Jacobs University Bremen

Natural Science Laboratory

Adv. EE lab Signals and Systems

Fall Semester 2014

Lab report Transient response of RLC
Circuits
Workbench 2

Authors of the report:

Andreea Ciuprina
Kristi Gadeshi
29/09/2014

Pre Lab (Experiment 1)

Problem 2.3.1

A supply voltage of 1V is switched on at t = 0

1. Obtain the differential equation for the voltage vc(t) across the
capacitor, identify the damping nature of the circuit and determine the
values for the coefficients C1 and C2.

We know that 1V = VR + VL + Vc

We express the current through the capacitor as:

i=ic= C

We express the voltage across the resistor as:

VR = iR = RC
We express the voltage across the inductor as:
VL= L

= LC

By applying KVL, we get the following differential equation in terms of

VC
LC
where

RC

is the forced solution of the differential equation.

The damping ratio is

= =

= 0.006123

Since the damping ratio is between 0 and 1, we can say that this is an
under-damped case.

Now we find wn which is:

w=

= 81649.7 rad/sec

The equation has the homogenous solution

Vc(t) = C et

From the differential equation we obtain the characteristic polynomial

2 + 2w + w2 = 0

with the roots

1 = - w + w

1 = - w - w

The homogenous equation is:

V h = C1

+ C2

To get the complete solution, we should add both the homogenous and
the forced one.

For the forced solution, we know that when the Vin is constant, the
value of
is also constant.

From the initial conditions and using KVL and KCL ,it is known that

VC(0) = 0

=0

(0) = 0

So

LC

RC

+ C3 = 1

C3 =1

In the under-damped case, we have the solution

VC(t) = exp( - w t ) (C1 cos( w t

) + ( C2 sin( w t

We know that VC(t) = 0

From the above equation we find that

C1 = -1

)) + 1

In order to find C1 we must derivate VC(t)

VC(t) = exp( - w t ) (-1 cos( w t

) + ( C2 sin( w t

)) + 1

= exp( - w t )(( wn - w C2 )sin(w t) + ( wn C2 + w ) sin(w t) )

=0

So by solving for C2 we get :

C2 = -0.00612311

The final solution for the voltage over the capacitor after substituting all
the values is going to be:

2. Plot the Voltage vc(t) using Matlab:

The code is the following:

t = linspace (0, 0.005, 3000000);

Vc = exp (-500 .* t) .* (-cos(81500 .*t) - 0.0061 .* sin(81500 .*t)) +1;
plot(t, Vc);
xlabel('Time (s)');
ylabel('Voltage (V)');

3. Calculate the resistor value to obtain a critically damped case and

obtain the corresponding equation describing the voltage vc(t)
including the values for C1 and C2.

In this case, the damping ratio should equal 1, so the only unknown that
we have is R. We solve the equation for R.
=
1=
R = 16329.9 Ohms

For the critically damped case, the general equation is:

Vc(t) = C1 exp( - w t ) + C2 t exp( - w t ) +C3

We know that C3 is 1 and VC(t) = 0, so we can calculate C1 = -1.

In order to find C2 we must derivate VC(t)

So C2 is equal to -81649.7

2.3.2 Problem 2: Switch-OFF of a second order RLC circuit

The switch in circuit (2.8) is opened at t=0

1. Obtain the differential equation for the voltage ic(t) across the
capacitor, identify the damping nature of the circuit and determine the
values for the coefficients C1 and C2.

=
By solving it we get that = 1.5. This means the circuit is over-damped.

wn = 10 000 rad/s

VC + VR + VL = 0
+

=0

So the differential equation for the circuit is

+
+

=0
=0

The characteristic equation is

2 + +

=0

1 = -5000 (-3+ )
2 =- 5000 (3+ )
ic(T) =C1 exp(-5000 (-3+ ))+ C2 exp(5000 (3+ ))
From the initial situation it is known that
iL(0) =

10

So
C1 + C2 =

(
(

))

2. Plot the current ic(t) in Matlab:

t = linspace(0, 0.005, 10000)
Ic = 0.014 .* exp(-26180.*t) - 0.002 .* exp(-3821.* t);
plot(t,Ic);
xlabel('Time (s)');
ylabel('Current (A)');

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))

Problem 3:Oscilloscope Probe

10X position

1X position

Compensation Range

18pF -> 35pF

All oscilloscopes with

1MOhm input

Alternation Range

10:1

1:1

Input resistance

10MOhm

10MOhm

Input capacitance

14,5pF 17,5 pF

80pF-110 pF

12

There is a 9Mohm resistor in the circuit, because we should not let the
probe circuit affect the values and the result of the circuit.
We use koax line because koaxial wires are better at transmitting higher
frequencies than any other wire. That is when we are dealing with high
frequencies.
The koax line has some capacitance, so in order for that capacitance not
to short circuit our big resistance, we use another small capacitance.
The compensation capacitor (Cv) is 1/9 of the combined capacitances of
the scope (Cs) input and the probe cable (Cp).

