Nodal and Mesh Analysis - GATE Study

Material in PDF
Nodal and Mesh Analysis is an important topic from the point of view of Network
Elements and Network Theory. Once you have learnt the basics of Network Analysis
by Kirchhoffs Laws, we can use concepts like Nodal Analysis, Mesh Analysis,
Super Nodes and Super Mesh to further simplify our circuit analysis.
You can download these GATE Notes in PDF to refer and revise at your own
convenience. Ace GATE EC, BARC, BSNL, DRDO, IES and other exams using these
GATE Study Notes. Make sure that before you get through this free GATE
material, however that you go through other important reading material.

Recommended Reading Material

Basic Network Theory Concepts

Source Transformation & Reciprocity Theorem
KCL & KVL in Electrical Networks
Nodal Analysis
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

Nodal Analysis is used on circuits to obtain multiple KCL equations which are
used to solve for voltage and current in a circuit.
Also known as Node Voltage Method.
The number of KCL equations required is one less than the number of nodes that
a circuit has.
The extra node may be referred to as a reference node (or) ground node.

The Following steps to followed when we apply nodal analysis

Step 1: Identify independent nodes.
Step 2: The voltages at these nodes are the node voltages.
Step 3: Use Ohms Law to write KCL at each independent node in terms of the node
voltages.
1

Step 4: Solve these equations to determine the node voltages.

Step 5: Any desired circuit parameter can be determined from the node voltages.

Super Node
A super node is formed by enclosing a dependent or independent voltage source
connected between two non-reference nodes and any elements connected in parallel
with it.
Properties of a Super Node
i.
ii.

A super node has no voltage of its own.

A super node requires the application of both KCL and KVL.

Note:
Nodal Analysis = KCL + Ohms Law
Example:
Determine the voltages V1 and V2 of the following network

Solution:
The circuit contains three essential nodes

Apply KCL at node 1 we get

(V! 10) V! V! V!
+ +
=0
1
5
2
2

10V! 100 + 2V! + 5V! 5V2 = 0

17V! 5V! = 100 A)

Apply KCL at node 2, we get
V! V! V!
+
2=0
2
10
5(V! V! ) + V! 20 = 0
6V! 5V! = 20 B)
Solve the equations A and B then we get
V! = 0.09 V
V! = 10.91 V

Mesh Analysis
Mesh Analysis is used on circuits to obtain multiple KVL equations which are used to
solve for voltage and current in a circuit.
Also known as Mesh Current Method.
The following steps to followed when we apply Mesh Analysis
Step 1: Identify mesh loops.
Step 2: The currents around these loops are the mesh currents.
Step 3: Use Ohms Law to write KVL around each loop in terms of the mesh currents.
Step 4: Solve these equations to determine the mesh currents.
Step 5: Any desired circuit parameter can be determined from the mesh currents.

Super Mesh
A Super Mesh results when two meshes have a dependent or independent current
source in common.
Properties of a Super Mesh
i.
ii.

A Super Mesh has no current of its own.

A Super Mesh requires the application of both KVL and KCL.

Note:
3

Mess Analysis = KVL + Ohms Law

Example:
Find the mesh currents in the circuit diagram given below

Solution:
Redraw the given figure by indicating nodes and branches then we get

Number of branches = b = 6
Number of nodes = 4
Number of mesh equations M = b n + 1 = 6 4 + 1 = 3
Apply KVL in the i1 loop,
50 = 5(i! i! ) + 20(i! i! )
25i! 5i! 20i! = 50 A)
Apply KVL in the i2 loop,
0 = i! + 4(i! i! ) + 5(i! i! )
5i! 10i! + 4i! = 0 B)
Apply KVL in the i3 loop,
4

0 = 20(i! i! ) + 4(i! i! ) 15i!

Also we know i! = i! i!
35i! + 4i! 9i! = 0 C)
Solve the above three equations i.e. A), B) and C) then we get
i1 = 0.57 A
i2 = 1.43 A
i3 = 2.86 A
Note:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

In a Network let the number of nodes is n and number of branches is b then.

Number of nodal equations N = n 1
Number of Mesh Equations M = b n +1
Total number of equations need to obtain solution is = Minimum (N, M)

Liked this article on Nodal and Mesh Analysis? Let us know in the comments.
The next article will deal with Voltage Division, Current Division, Star to Delta
Conversion and vice versa.
Voltage & Current Division, Star to Delta Conversion

You may also like to read

Design and Tuning in Control Systems
Compensators
Introduction to State Space Analysis
System Analysis through State Space Model
Control Systems - Revision Test 1