Benha University
Faculty Of Engineering (Shoubra)
Mechanical Engineering Department
Electronic Engineering
Lecture 4 : Mesh Current Method
Dr. Ibtesam Omar
Electrical Engineering Department
Mesh Analysis
o Planar Network: is that can be drawn on a flat surface
without any wires crossing each other.
o Thus, Fig.1(a) shows a planar network, Fig.1b shows
a non-planar network.
Fig. 1 Examples of planar and non planar networks;
crossed wires without a solid dot are not in physical
2 contact with each other
Mesh Analysis
o Define a mesh as a loop that does not contain any other loops
within it.
o If a network is planar, mesh analysis can be used to accomplish
the analysis.
o Define a mesh current as a current that flows only around the
perimeter of a mesh.
3 Fig. 2 A planar circuit with the mesh currents defined
Mesh Analysis
o An arrowhead on the solid line indicates the reference
direction for the mesh current.
o Mesh currents automatically satisfy Kirchhoff’s current
law.
o At any node in the circuit, a given mesh current both
enters and leaves the node.
Fig. 2 A planar circuit with the mesh currents defined
4
Mesh Analysis
o The analysis of the two-mesh circuit of Fig.3 (a).
Apply KVL to Left-Hand Mesh:
−42 + 6i1 + 3(i1 − i2) = 0
9i1 − 3i2 = 42………..(1)
Applying KVL to Right-Hand Mesh:
3(i2 − i1) + 4i2 − 10 = 0
−3i1 + 7i2 = 10……………(2)
Solving (1)&(2):
i1 = 6A i2 = 4A
(b)
Current in 3Ω = i1− i2 = 2A
Fig. 3 A simple circuit for which currents
are required.
5
Examples on Mesh Analysis
Ex.1:Determine the power supplied by the 2 V source of Fig4.
Solution:
Apply KVL to Left-Hand Mesh:
−5 + 4i1 + 2(i1 − i2) − 2 = 0
6i1 − 2i2 = 7………..(1)
Apply KVL to Right-Hand Mesh:
+2 + 2(i2 − i1) + 5i2 +1 = 0
− 2i1 + 7i2 = − 3……………(2)
Solving (1)&(2):
43 2
i1 = =1.132 A i2 = − = −0.105 A
38 19
Current in 2Ω = i1− i2 = 1.237 A
power supplied by the 2 V source = vi
6 2x1.237 = 2.474 W Fig. 4 A simple circuit for which currents are
required.
Examples on Mesh Analysis
Ex2: Determine i1 and i2 in the circuit in Fig.5.
Solution:
Apply KVL to Left-Hand Mesh:
−6 + 14i1 + 10(i1 − i2) = 0
24i1 − 10i2 = 6………..(1)
Applying KVL to Right-Hand Mesh:
10 (i2 − i1) +10i2 +5 = 0
Fig.5 A simple circuit for Ex.2 which
− 10i1 + 20i2 = − 5…………(2) currents are required.
Solving (1)&(2):
7 3
i1 = =184 mA i2 = − = −158 mA
38 19
7
Examples on Mesh Analysis
Ex3: Use mesh analysis to determine the three mesh currents in the
circuit of Fig.6.
Solution:
Apply KVL about each mesh:
−7 + 1(i1 − i2) + 6 + 2(i1 − i3) =0.....(1)
1(i2 − i1) +2i2 + 3 (i2 − i3)=0.......(2)
2(i3 − i1) − 6 +3 (i3 − i2) +1i3=0......(3)
3i1 − i2 − 2 i3 = 1 ........(1) Fig.6 A simple circuit for Ex.3
−i1 + 6 i2 − 3 i3 = 0..........(2)
−2i1 − 3 i2 + 6 i3 = 6..............(3)
i1= 3A, i2 = 2A, and i3 = 3A.
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Examples on Mesh Analysis
Ex4: Use the mesh-current method to find the power delivered by the 80V
source to the circuit shown in Fig.7.
Solution:
Mesh current equations are:
−80 + 5(i1 − i2) + 26(i1 − i3) = 0
31i1 − 5i2 − 26i3 = 80…….…(1)
30i2 + 90(i2 − i3) + 5(i2 − i1) = 0
− 5i1 +125i2 −90 i3 =0……..…(2)
26(i3 − i1) + 90(i3 − i2) + 8i3 = 0
−26 i1 − 90i2 + 124i3 = 0 ………..(3)
i1 =5A & i2 =2A & i3 =2.5A
p80V = Vs i1 = (80)(5) = 400W
Fig.7
Therefore the 80V source is delivering 400W to the circuit
The Super Mesh
Example:
o If the current source lies on the
perimeter of the circuit, then the single
mesh in which it is found is ignored.
o Kirchhoff’s voltage law is thus applied
only to those meshes or super meshes.
o 7A independent current source is
in the common boundary of two meshes. Fig.8 A three-mesh circuit with an independent
current source. A super mesh is defined by the
colored line.
The Super Mesh
o Applying KVL about a super-mesh
whose interior is that of meshes 1
and 3.
−7 + 1(i1 − i2) + 3(i3 − i2) + 1i3 = 0
i1 − 4i2 + 4i3 = 7 ……(1)
o Applying KVL , around mesh 2
1(i2 − i1 ) + 2 i2 + 3(i2 − i3 ) = 0
− i1 + 6 i2 − 3 i3 = 0……(2)
o Finally: i1 − i3 = 7………(3)
Fig.8 A three-mesh circuit with an independent
Solve (1)&(2)&(3) current source. A super mesh is defined by the
colored line.
i1 = 9 A, i2 = 2.5 A, and i3 = 2 A.
