CHAPTER 2

Nodal Analysis and Mesh Analysis

 METHODS OF ANALYSIS
• Introduction
• Nodal analysis
• Nodal analysis with voltage source
• Mesh analysis
• Mesh analysis with current source
• Nodal and mesh analyses by inspection
• Nodal versus mesh analysis

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 STEPS OF NODAL ANALYSIS
1. Choose a reference (ground) node.
2. Assign node voltages to the other nodes.
3. Apply KCL to each node other than the reference node; express currents
in terms of node voltages.
4. Solve the resulting system of linear equations for the nodal voltages.

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1.CHOOSE A REFERENCE (GROUND) NODE.

Common symbols for indicating a reference node,

(a) common ground, (b) ground, (c) chassis.

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1. REFERENCE NODE

500Ω 500Ω

I1 V 1kΩ 500Ω I2
500Ω
–

The reference node is called the ground node where V = 0

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2. NODE VOLTAGES

500Ω 500Ω
V V V
11 2 2 33
I1 1kΩ 500Ω I2
500Ω

V1, V2, and V3 are unknowns for which we solve using KCL

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CURRENTS AND NODE VOLTAGES

V1 500Ω V2 V1
V1
500Ω
500Ω
V1 − V2
500Ω

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 3. KCL AT NODE 1

V1 500Ω V2

I1 V1 − V2 V1
500Ω I1 = +
500Ω 500Ω

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3. KCL AT NODE 2

V1 500Ω V2 500Ω V3

1kΩ

V2 − V1 V2 V2 − V3
+ + =0
500Ω 1kΩ 500Ω

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3. KCL AT NODE 3

V2 500Ω V3

V3 − V2 V3
500Ω I2 + = I2
500Ω 500Ω

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4. SUMMING CIRCUIT SOLUTION

500Ω 500Ω

I1 V 1kΩ 500Ω I2
500Ω
–

Solution: V = 167I1 + 167I2

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TYPICAL CIRCUIT FOR NODAL ANALYSIS

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 NODAL ANALYSIS
I1 = I 2 + i1 + i2
I 2 + i2 = i3
vhigher − vlower
i=
R
v1 − 0
i1 = or i1 = G1v1
R1
v1 − v2
i2 = or i2 = G2 (v1 − v2 )
R2
v2 − 0
i3 = or i3 = G3v2
R3
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NODAL ANALYSIS
v1 v1 − v2
⇒ I1 = I 2 + +
R1 R2
v1 − v2 v2
I2 + =
R2 R3
⇒ I1 − I 2 = G1v1 + G2 (v1 − v2 )
I 2 = −G2 (v1 − v2 ) + G3v2

 G1 + G2 − G2   v1   I1 − I 2 
⇒ =
 − G2 G2 + G3  v2   I 2 

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 EXAMPLE
• Calculate the node voltage in the circuit shown in Fig.

15
 SOLUTION
• At node 1

i1 = i2 + i3
v1 − v2 v1 − 0
⇒5= +
4 2

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SOLUTION
• At node 2

i2 + i4 = i1 + i5
v2 − v1 v2 − 0
⇒5= +
4 6

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SOLUTION

• In matrix form:

1 1 1 
+
2 4 −   v  5
4 1
= 
 1   
1 1 v2  5
 − + 
 4 6 4

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 EXAMPLE
• Determine the voltage at the nodes in Fig. below

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SOLUTION
• At node 1,

3 = i1 + ix
v1 − v3 v1 − v2
⇒3= +
4 2

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 SOLUTION
• At node 2

ix = i2 + i3
v1 − v2 v2 − v3 v2 − 0
⇒ = +
2 8 4

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 SOLUTION
• At node 3

i1 + i2 = 2ix
v1 − v3 v2 − v3 2(v1 − v2 )
⇒ + =
4 8 2

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SOLUTION
• In matrix form:

 3 1 1
 4 − − 
2 4  v1  3
 1 7 1    
− −   v 2  = 0 
 2 8 8
 3 9 3  v3  0
−
 4 8 8 

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 NODAL ANALYSIS WITH VOLTAGE SOURCES
• Case 1: The voltage source is connected between a nonreference node
and the reference node: The nonreference node voltage is equal to the
magnitude of voltage source and the number of unknown
nonreference nodes is reduced by one.
• Case 2: The voltage source is connected between two nonreferenced
nodes: a generalized node (supernode) is formed.

