Loop (Mesh) Analysis

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 Loop Analysis
• Nodal analysis was developed by applying
KCL at each non-reference node
• Loop analysis is developed by applying
KVL around loops in the circuit
• Loop (mesh) analysis results in a system
of linear equations which must be solved
for unknown currents

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 Another Summing Circuit
• The output voltage Vout of this circuit is
proportional to the sum of the two input
voltages V1 and V2
1kW 1kW
+
V1 + +
Vout 1kW V2
– –
–

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 Steps of Mesh Analysis
1. Identify mesh (loops).
2. Assign a current to each mesh.
3. Apply KVL around each loop to get an
equation in terms of the loop currents.
4. Solve the resulting system of linear
equations for the mesh/loop currents.

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 1. Identifying the Meshes

1kW 1kW

V1 + +
Mesh 1 Mesh 2 V2
– –

1kW

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 Steps of Mesh Analysis
1. Identify mesh (loops).
2. Assign a current to each mesh.
3. Apply KVL around each loop to get an
equation in terms of the loop currents.
4. Solve the resulting system of linear
equations for the mesh/loop currents.

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 2. Assigning Mesh Currents

1kW 1kW

1kW
V1 + +
I1 I2 V2
– –

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 Steps of Mesh Analysis
1. Identify mesh (loops).
2. Assign a current to each mesh.
3. Apply KVL around each loop to get an
equation in terms of the loop currents.
4. Solve the resulting system of linear
equations for the mesh/loop currents.

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 Voltages from Mesh Currents
+ VR –
+ VR – I2
R R

I1 I1

VR = I1 R VR = (I1 – I2 ) R

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 3. KVL Around Mesh 1
1kW 1kW

1kW
V1 + +
I1 I2 V2
– –

–V1 + I1 1kW + (I1 – I2) 1kW = 0

I1 1kW + (I1 – I2) 1kW =V1

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 3. KVL Around Mesh 2
1kW 1kW

1kW
V1 + +
I1 I2 V2
– –

(I2 – I1) 1kW + I2 1kW + V2 = 0

(I2 – I1) 1kW + I2 1kW = –V2

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 Steps of Mesh Analysis
1. Identify mesh (loops).
2. Assign a current to each mesh.
3. Apply KVL around each loop to get an
equation in terms of the loop currents.
4. Solve the resulting system of linear
equations for the mesh/loop currents.

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 Matrix Notation
• The two equations can be combined into a
single matrix/vector equation

1k  1k  1k   I 1   V1 

  1k     
 1k  1k  I 2   V2 

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 4. Solving the Equations
Let: V1 = 7V and V2 = 4V
Results:
I1 = 3.33 mA
I2 = –0.33 mA
Finally
Vout = (I1 – I2) 1kW = 3.66V

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 Another Example
Find the power dissipated in 4 resistor.
Solution;

We apply KVL to the three meshes

in turn.
For mesh 1, 50  5  i1  i2   20  i1  i3   0

or:
5i1  i2  4i3  10 …(1)
For mesh 2;

5  i2  i1   i2  4 i2  i3   0

or:  5i1  10i2  4i3  0 …(2)

For mesh 3;

20  i3  i1   4 i3  i2   15 I   0

or: I   i1  i3
 Hence;
20  i3  i1   4 i3  i2   15  i1  i3   0

or:  5i1  4i2  9i3  0 …(3)

 5 1  4  i1  10
n matrix form,  5
 10  4 i    0 
 2  
  5 4 9  i3   0 
om that matrix form, we get
i1  42.4 A i2  26 A i3  28 A

erefore, power of 4Ω resistor becomes;

P  I 2R
P   i3  i2  R
2

P   28  26 4
2

P  16 W
  5 1  4  i1  10
 5 10  4 i2    0 

 5  4 9  i3   0 
10  1  4  5 10  4  5  1 10
 0 10  4  5 0  4  5 10 0 
    
 0  4 9   5 0 9   5  4 0 
i1  ,i  ,i 
 5  1  4 2  5  1  4 3  5  1  4
 5 10  4  5 10  4  5 10  4
    
 5  4 9   5  4 9   5  4 9 

 5  1  4 5  1
 5 10  4  5 10
 
 5  4 9   5  4
200 + 80 + 45 = 325 450 – 20 -80 = 350
det 350 – 325 = -25

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 Another Example

2kW

2mA
1kW

+
12V 2kW 4mA
–
I0

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 1. Identify Meshes

2kW

2mA Mesh 3
1kW

+ 2kW
12V Mesh 1 Mesh 2 4mA
–
I0

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 2. Assign Mesh Currents

2kW

2mA I3
1kW

+ 2kW
12V I1 I2 4mA
–
I0

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 Current Sources
• The current sources in this circuit will have
whatever voltage is necessary to make the
current correct
• We can’t use KVL around any mesh
because we don’t know the voltage for the
current sources
• What to do?

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 Current Sources
• The 4mA current source sets I2:
I2 = –4 mA
• The 2mA current source sets a constraint on I1 and I3:
I1 – I3 = 2 mA
• We have two equations and three unknowns. Where is the third equation?
2kW

2mA I3
1kW

+ 2kW
12V – I1 I2 4mA
I0
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 The
2kW Supermesh
The does not
Supermesh 2mA I3 include this
surrounds 1kW source!
this source!
+ 2kW
12V I1 I2 4mA
–
I0

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 3. KVL Around the Supermesh

-12V + I3 2kW + (I3 - I2)1kW + (I1 - I2)2kW = 0

I3 2kW + (I3 - I2)1kW + (I1 - I2)2kW = 12V
2kW
The
The
Supermesh
Supermesh 2mA I3 does not
does not 1kW include this
include this
source!
source!

+ 2kW
12V I1 I2 4mA
–
I0
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 Matrix Notation
• The three equations can be combined into
a single matrix/vector equation

 0 1 0   I 1   4mA 
 1 0  1   I    2mA 
  2   
2k  1k  2k 2k  1k   I 3   12V 

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 Advantages of Nodal Analysis
• Solves directly for node voltages
• Current sources are easy
• Voltage sources are either very easy or
somewhat difficult
• Works best for circuits with few nodes
• Works for any circuit

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 Advantages of Loop Analysis
• Solves directly for some currents
• Voltage sources are easy
• Current sources are either very easy or
somewhat difficult
• Works best for circuits with few loops

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Disadvantages of Loop Analysis
• Some currents must be computed from
loop currents
• Does not work with non-planar circuits
• Choosing the supermesh may be difficult.

• FYI: Spice uses a nodal analysis approach

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