ISSN: 2277-3754

International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT)

Volume 1, Issue 5, May 2012

Analysis of Electric Circuits Using Fourier

Series
M.C. Anumaka
mathematical techniques like graphs, differentiation,
Abstract This work examines the analysis of electric circuit trigonometry, integration, summation notions; etc.It is an tool
and representation of periodic functions as infinite for analysis and solving problems in communication,
trigonometrically series in sine and cosine terms (or complex
exponentials), and presents the basic analysis of Fourier series
electromagnetism, statics, quantum mechanics, etc.
with regard to its applications in electric circuits. A large Generally, we use series in mathematics to approximate a
proportion of phenomena studied in engineering and science such complex function by a sum of simple terms. In approximating
as alternating current and voltage are periodic in nature, and can a series we normally require an infinite number of terms to
be analyzed into their constituent components (i.e. fundamentals completely eliminate the error between the original function
and harmonics) by use of Fourier series. . The electric periodic and the approximation.
signals are decomposed into sum of a set of oscillating functions
of complex exponentials.
In Series approximation a few terms are needed for the
approximation to converge sufficiently in order to give a
I. INTRODUCTION reasonable small error. Let us consider a series expansion
In modern technology and engineering, we usually below:
encounter phenomena which are periodic in nature, such as
alternating voltage and current. These periodic functions or (1)
signals can be analyzed into fundamentals and harmonics by
means of Fourier analysis. The Fourier series, which is a
branch of Fourier analysis, decomposes periodic signals into In the equation above, x represents the radians, the!
sum of infinite trigonometrically series in sine and cosine Symbol indicates the factorial i.e., 5! = 5.4.3.2.1. If x is small
terms. the series requires only a few terms for convergence.

II. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Fourier series was the brain child of Joseph Fourier
(1768-1830). He was a French Mathematician taught by
Lagrange and Laplace and worked as a scientist in the
Napoleons army. He made vital contributions to the theory
of heat and expansion of function such as trigonometric series
Fig. 1.A periodic function after preliminary investigations by Leonard Euler, Daniel
So, we are aiming to find an approximation using Bernoulli and Jean Le Rond dAlembert. He published his
trigonometric functions for various waveforms like saw initial results in his 1807 Memoire Sur la Propagation de la
tooth, square wave, etc, that occur in electronics. This is done Chaleur dans les Corps Solids (treatise on the propagation of
by adding more and more trigonometric function together. heat in solid bodies) and Theories analytique de la chadeur in
Hence, Fourier series is the sum of these special 1822[1,4]. Although Joseph Fourier was motivated to solve
trigonometric functions [5, 10, 12]. The decomposition of heat equation, his study later became widely used in solving
periodic function or periodic signal into the sum of sine and array of mathematical, engineering and physical problems,
cosines was difficult until Joseph Fourier (1768 1830) especially those involving linear differential equations with
introduced the Fourier series in his work in 1807 [1, 4]. The constant coefficient.
original motive was to solve heat problems. His work later
became bedrock for solving a wide array of mathematical and III. APPLICATIONS OF FOURIER SERIES
physical problems, especially those involving linear INCLUDE: [2, 3, 13]
differential equations with constant coefficients for which 1. Mathematical techniques like graphs, integration,
Eigen solutions are sinusoids [2]. These periodic functions differentiation, summations, notions and trigonometry.
can be analyzed into their harmonics and fundamentals by the 2. Electrical electronics engineering.
process of Fourier series. Chain walled shell theory [2], 3. Vibration analysis
Vibration analysis, Signal processing, quantum machines, 4. Optics
acoustics, optics, econometrics [1] etc, can be solved using 5. Econometrics
Fourier series. Fourier series are very vitally used to 6. Signal processing
approximate a periodic waveform in electronics and 7. Acoustics
electrical circuits. It is useful in mathematics as it is used 8. Quantum machines
extensively in calculators and computers for evaluating 9. Thin-walled shell theory
values of many functions [3]. Fourier series uses familiar

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 ISSN: 2277-3754
International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT)
Volume 1, Issue 5, May 2012
10. Use extensively in calculation and computers for Generally, Fourier series can be expressed in more
evaluating values of many functions. complex- looking expression as: [5]

IV. ESSENCE OF FOURIER SERIES

Fourier series has the following advantages.
(2)
1. Use for expansion of an oscillating function.
2. The non-periodic function can be expressed in Fourier
series via Taylors series.
3. Fourier series of non periodic function is not uniformly
In equation (2),

denotes an index n which
n-1is
is a mathematical symbol that
allowed to take on values of 1, 2,
convergent at all points. 3, 4 . up to infinity and the terms following the
4. There is validity in the application of term by term symbol are summed. Fourier series coefficients, a0, an and
integration of a convergent Fourier series. bn, which are determined by the waveform. T denotes the
5. It is useful for mathematical analysis of electrical system. period of the waveform, f(t) indicates that the Fourier series is
6. It is applicable in the expansion of oscillation. to approximate function of time. The above Fourier series
can be clearly expressed and the first four terms (n = 1, 2, 3)
V. SINUSOIDAL PERIODIC FUNCTION of the series written as:

Fig. 2 Sinusoidal Periodic Function. (3)

If we consider the above figure, it shows a periodic
function, y = sin x. f (t) is periodic since the function values
repeat at regular interval of the independent variable . The The above Fourier series approximation can be depicted as
period T, of the oscillation is the regular interval between in fig. 5.0.
repetitions [5,7,12]. Let a periodic function y = sin x, with
which x increases from 00 to 3600. The period becomes 2
radians or 3600, with maximum displacement of one 1 from
the position of rest [7, 12].

Fig.3 Sinusoidal Waveform

In the sinusoidal waveform, depicted in fig. 3..0 above, sin
x = sin (x + 2) = sin (x + 4) Where sin x = Sinusoidal
periodic function of 2.

VI. OVERVIEW OF FOURIER SERIES

In electronics, Fourier series is used to approximate a
periodic waveform, in which amplitude verses time
characteristic is repeated in a period, T. The periodic
waveforms, viz: rectangular wave, triangular wave, sine
Fig. 4 First four terms of Fourier approximation
wave, etc.Thus, Fourier series enable us to represent a
periodic function as an infinite trigonometrically series in
sine and cosine terms.

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International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT)
Volume 1, Issue 5, May 2012
A. PERIODIC RECTANGULAR WAVEFORM B. HALF COSINE (OR RECTIFIED COSINE
If we consider a rectangular waveform in figure 5.0. It WAVEFORM)
illustrates that A is it amplitudes, T indicate the period, is the
pulse width. This rectangular waveform may be
approximated by a Fourier series.

f(t) A
(6)

T Fig. 6.Half Cosine Waveform

This waveform is vital in communication. The Fourier
coefficients for this waveform are:
A

Fig. 5A Rectangular Waveform

(7)
For the rectangular waveform in fig 5.0, the Fourier
coefficients are:

(4)
(5)
(8)

bn = 0 (For all terms since the waveform is symmetrical

about (t =0). For rectangular waveform of fig 5.0 above, the bn = 0 (All terms)
first four terms of C. SAW TOOT WAVEFORM

Fig. 7. Triangular waveform

The Fourier coefficients for the above waveform are:
a0 = 0
a1 = 0 (for all terms)

VII. CONCLUSION
Fourier series is pre-requisite for developing a solid
foundation in understanding the time domain-frequency
domain relationship with communication signals. It can be
used to express non-sinusoidal periodic functions into a
fundamental and harmonics, which can represent a function
containing discontinuities. Thus, it can be conveniently use to
design electrical circuits and solve problems in engineering
and related fields.

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 ISSN: 2277-3754
International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT)
Volume 1, Issue 5, May 2012
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