Mesh Analysis

 Based on KVL
 Make use of mesh currents as circuit
variables
 A mesh is a loop that does not contain any
other loop within it.
 Only applicable to a planar circuit
 Planar circuit:
 A circuit that can be drawn in a plane with no
branches crossing one another; otherwise non-
planar.

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 Mesh Analysis
 Planar circuit:

 Planar Circuit – circuits that can be drawn on a plane with

no crossing branches

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 Mesh Analysis
 Non-planar circuit
 No way to redraw it and avoid the branches
crossing

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 Mesh Analysis without Current
Sources
 Given a circuit with n meshes.

1. Assign mesh currents i1, i2, .. in to the n meshes.

Assume mesh current flows clockwise.
2. Apply KVL to each of the n meshes. Use Ohm’s
Law to express the voltages in terms of mesh
currents.

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 Mesh Analysis without Current
Sources
 Example 1: Find v and i.

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 Mesh Analysis without Current
Sources
1. Assign mesh currents i1, i2, .. in to the n meshes.
Assume mesh current flows clockwise.

i  i1  i 2  eqn . 1
v  12 i
v  12 ( i1  i 2 )  eqn . 2

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 Mesh Analysis without Current
Sources
2. Apply KVL to each of the n meshes. Use Ohm’s
Law to express the voltages in terms of mesh
currents.
At mesh 1,
 12  2 i1  12 ( i1  i 2 )  4 i1  0
2 i1  12 i1  12 i 2  4 i1  12
18 i1  12 i 2  12  eqn . 3
At mesh 2,
12 ( i 2  i1 )  9 i 2  8  3i 2  0
12 i 2  12 i1  9 i 2  3i 2   8
 12 i1  24 i 2   8  eqn . 4

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 Mesh Analysis without Current
Sources
Solving for the mesh currents,
18 i1  12 i 2  12  eqn . 3
rearrangin g eqn.3,
18 i1  12  12 i 2
i 2  1 . 5 i1  1  eqn . 3 '
substitute eqn.3' in eqn.4,
 12 i1  24 (1 . 5 i1  1 )   8
2 2
i1  A i   0  eqn . 1
3 3
2
substitute i 1 in eqn.3' , i  A
3
2 2
i2  1 .5 ( )1 v  12 (  0 )  eqn . 2
3 3
i2  0 A v  8 V

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 Mesh Analysis without Current
Sources
 Example 2: Determine I0 .

I0 = -5A

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Mesh Analysis w/out Current Sources
1. Assign mesh currents i1, i2, .. in to the n meshes.
Assume mesh current flows clockwise.

I o  i3  eqn . 1

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Mesh Analysis w/out Current Sources
2. Apply KVL to each of the n meshes. Use Ohm’s
Law to express the voltages in terms of mesh
currents.
Around Mesh 1,
 20  4 (i1  i3 )  2 (i1  i2 )  0
4i1  4i3  2i1  2i2  20
3i1  i2  2i3  10  eqn .2
Around Mesh 2,
2 (i2  i1 )  8(i2  i3 )  10 I 0  0
but, Around Mesh 3,
I 0  i3 4 (i3  i1 )  6 i3  8 (i3  i2 )  0
2i2  2i1  8i2  8i3  10 i3  0 4 i3  4 i1  6i3  8i3  8i2  0
 i1  5i2  9i3  0  eqn .3  2i1  4 i2  9i3  0  eqn .4
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Mesh Analysis w/out Current Sources
 Solving for the mesh currents
Mesh Equations:
3i1  i2  2i3  10  eqn.2
 i1  5i2  9i3  0  eqn.3
 2i1  4i2  9i3  0  eqn.4
Using Cramer's Rule,
 45 
 3,  1,  2 i1  10   14 
 1, 5,  9 i   0  i1   
i     135 
I o  i3  eqn.1
  2     2   14 
i3   I o  5 A

 2,  4, 9  i3  0    5 
 

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 Mesh Analysis with Current
Sources
 Two cases to consider:
 Case 1: A current source exists only in one
mesh.
 Set the mesh current = current source.

 Case 2: A current source exists between the two

meshes.
 Create super mesh by excluding the current source
and any elements connected in series with it.

#A super mesh results when two meshes have a (dependent

or independent) current source in common.

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 Mesh Analysis with Current
Sources
 Properties of super mesh:
 Current source in the super mesh provides the
constraint.
 Super mesh has no current of its own.
 Super mesh requires the application of both KVL
and KCL.

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 Mesh Analysis with Current
Sources
 Find ia and ib.

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 Mesh Analysis with Current
Sources
 Case 1: A current source exists only in one
mesh.
 Set the mesh current = current source.

ia  i1  i2  eqn.1 i1  1  eqn .3
ib  i2  i3  eqn.2 i3  4  eqn .4

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 Mesh Analysis with Current
Sources
Around Mesh 2,
2 ( i2  i1 )  6 i2  7 ( i 2  i3 )  0
but
i1  1  eqn .3
i3  4  eqn . 4
2 ( i2  1)  6 i2  7 ( i2  4 )  0
2 i2  2  6 i2  7 i2  28  0
i2  2

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 Mesh Analysis with Current
Sources
 Solving for ia and ib.

Mesh Currents : Therefore,

i1  1 A ia  i1  i2  eqn.1
i2  2 A ia  1  2
i3  4 A ia  1 A
ib  i2  i3  eqn.2
ib  2  4
ib  2 A

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 Mesh Analysis with Current
Sources
 Example 1: Determine ia, ib and ic.

ia=3.474
ib =0.4737
ic =1.1052

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 Mesh Analysis with Current
Sources
Case 2: A current
source exists
between the two
meshes. The 3 A
current source is
between meshes
2 and 3.

Create super mesh

by excluding the
current source and
any elements
connected in series
with it.

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 Mesh Analysis with Current
Sources
 Example 1: Determine ia, ib and ic.

ia  i1  eqn.1
ib  i3  eqn.2
ic  i2  eqn.3
i1  i2  3  eqn.4

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 Mesh Analysis with Current
Sources
 Case 2: Create super mesh by excluding the
current source and any elements connected in
series with it.

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 Mesh Analysis with Current
Sources
 KVL around the supermesh

 6  2(i1  i3 )  4(i2  i3 )  8i2  0

2i1  2i3  4i2  4i3  8i2  6
2i1  12i2  6i3  6  eqn.5
KVL around Mesh 3,
2(i3  i1 )  2i3  4(i3  i2 )  0
2i3  2i1  2i3  4i3  4i2  0
 2i1  4i2  8i3  0  eqn.6

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 Mesh Analysis with Current
Sources
i1  i2  3  eqn.4
2i1  4i2  2i3  6  eqn.5
 2i1  4i2  8i3  0  eqn.6
 1,  2, 0  i1  3
 2, 4, 2  i   6
  2   
 2,  4, 8  i3  0
i a  3.474 A
ia  i1  eqn.1
ib  1.1052 A
ib  i3  eqn.2
ic  0.4737 A
ic  i2  eqn.3
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 Nodal Analysis by Inspection
 Implemented when
all sources in the
circuit are
independent current
sources.
 Convert resistors to
conductors.

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 Nodal Analysis by Inspection
 Example: By inspection, determine the node-
voltage equations for the circuit.

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 Mesh Analysis by Inspection
 Implemented when all sources in the circuit
are independent voltage sources.

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 Mesh Analysis by Inspection
 Example: By inspection, determine the
mesh-current equations for the circuit.

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