BASIC ELECTRICAL

ENGINEERING
COURSE

WEEK-6(JAN 11-12) 1
MESH ANALYSIS:

Kirchhoff’s laws are applied in the analysis of solving electrical

circuits. The method of solving a complex circuit can be simplified
by using either mesh or nodal analysis method.
Generally KVL and KCL are used in deriving the mesh and nodal
equations respectively.
Mesh analysis or nodal analysis to a particular problem depends
mainly on the number of voltage sources or current sources.
If the circuit has plenty of voltage sources, it is useful to use mesh
analysis, this analysis requires that all the sources in a circuit to be
voltage sources.
Therefore, if there are any current sources in a circuit they need to
be converted into equivalent voltage sources. On other hand if the
network has more current sources, nodal analysis is more useful.

WEEK-6(JAN 11-12) KMIT-BEE-RAJA SATHISH KUMAR 2

MESH ANALYSIS:
Mesh analysis is applicable only for planar networks.
Planar circuit: A circuit is said to be planar, if it can be drawn on a
plane surface without crossovers. Otherwise the circuit called as a
non-planar circuit.
The term loop or mesh represents a closed path in the circuit
through which the current can flow in a circuit. Since the close
path or loop resembles a physical fence it is called a mesh.
The mesh current is a current that circulates around a mesh. If
more than one mesh exists, then the current gets divided among
them causing independent mesh current in every mesh.
This results in independent KVL equations expressed around each
of this mesh. For m number of independent meshes, a total of m
number of KVL equation can be obtained around each mesh.

WEEK-6(JAN 11-12) KMIT-BEE-RAJA SATHISH KUMAR 3

MESH ANALYSIS:
Mesh equations are derived from the current division in the
meshes. A loop current is different from branch current. This is
illustrated by taking example.

The given circuit is redrawn with nodes is also shown in figure. On

inspection of this circuit, we can identify two closed loops or
meshes represented as mesh-1(abda) and 2(bcdb). Here I1 and I2
are the mesh currents flowing in mesh-1 and mesh-2 respectively.
WEEK-6(JAN 11-12) KMIT-BEE-RAJA SATHISH KUMAR 4
MESH ANALYSIS:
As the branch bd consisting of resistor R3 is
shared between mesh-1 and mesh-2, the
resultant branch current is depends upon
the magnitude of both the mesh currents I1
and I2. It is evident from the circuit that the
current directions of I1 and I2 are opposite
to each other. Therefore current through R3
is difference of I1 and I2.
Assignment of the direction of mesh current is arbitrary. In order to
simplify the procedure for writing the mesh equation, generally
clockwise direction of current is preferred. In the process of writing KVL
equations for a mesh, the polarities of voltage drop across an element is
determined by the assumed direction of the mesh current in that
particular mesh.

WEEK-6(JAN 11-12) KMIT-BEE-RAJA SATHISH KUMAR 5

MESH ANALYSIS:
Applying KVL to mesh-1 we get
I1R1+(I1-I2)R3-V1=0
I1 (R1+ R3)-I2 R3=V1 -- (1)
Applying KVL to mesh-2 we get
I2R2+V2+(I2-I1)R3=0
I1 (-R3)-I2(R2+ R3)=0 --- (2)
Solve equations 1 and 2 we get I1
and I2.
The current through resistor R3 is
given by the difference of I1 and I2.

The mesh method of analysis is chosen if the circuit consists of

more number of meshes instead of nodes. It is a preferred
method in analyzing only the planar circuits (the circuits drawn on
plane with no crossing branches).

WEEK-6(JAN 11-12) KMIT-BEE-RAJA SATHISH KUMAR 6

MESH ANALYSIS:
Mesh equations:
Step-1: Make sure that the circuit considered for analysis has only voltage
sources. If the circuit consists of current source, then use source
transformation technique to convert it into voltage source.
Step-2: Assume the current direction and assign directions.
Step-3: Along the assumed direction of current mark the polarities of voltage
drop across each element.
Step-4: Assign the polarity to the voltage source.
Step-5: Write the mesh equation by taking polarities of each element into
consideration. Use KVL and equate the algebraic sum of voltage drops to zero
in that particular mesh.
Step-6: For the common branch, the algebraic sum of mesh currents flowing
through it considered. For example, while writing the equation for mesh-1,
current through resistor R3 is (I1-I2), whereas while writing the equation for
mesh-2, the current through the same resistor is (I2-I1).
Step-7: Solve the mesh equations to determine the solution for unknown
quantities.
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 MESH ANALYSIS:
Determine the loop currents for
the circuit shown in figure. All
the resistor values are in ohms.

Solution:
Step-1: No. of circuit elements / branches B= 7, No. of Nodes N= 5
(indicated by circles) and No. of Meshes M=B-N+1; M=7-5+1=3

WEEK-6(JAN 11-12) KMIT-BEE-RAJA SATHISH KUMAR 8

MESH ANALYSIS:
Step-2: Assume clock wise currents in the three meshes

Step-3: Along the current direction mark the polarities of voltage

drop across each element

WEEK-6(JAN 11-12) KMIT-BEE-RAJA SATHISH KUMAR 9

MESH ANALYSIS:
Step-4: Applying KVL for mesh-1, 2 and 3 we get algebraic equation
solve them to mesh currents.
Applying KVL to mesh-1 we get
I1 2+(I1-I2) 4-10=0
6 I1 -4 I2 =10 -- (1)
Applying KVL to mesh-2 we get
1 I2+6 (I2-I3)+4 (I2-I1)=0
-4 I1 + 11 I2 -6 I3 = 0--- (2)
Applying KVL to mesh-3 we get
4 I3+20+6 (I3-I2) = 0
-6 I2 + 10 I3 = -20 --- (3)
Solve equations 1,2 and 3 We get
I1 =0.915 A ; I2 =-1.1267 A and I3 =-2.676 A Since the currents I2 and I3 have
a negative sign, the actual current direction of I2 and I3 is opposite to the
assumed clock wise current direction. I2 =1.1267 A and I3 =2.676 A
The current through 4 and 6 resistors are given by
I4 =1.1267-0.915= 0.2117A ; I6 =2.676-1.1267= 1.5493A
WEEK-6(JAN 11-12) KMIT-BEE-RAJA SATHISH KUMAR 10
MESH ANALYSIS:
Determine the mesh currents for the circuit shown in figure.

Applying KVL to mesh-1 we get

I1 10+(I1-I2) 10-100=0
20 I1 -10 I2 =100 -- (1)
Applying KVL to mesh-2 we get
20 I2+10 (I2-I1)=0
-10 I1 + 30 I2 = 0--- (2)
Solve equations 1 and 2 we get
I1 =6 A and I2 = 2 A
Current through middle branch is 4 A

WEEK-6(JAN 11-12) KMIT-BEE-RAJA SATHISH KUMAR 11

MESH ANALYSIS:
Write the loop equations for the circuit
shown in figure.

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MESH ANALYSIS:
Determine the loop currents for the circuit shown in the figure
R1=100Ω, R2=90Ω, R3=110Ω, R4=2Ω and R5=80Ω.

WEEK-6(JAN
Copy 11-12)
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