1-Introduction to the Mesh-Current Method

Mesh :a closed path that does not enclose any other closed path
Planar circuit: a circuit that can be drawn in a plane.

Steps to Determine Mesh Currents: (used only in case of

planar circuit)
1. Assign mesh currents i1 , i2 ,..., in to the n meshes.
2. Apply KVL to each of the n meshes. Use Ohms law to
express the voltages in terms of the mesh currents.
3. Solve the resulting n simultaneous equations to get the
mesh currents.
Introduction to the Mesh-Current Method

Consider the following circuit were we want to solve for the currents i1 , i 2 , i 3
R R
1 2

i1 i2
+ +
v
1 - i3 R
3 - v
2

The circuit has 5 branches and 4 nodes

Number of loops= Number of Branches (Number of nodes -1) =

l 5 - (4 - 1) 2
Therefore to solve via the mesh-current method we must write 2 mesh current .
We first solve the circuit using KCL and KVL and then compare that solution
with that given due to applying Mesh current method.
 R R
1 2

i1 i2
+ R +
v - i3 3 - v
1 2

Applying KCL to the upper node (one KCL for two essentials nodes)

i1 i 2 + i 3

Applying KVL around the two meshes v 1 R1i 1 + R 3i 3 -v 2 R 2i 2 - R 3i 3

Solving the KCL for i3 and substituting in the KVL equations we have

v 1 (R1 + R 3 )i 1 - R 3i 2
-v 2 -R 3i 1 + (R 2 + R 3 )i 2
 R R
1 2

v 1 (R1 + R 3 )i 1 - R 3i 2
i1 i2
v
1
+
- i3
R
3
+
- v
2
-v 2 -R 3i 1 + (R 2 + R 3 )i 2

Solution using mesh current method

Now consider the mesh currents ia, ib , and applying KVL around the two meshes we have
R1 R2
v 1 R1i a + R 3 (i a - i b )
v 1 (R1 + R 3 )i a - R 3i b
+ R3 +
v1 - - v2
ia ib -v 2 R 3 (i b - i a ) + R 2i b
-v 2 -R 3i a + (R 2 + R 3 )i b
The two equations are identical if we replace the currents i1, i2 with the mesh currents ia, ib
 R1 R2

v 1 (R1 + R 3 )i a - R 3i b
+ R3 +
v1 - - v2
ia ib -v 2 -R 3i a + (R 2 + R 3 )i b

Once we solve for the mesh current we can solve for any branch current
Once we know the branch current we can solve for any voltage or power of interest current
 Example 1 : Find v0

2W 6W 4W

+
+ 8W 6W +
40 V -
vo - 20 V

2W 6W 4W

+ 8W 6W +
40 V - - 20 V
i i i
a b c

We solve for ia , ibthen v0 8(ia - ib )

 1-2 The mesh-Current Method and dependent sources

Example 2:
Use the mesh-current method to
determine the power dissipated in the
4 W resistor

i
2

i i
1
i 3
 KVL on mesh 1
i
2 50 5(i 1 - i 2 ) + 20(i 1 - i 3 )
KVL on mesh 2

i i 0 5(i 2 - i 1 ) + 1i 2 + 4(i 2 - i 3 )
1
i 3

KVL on mesh 3
0 20(i 3 - i 1 ) + 4(i 3 - i 2 ) + 15i

Since i i 1 - i3 50 25i 1 - 5i 2 - 20i 3

25 -5 -20 i 1 50
-5
10 -4 i 2 0
0 -5i 1 + 10i 2 - 4i 3
-5 -4 9 0
0 -5i 1 - 4i 2 + 9i 3
i 3
 25 -5 -20 i 1 50
i
2

-5
10 -4 i 2 0
-5 0
-4 9
i 3
i i
1
i 3

we need only i2 and i3

To solve, we use Cramer method as follows,

25 -5 50
25 50 -20
-5 10 0
-5 0 -4
-5 -4 0 3500
-5 0 9 3250 i3 = = 28 A
i2 = = 26 A 25 -5 -20 125
25 -5 -20 125
-5 10 -4
-5 10 -4
-5 -4 9
-5 -4 9

P4 W 4(i 3 - i 2 )2 =4(28 - 26) 2 =16 W

Special cases:
Mesh Analysis with Current Sources(1)
Case 1
When a current source exists only
in one mesh: Consider the figure
right.

i2 -5 A
- 10 + 4i1 + 6(i1 - i2 ) 0
i1 -2 A
 Mesh Analysis with Current Sources(2)
Case 2
When a current source exists
between two meshes: Consider R1
the figure.
we have 2 solutions:
1. Set v as the voltage across the R2 ib R3
current source, then add a
constraint equation.
V1 + V2
2. Use supermesh to solve the
ia Is ic
problem. v
R4 - R5
 R1
Solution 1:

at - mesh1 : R2 (ia - ib ) + v + R4ia V1

ib
R2 R3 at - mesh2 : R1ib + R3 (ib - ic ) + R2 (ib - ia ) 0
at - mesh3 : R5ic - v + R3 (ic - ib ) -V2
V1 + V2
ia Is ic and ia - ic I s
v
R4 - R5

supermesh
Solution 2:
at - sup ermesh : R 2(ia - ib ) + R3(ic - ib ) + V 2 + R5ic + R 4ia - V 1 0
at - mesh2 : R1ib + R3 (ib - ic ) + R2 (ib - ia ) 0
constra int equation : ia - ic I s
Note:
1, The current source in the supermesh is not completely ignored; it provides the
constraint equation necessary to solve for the mesh current.
2, A supermesh has no current of its own.
3, A supermesh requires the application of both KVL and KCL.
Example 2
At - sup ermesh : 2i1 + 4i3 + 8(i3 - i4 ) + 6i2 0
and - at - node - P i2 i1 + 5 at - node - Q : i2 i3 + 3i0 i0 -i4
At - mesh4 : 2i4 + 8(i4 - i3 ) + 10 0
 Nodal Versus Mesh Analysis
Both provide a systematic way of analyzing a complex
network.
When is the nodal method preferred to the mesh
method?
1. A circuit with fewer nodes than meshes is better
analyzed using nodal analysis, while a circuit with fewer
meshes than nodes is better analyzed using mesh
analysis.
2. Based on the information required.
Node voltages required--------nodal analysis
Branch or mesh currents required-------mesh analysis