Inverse Laplace

Transformations

Dr. Holbert
February 27, 2008

Lect11 EEE 202 1

 Inverse Laplace Transform
• Consider that F(s) is a ratio of polynomial
expressions N ( s)
F ( s) 
D ( s)
• The n roots of the denominator, D(s) are called
the poles
– Poles really determine the response and
stability of the system
• The m roots of the numerator, N(s), are called
the zeros

Lect11 EEE 202 2

 Inverse Laplace Transform
• We will use partial fractions expansion
with the method of residues to determine
the inverse Laplace transform
• Three possible cases (need proper
rational, i.e., n>m)
1. simple poles (real and unequal)
2. simple complex roots (conjugate pair)
3. repeated roots of same value

Lect11 EEE 202 3

 1. Simple Poles
• Simple poles are placed in a partial fractions
expansion
K 0 s  z1 s  z m  K1 K2 Kn
F ( s)    
s  p1 s  p2 s  pn  s  p1 s  p2 s  pn
• The constants, Ki, can be found from (use
method of residues)
K i  ( s  pi ) F ( s ) s   p
i

• Finally, tabulated Laplace transform pairs are

used to invert expression, but this is a nice form
since the solution is
f (t )  K1 e  p1 t  K 2 e  p2 t    K n e  pn t
Lect11 EEE 202 4
 2. Complex Conjugate Poles
• Complex poles result in a Laplace transform of the form
K1 K1* K1  K1   
F ( s)      
s  (  j ) s  (  j ) s  (  j ) s  (  j )
• The K1 can be found using the same method as for
simple poles
K1  ( s    j ) F ( s) s   j
WARNING: the "positive" pole of the form –+j MUST
be the one that is used
• The corresponding time domain function is
f (t )  2 K1 e  t cos t     
Lect11 EEE 202 5
 3. Repeated Poles
• When F(s) has a pole of multiplicity r, then F(s)
is written as
P1 ( s) K11 K12 K1r
F ( s)     
Q 1 ( s) s  p1  s  p1 s  p1  s  p1 
r 2 r

• Where the time domain function is then

t r 1  p1t
f (t )  K11 e  p1t  K12 t e  p1t    K1r e 
r  1!
• That is, we obtain the usual exponential but
multiplied by t's
Lect11 EEE 202 6
 3. Repeated Poles (cont’d.)
• The K1j terms are evaluated from
K1 j 
1 d r j
r  j ! ds r j

s  p1  r
F (s) 
s   p1

• This actually simplifies nicely until you reach s³

terms, that is for a double root (s+p1)²

K12  s  p1  F ( s )
2
s   p1
K11 
d
ds

s  p1 2 F (s) 
s   p1

• Thus K12 is found just like for simple roots

• Note this reverse order of solving for the K values
Lect11 EEE 202 7
 The “Finger” Method
• Let’s suppose we want to find the inverse
Laplace transform of
5 ( s  1)
F( s) 
s ( s  2)( s  3)
• We’ll use the “finger” method which is an easy
way of visualizing the method of residues for the
case of simple roots (non-repeated)
• We note immediately that the poles are
s1 = 0 ; s2 = –2 ; s3 = –3

Lect11 EEE 202 8

 The Finger Method (cont’d)
• For each pole (root), we will write down the
function F(s) and put our finger over the term
that caused that particular root, and then
substitute that pole (root) value into every other
occurrence of ‘s’ in F(s); let’s start with s1=0
5 ( s  1) 5 (0  1) 5 (1) 5
F( s)    
s ( s  2)( s  3) ( s )(0  2)(0  3) (2)(3) 6
• This result gives us the constant coefficient for
the inverse transform of that pole; here: e–0·t

Lect11 EEE 202 9

 The Finger Method (cont’d)
• Let’s ‘finger’ the 2nd and 3rd poles (s2 & s3)
5 ( s  1) 5 (2  1) 5 (1) 5
F( s )    
s ( s  2)( s  3) (2)( s  2)( 2  3) (2)(1) 2
5 ( s  1) 5 (3  1) 5 (2)  10
F( s )    
s ( s  2)( s  3) (3)( 3  2)( s  3) (3)( 1) 3
• They have inverses of e–2·t and e–3·t
• The final answer is then
5 5  2 t 10 3t
f (t )   e  e
6 2 3
Lect11 EEE 202 10
 Initial Value Theorem
• The initial value theorem states
lim f (t )  lim s F( s )
t 0 s 

• Oftentimes we must use L'Hopital's Rule:

– If g(x)/h(x) has the indeterminate form 0/0 or
/  at x=c, then
g ( x) g ' ( x)
lim  lim
x c h ( x ) x c h ' ( x )

Lect11 EEE 202 11

 Final Value Theorem
• The final value theorem states
lim f (t )  lim s F( s)
t  s 0

• The initial and final value theorems are useful for

determining initial and steady-state conditions,
respectively, for transient circuit solutions when
we don’t need the entire time domain answer
and we don’t want to perform the inverse
Laplace transform

Lect11 EEE 202 12

Initial and Final Value Theorems
• The initial and final value theorems also provide
quick ways to somewhat check our answers
• Example: the ‘finger’ method solution gave
5 5  2 t 10 3t
f (t )   e  e
6 2 3
• Substituting t=0 and t=∞ yields
5 5 0 10 0 5  15  20
f (t  0)   e  e  0
6 2 3 6
5 15 5
f (t  )   10 e   e  
6 2 6
Lect11 EEE 202 13
Initial and Final Value Theorems
• What would initial and final value theorems find?
• First, try the initial value theorem (L'Hopital's too)
5 ( s  1) 
f (0)  lim s F( s )  lim 
s  s  ( s  2)( s  3) 
ds 5 ( s  1)
d
5 5
f (0)  lim d 2  lim  0
ds s  5 s  6 2s 5 
s  s  

• Next, employ final value theorem

5 ( s  1) 5 (1) 5
f ()  lim s F( s)  lim  
s 0 s 0 ( s  2)( s  3) (2)(3) 6
• This gives us confidence with our earlier answer

Lect11 EEE 202 14

 Solving Differential Equations
• Laplace transform approach automatically
includes initial conditions in the solution
L  d x(t )   s X(s)  x(0)
 dt 
 d 2 y (t ) 
L  2   s 2 Y(s)  s y(0)  y' (0)
 dt 

• Example: For zero initial conditions, solve

d 2 y (t ) d y (t )
2
 11  30 y (t )  4 u (t )
dt dt
Lect11 EEE 202 15
 Class Examples
• Find inverse Laplace transforms of
s
Y( s ) 
( s  1) 2

s
Z( s )  2
s  4s 8

• Drill Problems P5-3, P5-5 (if time permits)

Lect11 EEE 202 16