DC Circuits

LECTURE 4

Mesh Current Analysis

R.Jayapragash, Associate Professor, SELECT 1

Mesh current analysis
Mesh current analysis is an extension of the use of Kirchhoff’s laws.
A loop is a closed path with no node passed more than once. A mesh is a
loop that does not contain any other loop within it. Mesh analysis applies
KVL to find unknown currents.

Currents I1, I2 and I3 are called mesh currents or loop currents or circulating
currents. The method of mesh current analysis is also called Maxwell’s
theorem.

R.Jayapragash, Associate Professor, SELECT 2

Procedure

Step-1: If there are current sources that appear directly across resistors,
convert them into equivalent voltage sources in series with resistors. This is
called ‘mesh reduction’.
Step-2: Assign mesh current variables in the reduced circuit, starting with
the leftmost Mesh.
Step-3: Prepare the mesh equations by applying KVL in meshes, starting at
the left bottom corner and traversing the mesh in a clockwise direction.
Step-4: Solve the mesh equations by Cramer’s rule or by matrix inversion.
Step-5: Use the mesh current values and apply KCL at various nodes in the
original circuit to obtain element currents and voltages for all resistive
elements and currents through the voltage sources.
R.Jayapragash, Associate Professor, SELECT 3
Use mesh-current analysis to determine the current flowing in (a) the 5Ω
resistance, and (b) the 1Ω resistance of the DC circuit shown below.

5(𝐼1 − 𝐼2 )+3𝐼1 =4 (1)

4𝐼2 +1(𝐼2 − 𝐼3 ) +6𝐼2 +5(𝐼2 − 𝐼1 ) =0 (2)

1(𝐼3 − 𝐼2 )+8𝐼3 =-5 (3)

R.Jayapragash, Associate Professor, SELECT 4

R.Jayapragash, Associate Professor, SELECT 5
Find the branch currents of the circuit shown below using mesh analysis.

Mesh1
5I1+10(I1-I2)=15-10 --- (1)

10I2+10(I2-I1)=10 ---(2)

I1=1A
I2= 1A

R.Jayapragash, Associate Professor, SELECT 6

Calculate the mesh currents of the circuit shown below.

2I1+12(I1-I2)+4I1=45 ---(1)
9I2+3I2+12(I2-I1)=-30 ----(2)

I1=2.5A
I2=0A

R.Jayapragash, Associate Professor, SELECT 7

Find the mesh currents of the circuit shown below using mesh analysis.

30I1+10(I1-I2)= -120 (1)

30I2+10(I2-I3)+10(I2-I1)=0 (2)

10(I3-I2)+30I3= 120 (3)

I1= -3A

I2= 0 A

I3= 3A

R.Jayapragash, Associate Professor, SELECT 8

Use mesh analysis to find the current Io.

10(I1-I2)+12(I1-I3)=24 (1)

24I2+4(I2-I3)+10(I2-I1)=0 (2)

12(I3-I1)+4(I3-I2) = -4Io (3)

Apply KCL at Node A

Io=I1-I2

I1= 2.25A

I2= 0.75A

I3=1.5A

Io= 1.5A

R.Jayapragash, Associate Professor, SELECT 9

Mesh Analysis with current sources

CASE 1: When a current source exists only in one mesh

4I1+6(I1-I2)=10 (1)

Substitute I2=-5A (2)

I1 = -2A

R.Jayapragash, Associate Professor, SELECT 10

CASE 2: When a current source exists between two meshes. create a
supermesh by excluding the current source and any elements connected in
series with it.
A
I1 I2

Apply KCL at node A

I2=I1+6
6I1+14I2=20
I1=-3.2A
I2=2.8A

R.Jayapragash, Associate Professor, SELECT 11

Properties of a supermesh:

1. The current source in the supermesh provides the constraint

equation necessary to solve for the mesh currents.

2. A supermesh has no current of its own.

3. A supermesh requires the application of both KVL and KCL.

R.Jayapragash, Associate Professor, SELECT 12

Find the mesh currents of the circuit shown below using mesh analysis.

A I1=-5A
4I3+3I4+I4+2(I4-I2)+2(I3-I1)=60

4I2+(I2-i1)+2(I2-I4) = -22.5

I3+10=I4

I3=--1.062A

I4=8.9375A

I2=--1.375A

I1=--5A

Io=I1-I2= -3.625A

R.Jayapragash, Associate Professor, SELECT 13

Reference:
• Electrical Circuit Theory and Technology – John Bird.
• Fundamentals of Electric Circuits - Charles K. Alexander, Matthew N.
O. Sadiku

R.Jayapragash, Associate Professor, SELECT 14

R.Jayapragash, Associate Professor, SELECT 15