THE MESH CURRENT METHOD

 In the mesh current method a current is assigned to each

window of the network such that the currents complete a closed
loop. They are sometimes referred to as loop currents.

 Each element and branch therefore will have an independent

current . When a branch has two of the mesh currents, the actual
current is given by their algebraic sum.

 The assigned mesh currents may have either clockwise or

counterclockwise directions, although at the outset it is wise to
assign to all of the mesh currents a clockwise direction.

 Once the currents are assigned , Kirchhoff’s voltage law is

written for each loop to obtain the necessary simultaneous
equations . Dr.
Abro
When KVL is applied to the three-mesh network of the following Fig., the
following three equations are obtained:

Dr.
Abro
If there are m independent meshes in any linear network, then the
mesh equations can be written in the matrix form as under:

The above equation can be written in a more compact form as:

Ohms law
in matrix
form

Dr.
Abro
The three loop circuit in generalized matrix form can be solved by Cramer’s
rule, as follows:

Dr.
Abro
Mesh analysis applies KVL to find unknown currents. Mesh analysis is only
applicable to a circuit that is planar. A planar circuit is one that can be drawn
in a plane with no branches crossing one another; otherwise it is non planar.
A circuit may have crossing branches and still be planar if it can be redrawn
such that it has no crossing branches. For example, the

Planar Circuits Non-Planar Circuits

Dr.
Abro
Example: Solve the current I1 in the given circuit by the mesh current
method.

Applying KVL to each mesh results in

Dr.
Abro
 Rearranging terms and putting the equations in matrix form,

Using Cramer’s rule to find I1,

Dr.
Abro
Example: Write the current matrix equation for the given network by
inspection, and solve for the currents.

Dr.
Abro
Example: Apply mesh analysis to find i in the given Fig.

For loop 1

For loop 2

For loop 3

Dr.
Abro
 Dr.
Abro
Example: Apply mesh analysis to find
V0 in the given Figure.

Dr.
Abro
 i1
7 -5 30 - 20
=
-5 9 i2
20

i1 10
7 -5
=
-5 9 i2 20

7 10

-5 9 (140 + 50) 190

i2 = = = = 5A
7 -5 (63 - 25) 38

-5 9 V0 = i2 X 4 = 20 V

Dr.
Abro
Example: Use mesh analysis to find the current io in the circuit in the
following Fig.

(1)

(2)

(3)

Dr.
Abro
In matrix form, Eqs. (1) to (3) become

Dr.
Abro
 Dr.
Abro
Example: For the bridge network in the given Figure, find io using mesh analysis.

Dr.
Abro
12 -6 -4 i1 30

-6 14 -2 i2 = 0

-4 -2 10 i3 0

6 -3 -2 i1 15

-3 7 -1 i2 = 0

-2 -1 5 i3 0

15 -3 -2
0 7 -1
0 -1 5
15 (35 – 1)
i1 = = 6 (35 – 1) + 3 (-15 -2) -2 (3 + 14) = 4.286 A
6 -3 -2
-3 7 -1
-2 -1 5
Dr.
Abro
Example: Apply mesh analysis to find
V0 in the given Figure.

Dr.
Abro