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 3.3 NODAL ANALYSIS WITH VOLTAGE SOURCES
A circuit with a supernode.

i1 + i4 = i2 + i3 ⇒
v1 − v2 v1 − v3 v2 − 0 v3 − 0
+ = +
2 4 8 6
⇒ v2 − v3 = 5

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SUPERMODE
• A supernode is formed by enclosing a (dependent or independent)
voltage source connected between two nonreference nodes and any
elements connected in parallel with it.
• The required two equations for regulating the two nonreference node
voltages are obtained by the KCL of the supernode and the
relationship of node voltages due to the voltage source.

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 EXAMPLE
• For the circuit shown in Fig., find the node voltages.

2 − 7 − i1 − i 2 = 0
v1 v2
2−7− − = 0
2 4
v1 − v2 = −2

i1 i2

27 /
EXAMPLE
Find the node voltages in the circuit below.

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 SOLUTION
• At suopernode 1-2,

v3 − v2 v1 − v4 v1
+ 10 = +
6 3 2
v1 − v2 = 20

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 SOLUTION
• At supernode 3-4,

v1 − v4 v3 − v2 v4 v3
= + +
3 6 1 4
v3 − v4 = 3(v1 − v4 )

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MESH ANALYSIS
• Mesh analysis: another procedure for analyzing circuits, applicable to
planar circuit.
• A Mesh is a loop which does not contain any other loops within it

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MESH ANALYSIS

(a) A Planar circuit with crossing branches,

(b) The same circuit redrawn with no crossing branches.

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MESH ANALYSIS
A nonplanar circuit.

33
MESH ANALYSIS
• Steps to Determine Mesh Currents:
1. Assign mesh currents i1, i2, .., in to the n meshes.
2. Apply KVL to each of the n meshes. Use Ohm’s law to express
the voltages in terms of the mesh currents.
3. Solve the resulting n simultaneous equations to get the mesh
currents.

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 MESH ANALYSIS
A circuit with two meshes.

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MESH ANALYSIS
• Apply KVL to each mesh. For mesh 1,
− V1 + R1i1 + R3 (i1 − i2 ) = 0
( R1 + R3 )i1 − R3i2 = V1
• For mesh 2,

R2i2 + V2 + R3 (i2 − i1 ) = 0
− R3i1 + ( R2 + R3 )i2 = −V2

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MESH ANALYSIS
• Solve for the mesh currents.

 R1 + R3 − R3   i1   V1 
=
 − R3 R2 + R3  i2  − V2 

• Use i for a mesh current and I for a branch current. It’s evident from
Fig. 3.17 that

I1 = i1 , I 2 = i2 , I 3 = i1 − i2

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EXAMPLE
• Find the branch current I1, I2, and I3 using mesh analysis.

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SOLUTION
• For mesh 1,

− 15 + 5i1 + 10(i1 − i2 ) + 10 = 0
3i1 − 2i2 = 1
• For mesh 2,
6i2 + 4i2 + 10(i2 − i1 ) − 10 = 0
i1 = 2i2 − 1
• We can find i1 and i2 by substitution method or Cramer’s rule. Then,
I1 = i1 , I 2 = i2 , I 3 = i1 − i2

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EXAMPLE
• Use mesh analysis to find the current I0 in the circuit.

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SOLUTION
• Apply KVL to each mesh. For mesh 1,
− 24 + 10(i1 − i2 ) + 12(i1 − i3 ) = 0
11i1 − 5i2 − 6i3 = 12
• For mesh 2,

24i2 + 4(i2 − i3 ) + 10(i2 − i1 ) = 0

− 5i1 + 19i2 − 2i3 = 0

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 SOLUTION
• For mesh 3, 4 I 0 + 12(i3 − i1 ) + 4(i3 − i2 ) = 0
At node A, I 0 = I1 − i2 ,
4(i1 − i2 ) + 12(i3 − i1 ) + 4(i3 − i2 ) = 0
− i1 − i2 + 2i3 = 0
• In matrix from become
 11 − 5 − 6  i1  12
− 5 19 − 2 i2  =  0 
 − 1 − 1 2  i   0 
we can calculus i1, i2 and i3 by Cramer’srule,
 3 andfind I .
0

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 MESH ANALYSIS WITH CURRENT SOURCES
A circuit with a current source.

