Chapter 16:

16.1 Introduction
16.2 Circuit Element Models
16.2.1 Resistor Model in s-domain
16.2.2 Inductor Model in s-domain
16.2.3 Capacitor Model in s-domain
16.3 Circuit Analysis
16.4 Transfer Function
__________________________________________________________

16.1 INTRODUCTION

Chapter 15 has presented the concept of the Laplace Transform (LT) and the Inverse LT. Now we will
use these two concepts to solve an electric circuit for a system. In this Chapter, we will take an in-depth
look at how s-domain helps us in solving an electric circuit.

16.2 CIRCUIT ELEMENT MODELS

With the knowledge of Laplace Transform and its inverse, we will now use these two transforms to
analyze a given circuit. Following are the steps for the application of LT in electric circuit.

1. Transform the circuit from time-domain to the frequency domain (aka s-domain)
2. Solve the circuit using circuit analysis techniques and then get the solutions
3. Use inverse LT to change the s-domain solutions to the time-domain solution.

Before we can proceed in solving the electric circuits there are few changes/modification need to be
carried out by transforming circuit elements in time-domain to s-domain.

1
Note: The admittance Y (s ) =
Z ( s)

EEEB123 Chapter 16: Application of LT Dr. C.S. Tan

 Time Domain Frequency-Domain/s-Domain Zero Initial Conditions
Resistor:

V (s)
V ( s ) = RI ( s ) I (s) = V ( s ) = RI ( s )
v(t ) = Ri (t ) R
Inductor:

di(t ) 1 i (0 − )
V ( s) = L L  di (t )  I (s) = V (s) +
v (t ) = L  dt  sL s
dt
V ( s ) = L[ sI ( s ) − i (0 − )]
= sLI ( s ) − Li (0 − )
Remarks: Non-Zero Initial conditions Remarks:
For an inductor in time domain with initial condition For zero initial
i (0− ) when changing to s-domain, the inductor will have conditions
V ( s ) = sLI ( s ) or
either a voltage source in series with Li (0− ) or a current
1
i (0 − ) I ( s) = V (s )
source in parallel with . Take note of the polarity of sL
s
the sources.
Capacitor:

I ( s ) v (0 − )
i (t ) = C
dv(t ) V (s) =
sC
+
s I (s) = C L  dvdt(t ) 
 
dt −
I ( s ) = C [ sV ( s ) − v (0 )]
= sCV ( s ) − Cv (0 − )
Remarks: Non-Zero Initial conditions Remarks:
For a capacitor in time domain with initial condition For zero initial
v (0− ) when changing to s-domain, the capacitor will conditions
1
v(0− ) V (s) = I ( s ) or
have either a voltage source in series with or a sC
s I ( s ) = sCV ( s )
current source in parallel with Cv (0− ) . Take note of the
polarity of the sources.

EEEB123 Chapter 16: Application of LT Dr. C.S. Tan

16.3 CIRCUIT ANALYSIS

Circuit analysis is relatively easy to do when we transform the circuit in s-domain.

However, one must remember that the equivalent circuits with capacitors and inductors only exist in the
s-domain; they cannot be transformed back into the time domain.

Examples will be given in the Class:

16.4 TRANFER FUNCTIONS

Transfer Function H(s) is the ratio of the output response Y(s) to the input excitation X(s),
assuming all initial conditions are zero such that

Y (s) Output R e sponse

H ( s) = = ……………………………… (16.1)
X (s) Input Excitation

Transfer functions depend on what we define as input and output. Since the input and the output
can be either current or voltage at any place in the circuit, therefore there are four possible
transfer functions as we have seen in chapter 14 Section 14.2.

