Network Transients 2 - GATE Study

Material in PDF
In the previous article we have seen about the introduction of network transients. We
also saw the behavior of Passive Elements during Transients. In this article, entitled
Network Transients 2 we will see some more important points about network
transients. Specifically, Network Transients 2 will deal with DC Transients.
These concepts are useful from the point of view of Network Theory for GATE EC, GATE
EE, IES, BARC, DRDO, BSNL and other such exams. You can download these free GATE
Notes in PDF to help you learn at your own pace.
Before you start with this GATE Study Material, make sure you are up-to-date with the
underlying concepts discussed in previous articles.

Recommended Reading
Basic Network Theory Concepts
Source Transformation & Reciprocity Theorem
Kirchhoffs Laws KCL & KVL
Nodal & Mesh Analysis
Voltage Division, Current Division, Star-Delta Conversion
Thevenins, Norton's & Tellegens Theorems
Maximum Power Transfer & Superposition Theorem for EC
Superposition & Maximum Power Transfer Theorem for EE
Network Transients - 1

Basically network transients are classified into two types

i. DC transients
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ii. AC transients

i. DC Transients
They are again classified into two types
a. Source free circuits (without independent source)
b. Circuit with sources (at t = 0+ and at t = )

a. Source Free Circuits

In all the source free circuits the stored energies in the memory elements (L and C) are
maximum at t = 0 and as a function of time these stored energies will be delivered to
memory less resistances in a exponentially decayed manner.
These source free circuits again classified into three types namely, Source free RL,
Source free RC and source free RLC Circuits.
1. Source Free RL Circuit

(For t > 0)

VR + VL = 0
di

iR + L. dt = 0
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di
dt

+Li = 0
R

i(t) = k. e L t for 0 t <

At t = 0+ i(t) = I0 = K. e0 K = I0
R

i(t) = I0 . e L t A for 0 t .
Where

L
R

= = time constant of RL circuit

VL (t) = L.

d
i (t)
dt L

iL (t) = I0 . et|
iL (t = ) = I0 e1 = 0.368Io
iL (t = 5) = I0 e5 = 0.0067Io 0

2t

Energy EL (t) = 2 . L. i2L (t) = 2 . L. I02 . e = EL0 . e

Where E =

i
2

t
E

for 0 t

= 2R sec

Note:
Energy decay is two times faster than current decay.

Example 1:
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Determine the time constant of given circuit

Solution:
Leq

Time constant = R

eq

Leq = 2 + 6||6 = 2 + 3 = 5H

R eq = 4||4 + 8 = 2 + 8 = 10
5

= 10 = 0.5sec

Example:
For the given circuit, switch is closed for a long time and is open at t = 0. Then find
V(0+) and iL(t) for t 0

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Solution: At t = 0-: switch is closed and also network is in steady state. So inductor
acts like a short circuit.

24

iL (0 ) = 10 = 2.4A = iL (0+ )
At t = 0+: switch is closed and network is in transient state. So inductor acts like an
open circuit

Apply KVL we get,

2.4 (40) + V = 0
V = V(0+) = -96V
L

=R

eq

= 40+10 = 10
t

Current through inductor, iL (t) = Io e

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 iL (t) = 2.4e10t A; 0 t
In the next article we will discuss about source free RC Circuits and Source free RLC
Circuits with examples.

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Network Transients - 3

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