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MESH ANALYSIS WITH CURRENT SOURCES
• Case 1
– Current source exist only in one mesh

i1 = − 2 A

– One mesh variable is reduced

• Case 2
– Current source exists between two meshes, a super-mesh is obtained.

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MESH ANALYSIS WITH CURRENT SOURCES
• a supermesh results when two meshes have a (dependent ,
independent) current source in common.

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 NODAL AND MESH ANALYSIS BY INSPECTION
The analysis equations can be obtained by
direct inspection

(a) For circuits with only resistors and

independent current sources
(b) For planar circuits with only resistors and
independent voltage sources

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 NODAL AND MESH ANALYSIS BY INSPECTION
• the circuit has two nonreference nodes and the node equations

I1 = I 2 + G1v1 + G2 (v1 − v2 ) (3.7)

I 2 + G2 (v1 − v2 ) = G3v2 (3.8)
→ MATRIX
G1 + G2 − G2   v1   I1 − I 2 
=
 − G2 G2 + G3  v2   I 2 

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NODAL AND MESH ANALYSIS BY INSPECTION
• In general, the node voltage equations in terms of the conductances is

or simply
G11 G12 Λ G1N  v1  i1 
G G Λ G  v  i 
Gv = i  21 22 2N
 2  =  2 
 Μ Μ Μ Μ   Μ  Μ
G G Λ G  v  i 
 N1 N 2 NN   N   N
where G : the conductance matrix,
v : the output vector, i : the input vector
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NODAL AND MESH ANALYSIS BY INSPECTION
• The circuit has two nonreference nodes and the node equations were
derived as

 R1 + R3 − R3   i1   v1 
=
 − R3 R2 + R3  i2  − v2 

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NODAL AND MESH ANALYSIS BY INSPECTION
• In general, if the circuit has N meshes, the mesh-current equations as
the resistances term is

 R11 R12 Λ R1N  i1  v1 

or simply  R R Λ R  i  v 
 21 22 2N
 2  =  2 
Rv = i  Μ Μ Μ Μ  Μ  Μ
 R R Λ R  i  v 
 N1 N 2 NN   N   N
where R : the resistance matrix,
i : the output vector, v : the input vector
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EXAMPLE
• Write the node voltage matrix equations

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SOLUTION
• The circuit has 4 nonreference nodes, so
1 1 1 1 1
G11 = + = 0.3, G22 = + + = 1.325
5 10 5 8 1
1 1 1 1 1 1
G33 = + + = 0.5, G44 = + + = 1.625
8 8 4 8 2 1
• The off-diagonal terms are
1
G12 = − = −0.2, G13 = G14 = 0
5
1 1
G21 = −0.2, G23 = − = −0.125, G24 = − = −1
8 1
G31 = 0, G32 = −0.125, G34 = −0.125
G41 = 0, G42 = −1, G43 = −0.125
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SOLUTION
• The input current vector i in amperes
i1 = 3, i2 = −1 − 2 = −3, i3 = 0, i4 = 2 + 4 = 6
• The node-voltage equations are

 0.3 − 0.2 0 0  v1   3 

− 0.2 1.325 − 0.125 − 1  v   − 3 
  2  =  
 0 − 0.125 0.5 − 0.125  v3   0
 0 −1 −     6
 0.125 1 .625  4   
v

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EXAMPLE
• Write the mesh current equations

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SOLUTION
• The input voltage vector v in volts
v1 = 4, v2 = 10 − 4 = 6,
v3 = −12 + 6 = −6, v4 = 0, v5 = −6
• The mesh-current equations are
 9 −2 −2 0 0  i1 
− 2 10 − 4 − 1 − 1  i2  4
   6
− 2 −4 9 0 0  i3  =  − 6
 0 −1 − 3  i4  0
  − 6
0 8
 
 0 −1 0 −3 4  i5   
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NODAL VERSUS MESH ANALYSIS
• Both nodal and mesh analyses provide a systematic way of analyzing
a complex network.
• The choice of the better method dictated by two factors.
– First factor : nature of the particular network. The key is to select the method
that results in the smaller number of equations.
– Second factor : information required.

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SUMMERY
1. Nodal analysis: the application of KCL at the nonreference nodes
– A circuit has fewer node equations
2. A supernode: two nonreference nodes
3. Mesh analysis: the application of KVL
– A circuit has fewer mesh equations
4. A supermesh: two meshes

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