e
v
c
ss
t
Z
VX
t v
C css ss
X I J V =
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 16
The v
tr
(t) could be assumed in the following form:
t /
) (
t
tr
e A t v

=
Where :
A is a constant
RC = t t : by given and constant time the is
t /
) ( ) (
t
ss c
Ae t v t v

+ =
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 17
To get the constant A we use the initial conditions
Let at t = 0 the voltage v
c
(t) has an initial value of V
o
) 90 sin( 2
) 90 sin( 2
+ =
+ + =
u
u
v
c
o
v
c
o
Z
VX
V A
A
Z
VX
V
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 18
t
u
u e
/
)} 90 sin( 2 {
) 90 sin( 2 ) (
t
v
c
o
v
c
c
e
Z
VX
V
t
Z
VX
t v

+
+ + + =
dt
t dv
C t i
c
c
) (
) ( =
R t i t v t v t v
c C R
) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( = =
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 19
If (
v
+) = 0 and >> T
If V
o
= 0
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 20
Capacitor Discharging Equations
) (
) (
0
) ( ) ( 0
) ( ) ( 0
t v
dt
t dv
RC
t v t Ri
t v t v
c
c
c c
c R
+ =
+ =
+ =
For the simple R-C circuit the voltage differential
equation at the transient period is given by:
This Equation is a first order differential equation and
has a solution given by:
t /
) ( ) (
t
ss c
Ae t v t v

+ =
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 21
0 ) ( = t v
ss
t /
) (
t
c
Ae t v

=
To get the constant A we use the initial conditions
Let at t = 0 the voltage v
c
(t) has an initial value of V
o
A V
o
=
t /
) (
t
o c
e V t v

=
Hence:
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 22
dt
t dV
C t i
c
c
) (
) ( =
t /
) (
t
o
c
e
R
V
t i

=
R t i t V t v
c C R
) ( ) ( ) ( = =
t /
) (
t
o R
e V t v

=
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 23
R-L-C Circuit
For the simple R-L-C circuit the voltage differential
equation at the transient period is given by:
) sin( 2
) (
1 ) (
) ( ) (
) ( ) ( ) ( ) (
v
c L R
t V v(t)
dt t i
C dt
t di
L t Ri t v
t v t v t v t v
u e + =
+ + =
+ + =
}
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 24
) (
1 ) ( ) (
) (
) (
1 ) (
) ( ) (
2
2
\
t i
C dt
t i d
L
dt
t di
R t v
dt t i
C dt
t di
L t Ri t v
+ + =
+ + =
}
) ( ) ( ) ( t i t i t i
tr ss
+ =
Where:
i
ss
(t) = the steady state current.
i
tr
(t)= the transient current which is a decaying
current with time.
This Equation is a second order differential equation
and has a solution given by:
Transient of AC Circuits 25 Dr. H.H. Hanafy
To get i
ss
(t) we solve the circuit in steady state
conditions:
R
X X
X X R Z
Z X X J R Z
Z I JX JX R I V
X I J X I J R I V
C L
C L
C L
C L
C L

= + =
Z = + =
= + =
+ =
1 2 2
t an ) (
) (
) (

u
Z =
Z
Z
=
v
v
Z
V
Z
V
I
) sin(
) (
2 ) (
2 2
u e +
+
=
v
C L
ss
t
X X R
V
t i
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 26
To get i
tr
(t) we solve the homogeneous
differential equation.
The homogeneous differential equation is
obtained by setting the forcing function to zero.
0 ) (
1 ) ( ) (
) (
1 ) ( ) (
0
2
2
2
2
= + +
+ + =
t i
LC dt
t di
L
R
dt
t i d
t i
C dt
t i d
L
dt
t di
R
tr
tr tr
tr
tr tr
This equation has a general solution with the form:
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 27
S
1
and S
2
are the roots of the characteristic equation:

0
1
2
= + +
LC
S
L
R
S
0 2
2 2
= + +
n n
S S e ,e
rat io damping
2
frequency nat ural
1
=
=
L
C R
LC
n
,
e
K
1
, K
2
are constants determined by initial conditions
(capacitor voltage and inductor current).
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 28
1
1
2
2
2
1
=
+ =
, e ,e
, e ,e
n n
n n
S
S
2
4 4 2
2 2 2
2 , 1
n n n
S
e , e ,e +
=
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 29
1. Overdamped case

If > 1, the roots of the characteristic equation
are real and distinct. Then the solution is
( )
t s t s
tr
e K e K t i
2 1
2 1
+ =
In this case, we say that the circuit is
overdamped.
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 30
2. Critically damped case

