Laplace Transform Applied to Differential Equations and Convolution

Contents

The Laplace Transform has many applications.  Two of the most important are the solution of differential equations and convolution.  These are discussed below.

Differential Equations

The Laplace Transform can greatly simplify the solution of problems involving differential equations.

Solving a first order differential equation

Consider the differential equation given by:

Find y(t).

Aside: Origin of the First Order Differential Equation

The differential equation with input f(t) and output y(t)

can represent many different systems.  Two examples are given below, one for a mechanical system and one for an electrical system.

Mechanical System

Input = force = φ(t).  Output = velocity of mass.  b=2, m=1.

Free Body Diagram

You can see that this is equivalent to the original equation (with output v(t) and input φ(t)).

Electrical System

Input = current = ia(t).  Output = voltage across elements.  R=½, C=1.

This is equivalent to the original equation (with output eo(t) and input ia(t)).

Solution:
The solution is accomplished in four steps:

1. Take the Laplace Transform of the differential equation.  We use the derivative property as necessary (and in this case we also need the time delay property)

so

2. Put initial conditions into the resulting equation

3. Solve for Y(s)

4. Get result from the Laplace Transform tables. (look up the terms individually)

In this case all terms are in the table and we need to apply the time delay property.  If the terms are not in the table, we need to apply the methods of the Inverse Laplace Transform.  Note that the function is implicitly zero for t<0.  We could make this explicit by multiplying by the unit step:

Key Concept: Using the Laplace Transform to Solve Differential Equations

The Laplace Transform can be used to solve differential equations using a four step process.

1. Take the Laplace Transform of the differential equation using the derivative property (and, perhaps, others) as necessary.
2. Put initial conditions into the resulting equation.
3. Solve for the output variable.
4. Get result from Laplace Transform tables.  If the result is in a form that is not in the tables, you'll need to use the Inverse Laplace Transform.
Solving a second order differential equation

Consider the differential equation given by:

Find y(t).

Aside: Origin of the Second Order Differential Equation

Note: we could get such a second order differential equation by adding a spring (k=10) between the mass and a fixed support, or an induction (L=1/10) in parallel to the capacitor and inductor.

Solution:
Again, the solution can be accomplished in four steps.

1. Take the Laplace Transform of the differential equation using the derivative property (and, perhaps, others) as necessary.

2. Put initial conditions into the resulting equation.

3. Solve for the output variable.

4. Get result from Laplace Transform tables.  If the result is in a form that is not in the tables, you'll need to use the Inverse Laplace Transform.  In this case, we can't factor the denominator into real factors, (so we can't use the "double exponential" form, but we can use the "generic decaying oscillatory" form).  By completing the square we can rewrite the denominator

so matching this with the "generic decaying oscillatory" form we get B=0, C=2, a=1, ω0=3.  We then use the table to determine the solution

Again, the function is implicitly zero for t<0.

Convolution

The convolution integral is very important in the study of systems.  A detailed description is available here.  In short, convolution can be used to calculate the zero state response (i.e., the response to an input when the system has zero initial conditions) of a system to an arbitrary input by using the impulse response of a system.  Given a system impulse response, h(t), and the input, f(t), the output, y(t) is the convolution of h(t) and f(t):

However, this integral can be quite hard to calculate in this form, but is quite easy if using the Laplace Transform.

Example: Convolution in the Laplace Domain

Find y(t) given:

Note: This problem is solved elsewhere in the time domain (using the convolution integral).  If you examine both techniques, you can see that the Laplace domain solution is much easier.

Solution:
To evaluate the convolution integral we will use the convolution property of the Laplace Transform:

We need the Laplace Transforms of f(t) and h(t), but we can look them up in the tables:

So

We can look up both of these terms in the tables.

We can now write y(t) (which is implicitly zero for t<0)

References