Transient Analysis: Series RLC Circuit

R L
SW

+
i C
V
-

di 1
Current in an RLC circuit like shown
Is governed by the equation
V = i R + L + i dt
dt C

We will analyse the situations with and

without The source (V). The stored
energy in C or L will force the current

V
VC
Once the switch (SW) is closed, after some oscillatory period, current
And voltage will settle. In steady state, Capacitor voltage (V C) will approach V

t
Sajjad Haidar
 LT SPICE Simulation: Adding components

After adding the component and components values , add the SPICE DIRECTIVE

Considering there is no
stored energy in the
inductor (L) or Capacitor, C

At time, t=0, I =0
At time t =0, VC=0

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 Run: Simulation

1. Simulation> Edit Simulation

2. RUN

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 Run: Simulation

i
VC=V(n003)

Running the simulation and placing the

voltage probe at Node, n003 and clicking we
find capacitor voltage and clicking the current
probe either on R or L, we find current i

Current i
Capacitor voltage, VC

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 Stored Energy in Capacitor (C): No Power Source

R L
SW

When the capacitor is charged and i C

connected as shown, energy will
be exchanged back and forth in-
between the inductor and
capacitor. However the resistor will
start dissipating the energy. The
resulting current is governed by the
equation
di 1
iR+ L + i dt = 0
dt C

i
d 2i di i
L 2+ R + =0 o

dt dt C

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Simulation: Stored Capacitor in the Capacitor (C): No Power Source

Put initial conditions using spice

directive. .IC V(N002)=10 means
initial capacitor voltage is 10 V

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 Run Simulation

RUN

Running the simulation and placing the current Placing the voltage probe at node:N002 and
Probe on either the resistor or the inductor, we Clicking we find the capacitor voltage waveform
find the oscillatory current as shown

Capacitor voltage
Current

Sajjad Haidar
 LTSpice to find Power and energy

Press down ALT and put the cursor on R1 (You will

See a thermometer icon) and click

You will get the power data as shown

Press down CTRL and place

the cursor on V(N001)*R1 as
shown and click Power dissipated in resistor R

You will get the

window like this

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 Stored Energy in Inductor (L): No Power Source

RL R

When the switch in position 1, maximum 1 2

current V/RL reaches in steady state. Now
the switch is placed in position 2, the stored
energy in the inductor will cause the current
to oscillate in the LRC circuit. + C
V iL i
- L
In practice: Whenever the switch is
about to release from position 1, there
will be abrupt change in current,
causes a high voltage to develop
governed by the equation: VL=Ldi/dt.
The stored energy in the inductor
(1/2LI2) will be lost at the switch
junction (1) (high voltage>
Ionization>arching (heat)). However
by electronic devices it is possible to
release inductor-energy into an LRC
d 2i di i
circuit. I hope to discuss it later
L 2+ R + =0
dt dt C
However Let us consider an
idealised situation that when the
switch is in position 2 the energy Nature of current can be expressed by the equation
(1/2LI2) is released in the LRC
circuit

Sajjad Haidar
 LT SPICE Simulation: Adding components

Rotate resistor R1 twice, which will

give you the current in positive
direction Now initial inductor current is 1
Amp. and the capacitor
voltage is 0 V

Set the spice directive

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 RUN: Simulation

Run the simulation

We get current and capacitor voltage as shown:

Capacitor voltage
Current

Sajjad Haidar
 LTSpice to find Power and energy

Press down ALT and put the cursor on R1 (You will

See a thermometer icon) and click

You will get the power data as shown

Press down CTRL and place

the cursor on V(N001)*R1 as
shown and click

You will get the

window like this

Sajjad Haidar
 Under, over and Critically damped oscillation in LRC circuit

R L
SW

d 2i di i
L 2+ R + =0
dt C
1 i C
dt

Let us consider: i = A e st 2

Putting equation 2 in 1:
i
L S 2 A e St + R S A e St + = 0
C
1
Ae st LS 2 + RS + = 0 R
2
1
C > Overdamped
2L LC

2
This is the characteristic equation R 1
Which determines the circuit behaviour < Underdamped
2L LC
Roots of this equation:
2
R R 1 R
2
1
S1 = + = Critically damped
2L 2L LC 2L LC

2
R R 1
S1 =
2L 2L LC
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 Under, over and Critically damped oscillation in LRC circuit

d 2i di i
L 2+ R + =0 i
dt dt C
The solutions of the differential equation for these three conditions:
2
R 1 R 1 t
Overdamped > Let us consider, = And 0 =
2L LC 2L LC

2
> 02
i
i (t ) = Ae + Be s1t s2t Where, S1 , S 2 = 2 02

Underdamped 2
< 02 t

i (t ) = e t ( A cos t + B sin t ) Where = o2 2

i
Critically damped 2
= 02

i (t ) = ( A + B t ) e t
t

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 Simulation - Undedamped: LTSpice

R 10
L 1 mH
SW

i C
2
R 1 F
= 25x106
2L
1
= 1x109
LC
2
R 1
As, < It is a case of underdamped oscillation as we found before
2L LC

e t
i (t ) = e t ( A cos t + B sin t )

= o2 2

=31224.99 Rad/sec T

2
Time period, T = = 201.2 s

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 Simulation - Overdamped: LTSpice

Let us consider, R=200

2
R
= 1 x 1010
2L
1
= 1x109
LC
2
R 1
>
2L

LC

i (t ) = Ae s1t + Be s2t

Running LTSpice simulation the same way as

Beforewe find the overdamped behaviour as shown

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 Simulation - Critically Damped: LTSpice

d 2i di i
L 2+ R + =0
dt dt C
2
2
= 02 Or R
=
1
2L LC

In our case with, L =1mH, C=1F:

R = 63.245

i (t ) = ( A + B t ) e t

To find the time at which the current reaches the peak, we should differentiate i(t) and equate to 0:
di ( t )
= 0
di
1 2L
tc = = Putting R = 63.245
R

tc = 31.62 s

Sajjad Haidar
 Simulation - Critically Damped: LTSpice

Running the simulation gives us the current response, i(t)as shown

The importance of
critically damped
circuit is, currently
quickly reaches 0
without oscillating

t c = 31.62 s
tc

Sajjad Haidar