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2.4 Execution Transient response of RLC-Circuits

2.4.1 Problem 1 : Influence of the oscilloscope probes on transient
measurements.

In this first part we are dealing with the influences of the oscilloscope
probe and other surroundings on the transient measurement of a signal.
For this reason we are using the auxiliary signal generator from the
experiment box, connected in this circuit.

In this instance we are going to use a 10 mH inductor. We also use 1x

attenuation in the probe.
We switch it on and observe the following image from the oscilloscope:

As we can see from the hardcopy, damped frequency fd = 179.9 kHz

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We will also need the measurements in the hardcopy to calculate the

damped natural frequency in the evaluation of the lab.
We also took hardcopies in order for us to determine the damping ratio
and the natural frequency. All the hardcopies and the calculations can
be found in the evaluation part.
We also did the same things, but this time using a 100 mH inductor in
place of the 10 mH one. This is the hardcopy that we got:

As we can see now from the measurements, the damped frequency is

equal to 56.2 kHz. Hardcopies for the calculation of the damping ratio
and natural frequency are shown in the evaluation part.

Evaluation
1.

Determine and the natural frequency for both cases

from the hardcopies.
First of all we need to determine the damped frequency. The
formula is:

15

From our measurements we calculate that

rad/s.

is equal to 1130345

The damping ratio is determined by the relation:

y(t)=C*exp(t)
= - * n
So we can write the equation of y(t) as the following:
y(t) = C * exp(- n t)
In the lab we took hardcopies with the value of the two peaks of the
signal. We are going to substitute those values in the formula and divide
them, in order to get rid of C and have a solvable equation for .
Firstly, this are the hardcopies that we got:

Here the value at the highest peak is 8.52 V [y(t)]

16

Here the value of the second highest peak is 7.72 V [y(t)]

y1(t) = C * exp(- n t1) = 8.52
y2(t) = C * exp(- n t2) = 7.72
y2(t)/y1(t) = exp(- n (t2-t1)) = 0.906 = y(t)
We know that t2-t1 is equal to the period T which is 5.560 us.
We can express n = d/sqrt(1- 2)
So in the end our y(t) = exp(- 2/sqrt(1- 2) ) = 0.906
Solving this for we would have in the end = 0.015

The natural frequency can now be determined:

= 1130472 rad/s

Now we repeat the same measurements and calculations for the 100
mH inductor case.

17

From the hardcopy we got, we can determine the damping natural

frequency:

In this case the damping natural frequency is 357010 rad/s.

Now we apply the same principle as we did in the previous case:
y(t) = C * exp(- n t)
Now we are showing the hardcopies of the two peaks that we got:

As we can see, the value for y1(t) = 8.12 V

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As we can see, the value for y2(t) = 7.44 V

y1(t) = C * exp(- n t1) = 8.12
y2(t) = C * exp(- n t2) = 7.44
y2(t)/y1(t) = exp(- n (t2-t1)) = 0.916 = y(t)
We know that t2-t1 is equal to the period T which is 17.6 us.
We can express n = d/sqrt(1- 2)
So in the end our y(t) = exp(- 2/sqrt(1- 2) ) = 0.916
Solving this for we would have in the end = 0.0139
Now we get

= 357040 rad/s.

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2. The capacitance representing the probe cable is 72pF.

Its resistance is about 500. The capacitance at the
oscilloscope input is about 40pF. You can ignore the
oscilloscope input resistance! The internal resistance of
the auxiliary function generator is about 1.5K. The
ground strap is represented by the inductor 10mH.
Obtain the differential equation for the voltage vscope(t)
seen by the oscillo- scope, identify the damping nature of
the circuit and determine the values for C1 and C2.

Since Cp and Cin are in paralell, the total C can be calculated as:
C = Cp + Cin = 72pF + 40 pF = 112pF
The circuit that we get is a RLC circuit, with values:
R = 2000 Ohms
L = 10 mH
C =112 pF
In order to find we use the formula :
= =

= 0.105

Now we find wn which is:

n =

= 944911 rad/sec

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Since < 1, we can say the circuit is under-damped.

The forced solution is 10, so we can write.
VC(t) = exp( - w t ) (C1 cos( w t
10

) + ( C2 sin( w t

)) +

VC(0) = C1 + C2 + 10 = 0
From this we get that C1 = -5
= exp( - w t )(( wn - w C2 )sin(w t) + ( wn C2 + w ) sin(w t) )

=0
By solving for C2 we get C2 = -0.531

2.

