Basic Laws of Electric Circuits

Mesh Analysis

Lesson 5

1
 Definitions:
What is a Mesh?
A loop that does not contain any other loop within it.
What is Mesh Analysis?
It is a technique of finding voltage drops around a loop using
the currents that flow within the loop, Kirchoff’s Voltage
Law, and Ohm’s Law

2
 Steps in Mesh Analysis: An
Illustration
Mesh Analysis: Concept Illustration:

Vin

Example 5.1

3
 Step 1: Identify all meshes.
Identify all of the meshes in the circuit: In this case we have
2 meshes.

Vin

4
Step 2: Assign Mesh Currents
Label the currents flowing in each mesh – Adopt a
clockwise direction flow of current in all meshes for
simplicity.

5
Step 3: Coming up with Mesh
Equations.
Apply Kirchoff’s Voltage Law and Ohms Law to each of the
meshes.

6
Step 4: Algebra
Solve the resulting equations simultaneously to obtain
solutions for mesh currents.
Once the mesh currents are known, calculate the voltage
across all of the components.
Note: It is important to observe at this point how currents
flowing through branches shared between meshes are
treated.

7
Given:

Determine the voltages and currents across each resistor in

Example 5.1

8
 Solution for Example 5.1:
Mesh Currents (mA)
i1 740

i2 264

Currents (mA)
IR1 = i1 740
IR2 = i1 740

IR3 = i1- i2 476

IR4 = i2 264

IR5 = i2 264

IR6 = i1 740

I Vin = i1 740

9
Solution….
The currents through each component in the circuit.

Voltage across (V)

Note to self:
resistors
VR1 2.96 The magnitude of any
voltage across a resistor must
VR2 5.92
be less than the sum of all of
VR3 2.39 the voltage sources in the
VR4 1.59 circuit
VR5 0.804
◦ For this case, no voltage
across a resistor can be
VR6 0.740 greater than 12V.
10
Example 5.2

SOLUTION:
i1 = i2 = 1A

11
Example 5.3:

12
Example 5.4: Mesh Analysis
With Current Sources – Scenario
1

Mesh 2 has a current source of 5A. This implies that i2 = - 5A.

Note: This only applies in scenarios where the current source
exists in one mesh only.

13
Example 5.5: Mesh Analysis With
Current Source between two Meshes –
Scenario 2

The current source in this case happens to be between Mesh 1 and Mesh 2.
In this case we have a SUPERMESH.

14
The elements in the SUPERMESH are ignored so that we have:

Note: The branches in which currents were flowing before exclusion of the
SUPERMESH elements are maintained. Hence we have:

Eqn 5.5.1

Eqn 5.5.2…….This is the equation of the

resultant current flowing in the branch with the
SUPERMESH.
Solving the Equations simultaneously yields: i1 = - 3.2A and i2 = 2.8A

15
 Example 5.6:

i1 = 2.25 A, i2 = 0.75A and i3 = 1.5A

16
Example 5.7: A more
complex example…

17
Example 5.8: Mesh Analysis
for AC Circuits

18
 AC Circuits
Mesh Analysis For AC Circuits:

• Step 1: Transform circuit into phasor or frequency domain.

• Step 2: Solve the problem using KVL and Ohms Law

• Step 3: Transform the obtained phasor into time domain.

19
 Solution for Example 5.8:
Eqn 5.8.1

Eqn 5.8.2

For Mesh 3, i3 = 5A Eqn 5.8.3

20
Equations 5.8.1 and 5.8.3 simplify into the matrix below:

21
Example 5.9:

22
To be continued….
Mesh Analysis

23