Lab Rubrics

Assessment Criteria for Lab

Outcomes Assessment:
Marks
Assessment PROFICIENT SATISFACTORY SUBSTANDARD UNSATISFACTORY
obtaine
Parameters (3) (2) (1) (0)
d

Shows excellent Shows good Shows little

understanding of understanding of understanding of
Shows no
experiment and exhibit experiment experiment and exhibit
Knowledge and understanding and
self-reliance in And exhibit self- limited self-reliance in
Problem analysis cannot complete the
analyzing and solving reliance in analyzing analyzing and solving
experiment / task.
problems without and solving problems problems with
guidance with minimal guidance guidance

Operate / handle and Operate / handle and

Operation / Operate / handle and Not able to operate /
select the equipment / select the equipment /
Handling and select the equipment / handle and select the
device / engineering device / engineering
selection of device / engineering equipment / device /
software’s software’s with
Engineering software’s with engineering software’s
professionally. minimal help.
Device / software. guidance. by their own.

Appropriately Inappropriately
Efficiently recorded
recorded some recorded Cannot record
all observations
observations with observations with observations with
Organization including
units/graph/truth units/graph/truth units/graph/truth
& content. units/graph/truth
table etc. less table etc. non- table etc. coherently
table etc. coherently.
coherently. coherently.
Satisfactorily
Well-presented
presented results Inefficiently
results and Not presented results
and conclusion in a presented results
Result & conclusion and conclusion
less coherent and conclusion in a
conclusion. incoherent manner incoherent manner
manner with non-coherent
with proper syntax
syntax manner
Marks (out of 12)
Final lab marks (out of __ )

Shows excellent Shows moderate Shows minimal Shows no

Participation
participation. participation. participation. participation.

Time Shows excellent time Shows moderate time Shows minimal time Shows, no time
Management management. management. management. management

Marks (out of 6)
Final lab marks (out of __ )

Lab Instructor signature: ____________________

8a LAB EXPERIMENT
OBJECT:
To analyze the source free series RLC circuit response on Multisim 14.0.

BACKGROUND:

RLC circuits are widely used in a variety of applications such as filters in communications
systems, ignition systems in automobiles, defibrillator circuits in biomedical applications, etc.
The analysis of RLC circuits is more complex than of the RC circuits we have seen in the
previous lab. RLC circuits have a much richer and interesting response than the previously
studied RC or RL circuits. Let’s assume a series RLC circuit as is shown in Figure 1.
L1

R1 C1

1µF

1mH

1kΩ

Figure 1: Series RLC circuit.

By writing KVL on natural response of RLC circuit, we gets a second order differential
equation.

V R +V L +V C =0

dI 1
IR+ L I dt =0
dt C ∫
+

dI d2 V c 1
R +L + I =0
dt dt 2 C

d 2 I R dI 1
+ + I =0
dt 2 L dt LC

The complete solution consists of two parts:

x ( t )=x n ( t ) + x f (t)
In which x n ( t ) is the complementary solution (solution of the homogeneous differential
equation also called the natural response) and x f ( t) is the particular solution (also called
forced response). Let’s focus on the complementary solution. The form of this solution
depends on the roots of the characteristic equation,

R 2 1
S1,2=
−R
2L
±
√( 2L
−)LC

R
α=
2L

R 2 1
β=
√( 2L
− )
LC

S1=−α −β

S2=−α + β

INTRODUCTION TO TRANSIENT ANALYSIS:

In Transient Analysis, also called time-domain transient analysis, Multisim computes the
circuit’s response as a function of time. This analysis divides the time into segments and
calculates the voltage and current levels for each given interval. Finally, the results, voltage
versus time, are presented in the Grapher View.
Multisim performs Transient Analysis using the following process:
i. Each input cycle is divided into intervals.
ii. A DC Operating Point Analysis is performed for each time point in the cycle.
iii. The solution for the voltage waveform at a node is determined by the value of that
voltage at each time point over one complete cycle.
Assumptions: DC sources have constant values; AC sources have time-dependent values.
Capacitors and inductors are represented by energy storage models. Numerical integration is
used to calculate the quantity of energy transfer over an interval of time.
RUNNING TRANSIENT ANALYSIS:
Consider the series RLC circuit shown in Figure 1. According to the theory, the characteristic
equation modeling this circuit can be represented as:
s2 +2 as+ ω0 =0 2

Where α is the damping factor and w0 the natural frequency (or resonant frequency). They are
defined by:
R
α=
2L
1
ω o=
√ LC
The value of the damping factor (α) in relation to the natural frequency (ω 0) determines the
behavior of the circuit’s response. There are three possible responses:
 α < ω0 : Underdamped response
 α = ω0 : Critically damped response
 α > ω0 : Overdamped response
Note: that as the value of α increases, the RLC circuit is driven towards an overdamped
response. In this lab you will use Transient Analysis to plot the step responses of the series
RLC circuit.

CASE 1:
To observe the underdamped response, assume the value of inductor and capacitor (10mH
and 1uF) respectively. Find the value of resistor using natural frequency and damping factor
formula which fulfill underdamped condition.
CALCULATION:
CONDITION:

α <ω0

Roots will be real and negative

V c ( t )=C 1 e−s t +C 2 e−s t

1 2

CIRCUIT:

Make the following circuit on Multisim 14.0.

V1 R1 L1 Vc C1

V1 40Ω 10mH
1µF
0V 1V
5ms 10ms

Figure 2: Series RLC underdamped circuit.

