Special Issue Article

Advances in Mechanical Engineering

2015, Vol. 7(12) 1–7
Ó The Author(s) 2015
Fractional electrical circuits DOI: 10.1177/1687814015618127
aime.sagepub.com

Ahmed Alsaedi1, Juan J Nieto1,2 and V Venktesh2,3

Abstract
We study three different types of electrical circuit equations using fractional calculus and various definitions of fractional
derivative therein. Using plotting tools, we compare different types of solutions of each equation among themselves as
well as with its classical solution.

Keywords
Circuit, dynamic systems, modelling, numerical analysis, fractional differential equations, fractional integral, fractional
derivative, electrical circuits

Date received: 28 September 2015; accepted: 23 October 2015

Academic Editor: Xiao-Jun Yang

Introduction fractional electric circuits in Atangana and Alkahtani.6

For a more detailed analysis of fractional circuits, we
Fractional calculus has seen many advancements over refer the reader to Kaczorek7 and the monograph.8
the past years and we find that many classical physics We aim to solve equations (1)–(3) using fractional
models are today being analysed using fractional differ- calculus and compare the results with classical
ential equations. The theory and applications on such solutions.
analysis can be found in several studies.1–3
Here, we cover the basic equations of electric circuits
involving resistors, capacitors and inductors. We ana- Preliminary results
lyse the following equations for three different types of
circuits4 While using fractional calculus, one has many choices
for definitions of fractional integral as well as fractional
1 derivative. Since we want to analyse the electric circuit
I 00 (t) + I(t) = 0 ð1Þ
LC differential equations using more than one type of frac-
1 tional derivative, we consider the following approaches
CV 0 (t) + V (t) = 0 ð2Þ for the same, where the order of differentiation is
R
always positive.
LI 0 (t) + RI(t) = V ð3Þ

where I(t) is the current in the circuit at time t, L is the 1

Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
inductance, C is the capacitance, R is the resistance and 2
Departamento de Análise Matemática, Universidade de Santiago de
V is the voltage drop across the circuit. Equation (1) Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
3
represents the LC (inductor–capacitor) circuit, equation Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani, Pilani, India
(2) represents RC (resistor–capacitor) circuit and equa-
Corresponding author:
tion (3) represents LR (inductor-resistor) circuit. Some Juan J Nieto, Departamento de Análise Matemática, Universidade de
preliminary numerical results for RLC circuits are pre- Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
sented in Atangana and Nieto5 and some extensions to Email: [email protected]

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2 Advances in Mechanical Engineering

Definition 1. For a function f given on interval ½a, b, the X

n1

Riemann–Liouville fractional-order derivative of order y(t) = yk uk (t) + y (t)

k =0
a(n  1\a  n) of f is defined by9
with
 n ðt
1 d 
a
Da f (t) = (t  s)a + n1 f (s)ds I0a q(t)
Ð
if l = 0
G(n  a) dt y (t) = 1 t 0
a l 0 q(t  s)u 0 (s)ds if l 6¼ 0
provided the right-hand side is defined for a.e. t. where uk (t) = I0k ea (t), k = 0, 1, . . . , n  1 and ea (t) :¼
For example, f 2 L1 (a, b) implies that the Riemann– Ea (lta )
Liouville fractional derivative is well defined for f.
We define AC n (½a, b) as a space of functions f such Remark 1. In the case 0\a\1, we can rewrite the solu-
that f is absolutely continuous. tion of problem (4) in the form

ðt
Definition 2. Let f 2 AC n (½a, b). The Caputo fractional- y(t) = y(0)Ea (lt ) + a q(t  s)sa1 E0 a (lsa )ds
a
order derivative of f , order a(n  1\a  n), is defined
by9 0

ðt Lemma 2. For a differentiable function f defined on

c 1
( Daa f )(t) :¼ (t  s)na1 f (n) (s)ds ½a, b, we can relate its Riemann–Liouville and Caputo
G(n  a) fractional-order derivatives as follows
a
!
n
X
n1
tk (k) +
Definition 3. Let f 2 AC (½a, b) The Caputo–Fabrizio Daa f (t)  f (0 ) = c Daa f (t)
fractional-order derivative of f , order a(0\a  1), is k=0
G(k + 1)
defined by10
where a 2 R+ and n  1\a  n.
ðt  
(2  a)M(a) a
CF
Daa f (t) = exp  (t  s) f 0 (s)ds Lemma 3. Let 0\a\1. Then, the unique solution of
2(1  a) 1a the following initial value problem10
a

The Caputo–Fabrizio fractional integral was previ-

CF
Da f (t) = s(t), t0
ously introduced by Caputo and Fabrizio.11 with f (0) = f0 2 R is given by
Now, we present the generalized Mittag–Leffler
function denoted by Ea, b and defined as f (t) = f0 + aa ðs(t)  s(0)Þ + ba I 1 s(t), t0
X
‘
zk where I 1 s denotes a primitive of s and
Ea, b (z) :¼
k =0
G(ka + b)
2(1  a) 2a
aa = , ba =
Also (2  a)M(a) (2  a)M(a)
ð
1 lab el
Ea, b (z) = dl
2pi la  z RLC circuits
Y
In this section, we apply various approaches of frac-
where Y is a contour, which starts and ends at ‘ and tional calculus to equations (1)–(3) and obtain some
encircles the disc jlj  j zj1=a counterclockwise. results of comparing their solutions with the corre-
sponding classical solutions.
Lemma 1. Let a.0, n = dae and l 2 R. The solution of
the initial value problem3 LC circuit

Da y(t) = ly(t) + q(t)
c Only charged capacitor and inductor are present in the
(k) ð4Þ circuit and its differential equation is given as follows
y (0)yk , k = 0, 1, . . . , n  1

where q 2 C½0, b is a given function and can be 1

I 00 (t) + I(t) = 0 ð5Þ
expressed in the form LC

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Alsaedi et al. 3

with I(0) = I0 and I 0 (0) = 0. We will represent 1=LC I(t) = I0 Ea (  v20 ta ) ð10Þ
as v20 here onwards. The classical solution of equation
(5) is
Caputo–Fabrizio derivative. Now, equation (5) becomes
I(t) = I0 cos (v0 t) ð6Þ CF
Da I(t) + v20 I(t) = 0 ð11Þ
Now, to analyse equation (5) using fractional calcu-
Using Lemma 3, the solution of equation (11) is
lus, we replace I 00 (t) by Da I(t) (Riemann–Liouville),
c a given by
D I(t) (Caputo) and CF Da I(t) (Caputo–Fabrizio) deri-
vatives where a 2 (1, 2).     
q  p qt p p + q qt
I(t) = I0 e 2t
e +
2 e 2 ð12Þ
2q 2q
qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
Riemann–Liouville derivative. Now, equation (5) becomes where p = (1  a)v20 and q = ½(1  a)v20   4av20 .
2

Da I(t) + v20 I(t) = 0 ð7Þ

Graphical comparison. Figure 1 shows the plots for equa-
Using Lemmas 1 and 2, the solution of equation (7) tions (6), (8), (10) and (12). As it can be clearly seen, for
is given by a = 1:5, all three fractional derivative graphs behave
similarly and show damped oscillation eventually
I0 reaching to 0. Whereas the classical approach graph
I(t) = I0 Ea (  v20 ta ) + 2
v0 G(1  a) represents a simple harmonic oscillation (cosine curve).
ðt ð8Þ But when we take a = 1:999 (Figure 2), classical,
(t  s)a sa1 Ea0 (  v20 sa )ds Riemann–Liouville and Caputo derivative graphs over-
lap each other representing the harmonic oscillation in
0
the values of current as time progresses. Even in this
case, the Caputo–Fabrizio approach shows damping
Caputo derivative. Now, equation (5) becomes and behaves very differently from other graphs.

c
Da I(t) + v20 I(t) = 0 ð9Þ RC circuit
Using Lemma 1, the solution of equation (9) is given Only charged capacitor and resistor are present in the
by circuit and its differential equation is given as follows

Figure 1. Current versus time graph (L = 1, C = 1, I0 = 0:01 and a = 1:5).

The graphs representing Riemann–Liouville fractional derivative cases are approximations of the corresponding solutions.

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4 Advances in Mechanical Engineering

Figure 2. Current versus time graph (L = 1, C = 1, I0 = 0:01 and a = 1:999).

The graphs representing Riemann–Liouville fractional derivative cases are approximations of the corresponding solutions.

1 Using Lemma 1, the solution of equation (17) is

CV 0 (t) + V (t) = 0 ð13Þ
R given by
with V (0) = V0 . The classical solution of equation (13)  
1 a
is V (t) = V0 Ea  t ð18Þ
RC
1
V (t) = V0 eRCt ð14Þ

Now, to analyse equation (13) using fractional cal- Caputo–Fabrizio derivative. Now, equation (13) becomes
culus, we replace V 0 (t) by Da V (t) (Riemann–Liouville), 1
c a
D V (t) (Caputo) and CF Da V (t) (Caputo–Fabrizio) C CF Da V (t) + V (t) = 0 ð19Þ
R
derivatives where a 2 (0, 1
Using Lemma 3, the solution of equation (19) is
given by
Riemann–Liouville derivative. Now, equation (13) becomes
2a

1 V (t) = V0 e2RC + 2(1a)t ð20Þ

a
CD V (t) + V (t) = 0 ð15Þ
R
Using Lemmas 1 and 2, the solution of equation (15) Graphical comparison. Figure 3 shows the plots for equa-
is given by tions (14), (16), (18) and (20). As it can be clearly seen,
for a = 0:5, classical and Caputo–Fabrizio fractional
1 a V0 a derivative graphs behave similarly and eventually
V (t) = V0 Ea (  t )
RC G(1  a) reaching to 0. Whereas the Riemann–Liouville and
ðt   ð16Þ Caputo fractional derivative graphs start similarly like
a a1 0 1 a the previous two, but later go to negative infinity as
(t  s) s Ea  s ds
RC time moves forward. But when we take a = 0:999
0
(Figure 4), classical, Riemann–Liouville, Caputo and
Caputo–Fabrizio derivative graphs overlap each other
Caputo derivative. Now, equation (13) becomes representing the simple decay of voltage in the circuit
as time progresses. Even in this case, the initial value
1 for Riemann–Liouville does not coincide with V0 due
C c Da V (t) + V (t) = 0 ð17Þ to the presence of 1/t in its formula.
R

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Alsaedi et al. 5

Figure 3. Voltage versus time graph (C = 1, R = 10, V0 = 20 and a = 0:5).

