Nonlinear transient analysis of coupled RLGC lines by the method of characteristics

A computationally efficient numerical technique for the evaluation of the time domain response of coupled lossy uniform and nonuniform transmission lines terminated in general nonlinear elements is presented. The technique is based on the method of characteristics where the original system of coupled transmission line equations is transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations which hold along a family of characteristic curves. An algorithm to solve these equations is presented. The procedure is applicable to both uniform and nonuniform coupled systems and examples of two and three line structures terminated in linear and nonlinear elements are included to demonstrate the versatility and the usefulness of the algorithm.