Plot the voltage vscope(t) using Matlab.

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MATLAB code:
t=0:0.0000001:0.0001;
a=-5 * cos(944911 * sqrt(1-0.105^2)*t);
b=-0.531 * sin(944911 * sqrt(1-0.105^2) *t);
V=exp(-0.105*944911 * t).*(a+b) +10;
plot(t,V)
xlabel('Time(s)');
ylabel('V Scope(V)');

3.

Compare the experimental results obtained in the lab

with the calculated results and Matlab plots. Please
provide a detailed explanation if the exper- imental
results and the Matlab simulations deviate. Discuss the
origin of the deviation.

Measured Results

Calculated Results
0.105

1130345 rad/s

1131990 rad/s

944911 rad/s

As we can see, the results obtained and the ones calculated are quite
different. The main reason for this difference is that in our calculations,
we dont consider the oscilloscope input resistance. This resistance
which is several MOhms plays a big role in the properties of the circuit.
Also, there were errors from the misplacing of the cursors or calculation
approximations, also the oscilloscope accuracy may have played a role
in this difference.

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2.4.2 Problem 2 : Design of an RLC circuit

In this second part of the experiment, we implemented the RLC circuit
shown in the prelab. The circuit looks like this:

We set the function generator to produce a 100Hz square wave with

amplitude of 0.5V and an offset of 0.5 V. We used the R-Decade to 100
Ohm.
This is the hardcopy that we got:

As we can see from the hardcopy, the damping frequenct fd = 13.51 kHz.
We would get the same result if we used the formula that f = 1/T where
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T in this case is 74 us. We also calculate the damped natural frequency

which is :

= 84907 rad/s

Also, this is a hardcopy focusing on the ringing phenomenon:

Now, we are asked to calculate the damped radian frequency. For this,
we calculate the natural frequency and the damping ratio first.
wn =

= 81646 rad/s

= =
wd =

= 0.019
=81631 rad/s

The value calculated and the one measured are consistent.

Next, we are asked to calculate the value of R-Decade so the circuit is
critically damped. For this we have the following equation:
=1

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By substituting all the values and solving for R, we get R as 16330 Ohm.
Now we adjust the circuit so it is critically damped. This is the hardcopy
that we got:

We then adjust the R-Decade to 30 kOhm, so that it becomes over

damped. This is the hardcopy that we got:

We now replace the capacitor with a 22 nF capacitor and repeat the

25

measurements we did.
We were asked to measure the damped radian frequency. This is the
hardcopy that we got:

As we can see, fd = 3.356 kHz.

If we calculate wd that would be:

= 21084 rad/s

Here is a hardcopy focusing on the ringing phenomenon.

Now we calculate the theoretical damped radian frequency, with the

function generator resistance as 50 Ohm.
wn =

= 21 307rad/s

= = 0.023
wd = 21301 rad/s
The values measured and calculated are consistent.
26

Now we calculate the value of R for the circuit to be critically damped.

=1
=

By substituting all the values and solving for R, we get R as 4264Ohm.

After adjusting the R-Decade to 4264 Ohms, here is the hardcopy that
we got:

After adjusting the R-Decade to 40 kOhm to make it over damped, here

is the hardcopy:

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Evaluation
1. Compare the experimental results obtained in the lab with
the Matlab simulations in the prelab. Please provide a detailed
explanation if the experimental results and the Matlab
simulations deviate. Discuss the origin of the deviation.
Here are the pictures of the hardcopy and the Matlab simulation. The
hardcopy from the oscilloscope corresponds to the same values taken in
the Matlab simulation (that is, the value of the resistor, capacitor and
inductor).

28

We can see that both pictures look similar, in the way that we can
clearly see the envelope of the graph and the ringing, as expected.
Since we took many sample points in the Matlab simulation, the graph
looks much better and the envelope is much clearer.

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Either way, the hardcopy from the oscilloscope has some errors in it.
These errors include:

Tolerance of the resistors

Additional inductances
Additional Capacitances
Human error during measurements
Accuracy of the oscilloscope

2. Discuss the influence of the capacitance on the transient

response.
We can discuss the influence of the capacitance on the transient
response by using both the theory and the data from the hardcopies.
In theory, we have the formula that:
1. wn =

By increasing the capacitance, the natural frequency decreases and vice

versa.
2. =
If the capacitance increases, the damping ratio increases and vice versa.
3. Wd = Wn
Wd =

The capacitance is inverse proportional to the damping frequency,

except when the capacitance is very small.

Now we can also compare the two hardcopies that we got, where the
first one represents 1.5 nF capacitor and the second the 22 nF capacitor

30

We can see that for higher capacitance, the number of oscillations

diminished, this is due to the frequency formula described above.

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