The graphs representing Riemann–Liouville fractional derivative cases are approximations of the corresponding solutions.

Figure 4. Voltage versus time graph (C = 1, R = 10, V0 = 20 and a = 0:999).

The graphs representing Riemann–Liouville fractional derivative cases are approximations of the corresponding solutions.
 
RL circuit VL Rt VL
I(t) = I0  e L + ð22Þ
Only resistor, inductor and a non-variant voltage R R
source are present in the circuit and its differential Now, to analyse equation (21) using fractional cal-
equation is given as follows culus, we replace I 0 (t) by Da I(t) (Riemann–Liouville),
c a
D I(t) (Caputo) and CF Da I(t) (Caputo–Fabrizio) deri-
LI 0 (t) + RI(t) = V ð21Þ vatives where a 2 (0, 1.
with I(0) = I0 and V is the constant voltage source. The
classical solution of equation (21) is Riemann–Liouville derivative. Now, equation (21) becomes

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6 Advances in Mechanical Engineering

Figure 5. Current versus time graph (L = 1, R = 10, V = 10, I0 = 0:01 and a = 0:5).
The graphs representing Riemann–Liouville fractional derivative cases are approximations of the corresponding solutions.

 
LDa I(t) + RI(t) = V ð23Þ V V 2aR
I(t) =   I0 e2L + 2R(1a)t ð28Þ
R R
Using Lemmas 1 and 2, the solution of equation (23)
is given by
  Graphical comparison. Figure 5 shows the plots for equa-
R
I(t) = I0 Ea  ta tions (22), (24), (26) and (28). As it can be clearly seen,
L for a = 0:5, none of the four graphs shows any similar-
ðt     ity in their behaviours. All the three fractional deriva-
V I0 (t  s)a a1 0 R a
+a  s Ea  s ds tive graphs show varied divergence from the classical
L G(1  a) L
0 approach graph sometimes tending to positive/negative
ð24Þ infinity. But when we take a = 0:999 (Figure 6), classi-
cal and Caputo–Fabrizio derivative graphs overlap
each other representing exponential increase and then a
Caputo derivative. Now, equation (21) becomes steady state for the values of current as time progresses.
The Caputo fractional derivative graphs coincide with
Lc Da I(t) + RI(t) = V ð25Þ the classical one but diverges to very large positive val-
ues as time progresses whereas the Riemann–Liouville
Using Lemma 1, the solution of equation (25) is graph shows no similarity at all.
given by
   
aV R a aV Conclusion
I(t) = I0  Ea  t + ð26Þ
R L R
We have applied the fractional derivative definitions
and concepts on electrical circuit equations and com-
pared them with their classical counterparts. As
Caputo–Fabrizio derivative. Now, equation (21) becomes
observed after studying the comparison graphs, we can
state that fractional calculus acts as a generalization to
LCF Da I(t) + RI(t) = V ð27Þ
the classical calculus. Such analysis can be further
Using Lemma 3, the solution of equation (27) is applied to other physical models to develop a better
given by understanding of use of fractional calculus in real-life
problems.

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Alsaedi et al. 7

Figure 6. Current versus time graph (L = 1, R = 10, V = 10, I0 = 0:01 and a = 0:999).
The graphs representing Riemann–Liouville fractional derivative cases are approximations of the corresponding solutions.

Declaration of conflicting interests 4. Krantz SG and Simmons GF. Differential equations: the-
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with ory, technique and practice. 2nd ed.Boston, MA:
respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this McGraw-Hill, 2007.
article. 5. Atangana A and Nieto JJ. Numerical solution for the
model of RLC circuit via the fractional derivative with-
out singular kernel. Adv Mech Eng. Epub ahead of print
Funding 29 October 2015. DOI: 10.1177/1687814015613758.
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial sup- 6. Atangana A and Alkahtani BST. Extension of the resis-
port for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this tance, inductance, capacitance electrical circuit to frac-
article: The work of J.J.N. and V.V. was partially supported tional derivative without singular kernel. Adv Mech Eng.
by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad of Spain Epub ahead of print 26 June 2015. DOI: 10.1177/
under grant MTM2013–43014–P, Xunta de Galicia under 1687814015591937.
grants R2014/002 and GRC 2015/004, and co-financed by the 7. Kaczorek T. Positive electrical circuits and their reach-
European Community fund FEDER. ability. Arch Elect Eng 2011; 60: 283–301.
8. Kaczorek T and Rogowski K. Fractional linear systems
and electrical circuits. London: Springer, 2007.
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