If = 1, the roots of the characteristic equation
are real and equal. Then the solution is
( )
t s t s
tr
te K e K t i
1 1
2 1
+ =
In this case, we say that the circuit is
critically damped.
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 31
3. Underdamped case

if < 1, the roots of the characteristic
equation are complex. In other words, the
roots are of the form
2
1 , e e =
n d
d n
d n
J S
J S
e ,e
e ,e
=
+ =
2
1
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 32
For complex roots, the solution is of the form:
( ) ( ) ( ) t e K t e K t i
d
t
d
t
tr
n n
e e
,e ,e
sin cos
2 1

+ =
In this case, we say that the circuit is
underdamped.
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 33
4. Undamped case

if = 0 (R=0), the roots of the characteristic
equation are imaginary. In other words, the
roots are of the form
n
n
J S
J S
e
e
=
=
2
1
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 34
For imaginary roots, the solution is of the form:
( ) ( ) ( ) t K t K t i
n n tr
e e sin cos
2 1
+ =
In this case, we say that the circuit is undamped
or oscillatory.
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 35
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 36
R-L-C Circuit
For the simple R-L-C circuit the voltage differential
equation at the transient period is given by:
) sin( 2
) (
) ( ) (
) (
) ( ) ( ) ( ) (
2
v
c
c c
c L R
t V v(t)
t v
dt
t v d
LC
dt
t dv
RC t v
t v t v t v t v
u e + =
+ + =
+ + =
dt
t dv
c t i
c
) (
) ( =
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 37
) ( ) ( ) ( t v t v t v
tr ss c
+ =
Where:
v
ss
(t) = the steady state voltage.
v
tr
(t)= the transient voltage which is a decaying
voltage with time.
This Equation is a second order differential equation
and has a solution given by:
) (
) ( ) (
) (
2
t v
dt
t v d
LC
dt
t dv
RC t v
c
c c
+ + =
Transient of AC Circuits 38 Dr. H.H. Hanafy
To get v
ss
(t) we solve the circuit in steady state
conditions:
R
X X
X X R Z
Z X X J R Z
Z I JX JX R I V
X I J X I J R I V
C L
C L
C L
C L
C L

= + =
Z = + =
= + =
+ =
1 2 2
t an ) (
) (
) (

u
Z =
Z
Z
=
v
v
Z
V
Z
V
I
) sin(
) (
2 ) (
2 2
u e +
+
=
v
C L
ss
t
X X R
V
t i
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 39
) 90 sin( 2 ) ( + + = u e
v c ss
t X I t v
) 90 sin( 2 ) ( + + = u e
v
c
ss
t
Z
VX
t v
C ss ss
X I J V =
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 40
To get v
tr
(t) we solve the homogeneous
differential equation.
The homogeneous differential equation is
obtained by setting the forcing function to zero.
This equation has a general solution with the form:
0 ) (
1 ) ( ) (
) (
) ( ) (
0
2
2
= + +
+ + =
t v
LC dt
t dv
L
R
dt
t v d
t v
dt
t v d
LC
dt
t dv
RC
tr
tr tr
tr
tr tr
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 41
S
1
and S
2
are the roots of the characteristic equation:

0
1
2
= + +
LC
S
L
R
S
0 2
2 2
= + +
n n
S S e ,e
rat io damping
2
frequency nat ural
1
=
=
L
C R
LC
n
,
e
K
1
, K
2
are constants determined by initial conditions
(capacitor voltage and inductor current).
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 42
1
1
2
2
2
1
=
+ =
, e ,e
, e ,e
n n
n n
S
S
2
4 4 2
2 2 2
2 , 1
n n n
S
e , e ,e +
=
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 43
1. Overdamped case

If > 1, the roots of the characteristic equation
are real and distinct. Then the solution is
( )
t s t s
tr
e K e K t v
2 1
2 1
+ =
In this case, we say that the circuit is
overdamped.
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 44
2. Critically damped case

If = 1, the roots of the characteristic equation
are real and equal. Then the solution is
( )
t s t s
tr
te K e K t v
1 1
2 1
+ =
In this case, we say that the circuit is
critically damped.
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 45
3. Underdamped case

if < 1, the roots of the characteristic
equation are complex. In other words, the
roots are of the form
2
1 , e e =
n d
d n
d n
J S
J S
e ,e
e ,e
=
+ =
2
1
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 46
For complex roots, the solution is of the form:
( ) ( ) ( ) t e K t e K t v
d
t
d
t
tr
n n
e e
,e ,e
sin cos
2 1

+ =
In this case, we say that the circuit is
underdamped.
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 47
4. Undamped case

if = 0 (R=0), the roots of the characteristic
equation are imaginary. In other words, the
roots are of the form
n
n
J S
J S
e
e
=
=
2
1
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 48
For imaginary roots, the solution is of the form:
( ) ( ) ( ) t K t K t v
n n tr
e e sin cos
2 1
+ =
In this case, we say that the circuit is undamped
or oscillatory.
Transient of AC Circuits Dr. H.H. Hanafy 49