Complete the following steps to configure and run a Transient Analysis:
1. Open circuit file XYZ.ms14 located in the Downloads section.
2. Select Simulate» Analyses» Transient Analysis. The Transient Analysis window
opens.
The default settings are appropriate for normal use, providing the transient response of the
selected output variables starting at time 0 seconds and stopping after 1 ms. Table 1.
Describes the Analysis Parameters tab in detail.
 Table 1: Parameters used in Transient Analysis.

Parameter Meaning

Initial Conditions There are four options:

1. Set to zero. The analysis starts from zero initial conditions.
2. User-defined. The analysis starts from initial conditions as set in
the Transient Analysis window.
3. Calculate DC operating point. Multisim first calculates the DC
operating point of the circuit, then uses that result as the initial
conditions of the Transient Analysis.
4. Automatically determine initial conditions. Multisim tries to
start the simulation using the DC operating point as the initial
condition. If the simulation fails, it uses user-defined initial
conditions.

Start time (TSTART) Start time of Transient Analysis. Must be greater than or equal to 0 and
less than end time.

End time (TSTOP) End time of Transient Analysis. Must be greater than start time.

Maximum time step Enable to manually set time steps.  There are three options:
settings (TMAX) 1. Minimum number of time points. Minimum number of points
between start and stop times.
2. Maximum time step (TMAX). Maximum time step the
simulation can handle.
3. Generate time steps automatically. Enable to generate time steps
automatically.

Set initial time step Enable to set a time interval for simulation output and graphing.
(TSTEP)

Estimate maximum time This becomes enabled when the Maximum timestep (TMAX) checkbox
step based on netlist is selected. Enable as desired.
(TMAX)

Note: In MULTISIM, the command that performs a Transient Analysis has the following

form:
.TRAN <TSTEP> <TSTOP> < TSTART <TMAX> > <UIC> 
Where .TRAN initializes a Transient Analysis; <TSTEP> is the time increment for reporting
results; <TSTOP> is the final analysis time; <TSTART> is the start time for reporting
results; <TMAX> is the maximum step size used in incrementing the time during the
analysis; <UIC> is used for initial conditions. Note that these are the same parameters that
were defined in Table 1, however, in Multisim you do not have to worry about the complex
SPICE syntax.
3. Configure the Analysis Parameters as shown in Figure 3. You can reset all the
parameters to their default values by clicking the Reset to default button.

Figure 3: Analysis parameters for the Transient Analysis.

4. Select the Output tab.
5. Select the Variables in circuit list, select All variables from the drop-down list,
and then highlight V(vi) and V(c) from the list.
6. Click the Add button to move the variables to the right side under selected
variables for analysis, as shown below.

Figure 4: Output variables for the Transient Analysis.

 7. Click Simulate. The Grapher View window opens. Results are displayed in
Figure 5.

Figure 5: Transient Analysis of RLC series underdamped circuit.

CASE 2:
To observe the critically damped response. Find the value of resistor using natural frequency
and damping factor formula which critically damped condition, while the value of Inductor
and Capacitor remains same:
CALCULATION:
 1.1 CONDITION:

α =ω 0

Roots will be real, negative and equal.

s1=s 2

V c ( t )=(C 1+C 2 t )e−αt

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

Make the following circuit on Multisim 14.0.

V1 R1 L1 Vc C1

V1 200Ω 10mH
1µF
0V 1V
5ms 10ms

Figure 6: Series RLC critically damped circuit.

GRAPH:

Figure 7: Transient Analysis of RLC series critically damped circuit.

CASE 3:
To observe the overdamped response. Find the value of resistor using natural frequency and
damping factor formula which overdamped condition, while the value of Inductor and
Capacitor remains same.
CALCULATION:
CONDITION:

α >ω0

Roots will be complex conjugate.

s1=−α + jβ

s2=−α − jβ

V c ( t )=(C 1+C 2 t )e−αt

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

Make the following circuit on Multisim 14.0.

V1 R1 L1 Vc C1

V1 400Ω 10mH
1µF
0V 1V
5ms 10ms

Figure 8: Series RLC overdamped circuit.

GRAPH:

Figure 9: Transient Analysis of RLC series overdamped circuit.

In order to compare the three results, merge the plots in one. You can use Overlay
Traces from the Graph menu. Figure 10 shows a comparison graph of the results
QUESTION:

i. In Figure 11. Why there is an opposite voltage across inductor as

compare to voltage across capacitor?

Figure 11: Voltage across inductor and capacitor.

ii. In Figure 12. Explain the current graph?

Figure 12: Current graph of RLC series circuit

8b LAB EXPERIMENT
OBJECT:
To compare the voltage response of three cases in series RLC circuit using MATLAB.

MATLAB IMPORT FUNCTION:

In this lab we will experience another function of MATLAB by importing the array of
graphical values and plot it in the form of graph, also learn to plot no. of graph in the same
figure, to make it easier for the observe to understand or compare it with other plots.

STEPS TO IMPORT:
1. Open MATLAB, and give the path to MATLAB in which folder graph are
saved.

2. Select them, by right clicking import data (highlighted file).

3. Change the output type to Column vectors.

Figure 2.
4. Click import selection.
5. You will observe two tables in your workspace, one is representing the values
of x-axis and other one will represent the y-axis.

Figure 3.
 6. Open M-file or script file.
7. Now make a code, and plot the graph.

SOURCE CODE:

NOTE: Add source code.

GRAPH:

NOTE: Add ploted graph of MATLAB.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: