48530 Circuit Analysis and Design

Description

This subject gives students a thorough understanding of the fundamental concepts of circuit analysis, with the focus being on analysis techniques in the frequency domain. Students embark on theoretical and computer-aided design of circuits, and construct and experimentally verify circuit behaviour using appropriate laboratory equipment and/or simulation software. On entry to this subject, students are assumed to have knowledge of basic devices, such as resistors, capacitors, inductors and operational amplifiers, as well as basic circuit analysis skills, such as mesh and nodal analysis, Thevenin's and Norton's theorems, source transformation and superposition. Using this understanding as a starting point, the subject introduces the basic theoretical models that underpin signals and system analysis. Topics covered include: sinusoidal steady-state analysis using phasor transformation; derivation of ordinary differential equations to model circuits and solution of those equations using Laplace transformation; power in single and three-phase AC circuits; transfer (network) functions, poles and zeros, s-plane analysis and Bode plots; first- and second-order systems; time and frequency domain solutions; response to step, impulse and periodic inputs; response to an arbitrary input using convolution; frequency selective circuits; Fourier series; and two-port circuits. Students use analytic modelling, aided by circuit simulation and symbolic software such as MATLAB, to investigate and design real-world circuits. Comparison of experimental results and model predictions is emphasised in the laboratory sessions.

Typical availability

Autumn session, City campus

Spring session, City campus