H (ω ) = Voltage Gain = V o ( ω ) ……………………………… (16.2a)

V i (ω )

H (ω ) = Current Gain = I o ( ω ) ……………………………… (16.2b)

I i (ω )

H (ω ) = Transfer Impedance = V o ( ω ) ……………………… (16.2c)

I i (ω )

H (ω ) = Transfer Admittance = I o ( ω ) ……………………… (16.2d)

V i (ω )

EEEB123 Chapter 16: Application of LT Dr. C.S. Tan

For a given circuit, there are two ways to find its transfer function:
Method 1: Assume any input X(s). Then analyze the circuit to obtain the output Y(s) (see PP16.2)
Method 2: Assume the output Y(s) to be either 1 V or 1 A. Then find the input X(s). This method
is called ladder method. (see PP16.2)
Equation (16.1) assumes that both X(s) and Y(s) are known. Sometimes, we know the input and
the transfer function H(s), then we can find the output Y(s) as (see PP16.1)

Y (s) = X ( s) H ( s) …………………………… (16.3)

and the inverse LT of Y(s) gives y(t). A special case is when the input is the unit impulse
function, x(t)=δ(t), so that X(s)=1. For this case,

Y(s) = H(s) or y(t) = h(t)

Example: PP16.1
2s
Transfer function of a linear system is H ( s ) = Find the output y (t) due to the input e −3t u (t )
s+6
and its impulse response.

a) Given the input is e −3t u (t ) then X (s) = 1 ( s + 3) b) Given the input is an impulse response δ(t)
then X(s)=1
 1  2s 
Y (s) = X ( s) H (s) =     2s 
 s + 3  s + 6  Y (s ) = X (s ) H ( s ) = (1)  
 s+6
2s A B
= = + 2s 12
( s + 3)( s + 6) s + 3 s + 6 = = 2−
( s + 6) s+6
 2s  2(−3)
A = ( s + 3)   = = −2
 (s + 3)(s + 6)  s =−3 3 -1 -1 -1  12 
 2s  2(−6)
y (t ) = L [Y (s)] = L [ 2] − L s + 6
B = ( s + 6)  = =4  

 ( s + 3)( s + 6)  s =−6 −3
∴ y (t ) = 2δ (t ) − 12e−6 t u (t )
−2 4
Y (s) = +
s+3 s+6

-1 -1  −2  -1  4 
y (t ) = L [Y (s)] = L  s + 3 + L s + 6
   
∴ y (t ) = −2e −3t −6 t
+ 4e , t ≥ 0

EEEB123 Chapter 16: Application of LT Dr. C.S. Tan

Example: PP16.2
Determine the transfer function H(s)=V(s)/I(s) of the circuit below:

Method 1: Use Current division principle Method 2: Using ladder method.

Since output is voltage, we will assume V0=1V and
( s + 4) I 0 (s ) from the circuit, V0=2I2. Thus, I2=Vo/2=1/2A
I 2 (s) =
(s + 4) + (2 + 1 2 s )
2 s ( s + 4) I 0 (s ) The voltage across (2+1/2s) branch is
=
(2 s 2 + 12 s + 1) 1 1 1 1
V1 ( s ) = I 2 (2 + ) = (2 + ) = 1 +
2s 2 2s 4s
But V0 ( s ) = 2 I 2 ( s ) 4s + 1
=
4s
4s ( s + 4) I 0 (s ) Applying KCL a the top node yields
∴V0 ( s ) = I 0 ( s ) = I1 ( s ) + I 2 ( s )
(2s 2 + 12s + 1)
V1 ( s ) 1
= +
V0 ( s ) s+4 2
∴ H ( s) = 4s + 1 1
I 0 ( s) = +
4s ( s + 4) 2
4s ( s + 4)
= 4s + 1 + 2 s (s + 4)
(2s 2 + 12s + 1) =
4 s (s + 4)
2s 2 + 12s + 1
=
4 s (s + 4)
V ( s) 1
Hence, H ( s ) = o =
I 0 ( s) I 0 ( s)
4s ( s + 4)
=
2s 2 + 12 s + 1

EEEB123 Chapter 16: Application of LT Dr. C.S. Tan