Lab Day 16

Series RLC Circuit Step Response

In this lab, we emphasized modeling and testing of  series RLC second order circuit. We analyzed and tested the step response of a given circuit. The measured response was compared with expectations based on the damping ratio and natural frequency. We then re-designed the circuit to make it critically damped without changing the frequency or DC gain. We also compared the results.

This is the pre-lab, which shows the differential equation relating Vout and Vin for the system. We then estimated the damping ratio, natural frequency, damped natural frequency and DC gain of the circuit. We also estimated the rise time and frequency of any oscillations that would expect to see in the step response of the circuit.

This is the output of our circuit.

This is the picture of our circuit.

Conclusion: Today we went over the basic principles of series RLC circuit, and did a lab to see how this type of circuit works when critically damped.