Transient analysis of a series RLC circuit involves studying how the circuit responds over time when subjected to a sudden change in its operating conditions, such as when a switch is closed or an external voltage source is suddenly applied. The circuit consists of a resistor (R), an inductor (L), and a capacitor (C) connected in series.
### Key Aspects of Transient Analysis:
1. **Circuit Description**:
- **Resistor (R)**: Opposes current flow, dissipates energy as heat.
- **Inductor (L)**: Resists changes in current, stores energy in a magnetic field.
- **Capacitor (C)**: Resists changes in voltage, stores energy in an electric field.
2. **Initial Conditions**:
- At \( t = 0 \) (just before the switch is closed or the source is applied), the initial voltages and currents in the components are considered. For a capacitor, this is the initial voltage, and for an inductor, it is the initial current.
3. **Governing Differential Equation**:
- To derive the transient response, we use Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL) around the series circuit. The sum of the voltage drops across the resistor, inductor, and capacitor must equal the applied voltage \( V(t) \).
For a step input \( V(t) \), where \( V(t) = V_0 \) for \( t \geq 0 \):
\[
V(t) = V_R(t) + V_L(t) + V_C(t)
\]
Where:
- \( V_R(t) = i(t) \cdot R \) (Ohm's law)
- \( V_L(t) = L \frac{di(t)}{dt} \) (Faraday's law of induction)
- \( V_C(t) = \frac{1}{C} \int i(t) \, dt \) (Capacitor voltage-current relationship)
Combining these, we get:
\[
V_0 = i(t) \cdot R + L \frac{di(t)}{dt} + \frac{1}{C} \int i(t) \, dt
\]
4. **Differential Equation**:
Differentiating the entire equation to eliminate the integral term, we obtain a second-order linear homogeneous differential equation:
\[
L \frac{d^2 i(t)}{dt^2} + R \frac{di(t)}{dt} + \frac{1}{C} i(t) = 0
\]
This can be simplified to:
\[
\frac{d^2 i(t)}{dt^2} + \frac{R}{L} \frac{di(t)}{dt} + \frac{1}{LC} i(t) = 0
\]
5. **Characteristic Equation**:
The characteristic equation of this differential equation is:
\[
s^2 + \frac{R}{L} s + \frac{1}{LC} = 0
\]
Solving this quadratic equation provides the roots \( s_1 \) and \( s_2 \), which determine the nature of the transient response.
6. **Types of Transient Responses**:
- **Overdamped Response**: If the roots are real and distinct (i.e., \( \frac{R^2}{4L^2} > \frac{1}{LC} \)), the system returns to equilibrium without oscillations.
- **Critically Damped Response**: If the roots are real and equal (i.e., \( \frac{R^2}{4L^2} = \frac{1}{LC} \)), the system returns to equilibrium as quickly as possible without oscillating.
- **Underdamped Response**: If the roots are complex conjugates (i.e., \( \frac{R^2}{4L^2} < \frac{1}{LC} \)), the system oscillates with a decaying amplitude.
7. **General Solution**:
The general solution depends on the type of damping and typically involves exponential terms (for overdamped and critically damped responses) or a combination of exponential and sinusoidal terms (for underdamped response).
For example, for an underdamped response:
\[
i(t) = A e^{-\alpha t} \cos(\omega_d t + \phi)
\]
where \( \alpha = \frac{R}{2L} \) and \( \omega_d = \sqrt{\frac{1}{LC} - \left(\frac{R}{2L}\right)^2} \) is the damped natural frequency.
8. **Initial Conditions and Response**:
The specific transient response is determined by the initial conditions, which can be incorporated into the general solution to find the complete response of the circuit.
### Summary:
The transient analysis of a series RLC circuit involves solving a second-order differential equation to determine how the current and voltages evolve over time following a change in circuit conditions. The nature of the transient response—overdamped, critically damped, or underdamped—depends on the circuit parameters \( R \), \( L \), and \( C \), as well as the initial conditions.