BMM 2433

Electric & Electronics Technology

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

 Topic 7:
Mesh Analysis
Prepared by:
Dr.MAM

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 Definition
Planar network
- networks that can be drawn on a plane
without having one element crossing over
another

Nonplanar
- circuits that must be drawn with one or more
elements crossing other.

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• source voltages & resistances are known. Find
currents.

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write equation for current(which called branch
current because a separate current is defined
in each branch)

three independent equations are needed

(due to three branch currents available)

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• number of independent KVL equations that
can be written is equal to number of open
areas defined by the network layout.

• Example,
previous circuit has two open areas;
1.defined by VA,R1 & R3.
2.defined by R2,R3 & VB
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• For this network, we write two KVL equations
& employ KCL to obtain the third equation.

• KVL for loop consisting VA,R1 & R3,

R1i1 + R3i3 = vA
KVL for loop consisting R2,R3 & VB,
-R3i3 + R2i2 = -vB

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Apply to KCL equation:
i1 = i2 + i3 i3 = i1 + i2
substitute in equation, we get:
R1i1 + R3(i1-i2)= vA
-R3(i1-i2) + R2i2 = -vB

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• mesh currents are considered to flow around
closed paths.-satisfy KCL

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Therefore,

“When several mesh currents flow through

one elements, we consider the current in that
element to be algebraic sum of the mesh
current.”

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• assuming a reference direction pointing
downward, the current in R3 is (i1-i2), thus
v3=R3(i1-i2)

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 Example
• Example 1: write the equation needed to solve
the mesh currents in figure below.

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(mesh 1)
R2(i1-i3) + R3(i1-i2) – vA = 0
(mesh 2)
R3(i2-i1) + R4i2 + vB = 0
(mesh 3)
R2(i3-i1) + R1i3 – vB = 0

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In standard form, the equation become:

(R2+R3)i1 – R3i2 – R2i3 = vA

-R3i1 + (R3+R4)i2 = -vB
-R2i1 + (R1 + R2)i3 = vB

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 Exercise
• write in equation for the mesh current in
below figure.

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 Example 2
• find the branch currents I1, I2, and I3 in the
circuit shown.

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• 1) Determine the mesh.

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For mesh 1;
 15  5i1  10  i1  i2   10  0
Or
3i1  2i2  1

For mesh 2;
6i2  4i2  10  i2  i1   10  0
Or
i1  2i2  1

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 By using elimination method;

  2
•3 i
2 
i
12
21

6
i
2
32
i
21 i2  1 A
 By using cramer’s rule;

Equation 3i1  2i2  1 and i1  2i2  1 can be form in

matric form.
=  3  2  i1  1
 1 2  i   1
   2  
The determinant can be calculate as

3 2
=  62  4
1 2
 Now, we can obtain i1 and i2 with equation;

1 2 3 1
1 1 2 22
and 2 1 1 3 1
i1    1A i2    1A
  4   4

therefore, i1 = 1A and i2 = 1A.same as

elimination method.
 MESH ANALYSIS WITH CURRENT SOURCES

• Like what voltage sources do to nodal analysis,

current sources have an effect of making
calculations easier on mesh analysis
• There are two possible locations of the current
source:
1. On the branch at the outer most boundary of the
circuit.
2. On the branch that is the boundary
between two meshes.
 CASE 1: Presence of a current source located at the
outer most boundary of the circuit.
The connecting mesh current is immediately known. Since the current source
is at the branch that is the outer most of the circuit, the mesh current is
the same as the branch current.

For example,

I1 = -Is
CASE 2: Presence of a current source location on
the boundary between two meshes.
If a current source is present on the boundary between the two
meshes, enclose the current source and combine the two
meshes to form a SUPERMESH.
We create a supermesh by excluding the current
source and any elements connected in series with it.
Two meshes having a
current source in common
A supermesh, created by excluding the current source
By applying KVL in figure (b) gives:



20
6
i
1 
10
i
24
i
20

6
i
114
i220
…(1)

We apply KCL to a node in the branch where the two meshes intersect.
Applying KCL to node 0 gives:

2
i i
16…(2)
Solving equation (1) and equation (2), we get:

i1  3.2 A i2  2.8 A

•A supermesh results when two meshes have a (dependent or

independent) current source in common.
•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.
Example; find the power dissipated in 40hm
resistor.
Solution;

We apply KVL to the three meshes in turn.

For mesh 1,


i
50
5
1
i
2 i
20
1 
i
3 0

or: 5
i
1i
24
i
310
…(1)
For mesh 2;

i
5
2i
1

i
24i

2i
3
0

or: 
5
i
1
10
i
24
i
30…(2)

For mesh 3;

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

or: I   i1  i3
 Hence;
20  i3  i1   4 i3  i2   15  i1  i3   0
or:  5i1  4i2  9i3  0 …(3)

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

Therefore, power of 4Ω resistor becomes;

P  I 2R
P   i3  i2  R
2

P   28  26  4
2

P  16 W