Inverse laplace transform square wave

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on finding the inverse Laplace transform of a function involving a square wave and an exponential shift in the denominator. Participants suggest that the function can be represented as a periodic extension with a period of 20, using the relationship between the Laplace transform and periodic functions. The transformation involves using a series expansion to account for the periodic nature of the signal, resulting in multiple shifts in the time domain. The key takeaway is that the function can be expressed as U(t) - U(t-10), repeated indefinitely, to represent the periodic behavior. Understanding this periodicity is crucial for correctly applying the inverse Laplace transform.
magnifik
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can someone please help me find the inverse laplace transform of the following:
http://www.webpagescreenshot.info/img/694286-34201141544am.png

i do not know how to solve for this due to the e^-20s shift in the denominator... is there a way to change this function to make it easier to solve?
 
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in analyzing JUST the function part of this...

f(t) = 1, when 0 < t < 10
f(t) = 0, when 10 < t < 20
F(s) = (-1/s)(e^(-10s) - 1)/(1 - e^(-20s))

is it correct to say that f(t) = U(t) - U(t -10) and that the period is 20??
 
magnifik said:
i do not know how to solve for this due to the e^-20s shift in the denominator... is there a way to change this function to make it easier to solve?
The idea is to use the fact that

\frac{1}{1-x} = 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4+\cdots

so that

\begin{align*}<br /> \frac{1}{1-e^{-20s}} &amp;= 1 + e^{-20s} + (e^{-20s})^2+ (e^{-20s})^3 + \cdots \\<br /> &amp;= 1 + e^{-20s} + e^{-40s} + e^{-60s} + \cdots<br /> \end{align*}

Hopefully, you can see why that may result in a function periodic in the time domain.
 
magnifik said:
in analyzing JUST the function part of this...

f(t) = 1, when 0 < t < 10
f(t) = 0, when 10 < t < 20
F(s) = (-1/s)(e^(-10s) - 1)/(1 - e^(-20s))

is it correct to say that f(t) = U(t) - U(t -10) and that the period is 20??

Yes. To be precise, F(s) is the Laplace Transform of the periodic extension with period 20 of your f(t).
 
vela said:
The idea is to use the fact that

\frac{1}{1-x} = 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4+\cdots

so that

\begin{align*}<br /> \frac{1}{1-e^{-20s}} &amp;= 1 + e^{-20s} + (e^{-20s})^2+ (e^{-20s})^3 + \cdots \\<br /> &amp;= 1 + e^{-20s} + e^{-40s} + e^{-60s} + \cdots<br /> \end{align*}

Hopefully, you can see why that may result in a function periodic in the time domain.

i understand that it can be represented as a series. however, i wouldn't know how to take the inverse laplace of the series
 
You're not taking the inverse transform of just the series. You're taking the inverse of

\begin{align*}<br /> \frac{F(s)}{1-e^{-20s}} &amp; = F(s)[1 + e^{-20s} + e^{-40s} + e^{-60s} + \cdots] \\<br /> &amp; = F(s) + e^{-20s}F(s) + e^{-40s}F(s) + e^{-60s}F(s) + \cdots<br /> \end{align*}
 
vela said:
You're not taking the inverse transform of just the series. You're taking the inverse of

\begin{align*}<br /> \frac{F(s)}{1-e^{-20s}} &amp; = F(s)[1 + e^{-20s} + e^{-40s} + e^{-60s} + \cdots] \\<br /> &amp; = F(s) + e^{-20s}F(s) + e^{-40s}F(s) + e^{-60s}F(s) + \cdots<br /> \end{align*}

not sure how i would do this. i know that the e^-ns represents a shift in the time domain f(t-n) but wouldn't there be infinitely many time shifts using the series expansion?
 
  • #10
Yes, you need an infinite number of shifts because a periodic signal has an infinite number of cycles.

Take your f(t) in post #4 and repeatedly shift and add. What do you get?
 
  • #11
vela said:
Yes, you need an infinite number of shifts because a periodic signal has an infinite number of cycles.

Take your f(t) in post #4 and repeatedly shift and add. What do you get?

U(t) - U(t-10) + U(t - 20) - U(t - 30) + U(t-40) - U(t - 50) + U(t - 60) + U(t - 70)...

i think i see your point.. the function will essentially be U(t) - U(t-10) repeated over and over again
 
  • #12
Vela and I are leading you in two different directions for solution. I guess you learn twice as much. Say you have a periodic function f(t) with period p and define a new function f1(t) which is 1 on (0,p) and 0 elsewhere, giving you one nonzero period of your function f(t). So you can write

f1(t) = f(t)(u(t)-u(t-p))

You know that the transform of the periodic function f(t) is

F(s) = \frac{L(f_1(t))}{1-e^{-ps}}

This tells you that when taking inverse transforms a factor of (1 - e-ps) can be suppressed and the inverse will give you one period of the original periodic function. So if you can find the inverse without that factor, just extend it periodically with period p to get the function f(t).
 

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