Mesh Analysis

Objective:
To analyze circuits using a systematic technique: the mesh analysis.

Mesh Analysis
The mesh analysis is a systematic way of applying KVL around each mesh of a circuit and
describes the branch voltages in terms of the mesh currents. This will give us a set of equations
that we solve together to find the mesh currents. Once we find the mesh currents we can use
them to calculate any other currents or voltages of interest.

Case #1: Circuits with Independent voltage Sources.

Example #1:
For following circuit find the mesh currents and use the mesh currents to findix.

Solution
Step #1
Identify
all of
the
meshes.

Step #2
Assign
currents
to all of
the
meshes
Step #3
Apply the KVL around each mesh.In this step for each mesh we describe the branch voltages in
term of mesh currents.

Apply KVL around mesh # 1

—7 + 1 i1 + 2 (i1 — i2) + 6 = 0

3 i1 + 2 i2 = 1 (1)
Apply KVL around mesh # 2

3 i2 + 4 i2 + 9 — 6 + 2 (i2 — i1) = 0

—2 i1 + 9i2 = —3

(2)

Step #4
Solving question 1 and 2 for the unknown mesh currents (i1 and i2):
i1=0.13 A

i 2 = — 0.304 A
i x = i1 — i2 = 0.434 A

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Example #2:
Write the mesh (loop) equations for the following circuit and then find i x , i y and v

6V
6 iy
- +
ix
+
v 3 1
9 2
-

Solution:
4

1
6V
6 y
- +
x
+
3 1
9 2 3
2
-

Apply KVL around mesh # 1

6 + 4 i1 + 6 (i1 — i3) = 0

10 i1 — 6i3 = —6 … … (1)

Apply KVL around mesh # 2

9 i2 — 6 + 3 (i2 — i3) = 0

12 i2 — 3i3 = 6 … . . (2)

3
Apply KVL at mesh # 3

3(i3 — i2) + 6(i3 — i1) + 12 i3 = 0

—6 i1 — 3 i2 + 21i3 = 0 … … (3)

Solve the three equations

i1 = —0.6757 A , i2 = 0.4685 A , i3 = —0.1261

A i x = i1 — i2 = —1.1442 A
i y = i3 — i2 = —0.5946 A

v = —9 i2 = 4.2165 V

Case #2: Circuits with Independent Current Sources

Example #3:
Find VO by using the mesh analysis

Solution

4
It is clear that:

i1 = 4 mA

i2 = —2 mA

Apply KVL around mesh # 3

—3 + 4k (i3 — i2) + 2k (i3 — i1) + 6k i3 = 0

1
i 3 = 4 mA

To find V0:

+3 — 6 (i3) + V0 = 0

3
V0 = —2

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Case #3: Circuits with a current source common to two meshes
Example #4:

Solution

6
Apply KVL around the mesh #1

2i1 + 3(i1 — i3) + 1(i1 — i2) = 0

6i1 — i2 — 3i2 = 0 … . (1)

Supermesh:

When a current source is common to two meshes we use the concept of supermesh. A
supermesh is created from two meshes that have a current source in common as shown in the
above figure.

Apply KVL around the supermesh

—7 + 1( i2 — i1) + 3(i3 — i1) + 1i3 = 0

—4i1 + i2 + 4i3 = 7 … … . (2)

We have two equations with three unknown variables!!!. The third equation can be obtained by
using the relation between the i2and i3 as follows:

i3 — i2 = 7A … … (3)

Solve the three equations

i1 = 1.5 A , i2 = —3 A , i3 = 4 A

Case #4: Circuits with dependent sources

For circuits that include dependent sources, first we ignore the fact that the dependent
source is a dependent source and we write the mesh-current equations as we
would for a circuit with independent sources. The mesh-current equations will have
extra unknown variables for the dependent sources beside to the normal unknown mesh
currents. All the extra unknown variable of the dependent sources must be described in term
of the mesh currents. There MUST be a relation between the unknown variable of the
dependent and the mesh currents, because mesh currents can be used to describe any
current or voltage of any branch in the circuit. The following examples will show you how to
apply the mesh analysis for circuits with dependent sources.

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Example #5:
Find Vo by using mesh analysis.

Solution

Vx
From mesh #1 i1 = … … . (1)
2

From mesh #2 i2 = 2A … …
(2)
Apply KVL around mesh #3

—5 + ( i3 — i1) + 2 + 6i3 = 0 … … . (3)

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Equation (1) has an extra unknown variable(vx). We should relate the extra unknown
variable of the dependent source to the mesh currents. From the above figure it is clear
that:
VX = 4( i1 — i2)

In Eq.(1)

i1 = 4( i1 — i2)
2
i1 — 2i2 = 0 … . . (4)

From Eq.(2) and Eq.(4)

i1 = 4 A

From Eq.(3)

i 3 = 11 A
8

33
V0 = i 3x6 = 4

Example #6:
For the following circuit find the mesh currents.

Solution

9
Apply KVL around the supermesh:

—20 + 4 i1 + 6 i2 + 2i2 =

0 4 i1 + 8 i2 = 20 … … (1)

We have one equation with two unknown variables!!!. The second equation can be obtained by
using the relation between the i1and i2 as follows:
v
i 2 — i1 = 4x … … (2)

Equation (2) has an extra unknown variable(vx). We should relate the extra unknown
variable (vx) of the dependent source to the mesh currents. From the above figure it is
clear

vx = 2i2

In Eq.(2)

i2 — 1
2i2
= 4
i
2 i1 — i2 = 0 … . (3)

Solving Eq.(1) and Eq.(3)

i1 = 1, i2 = 2

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