Mapúa Institute of Technology

School of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering

EXPERIMENT 6
Mesh Analysis and Nodal Analysis

Marasigan, Neil Darren P.

EE21L- B16

Date Performed: 13 June 2015

Date Submitted: 20 June 2015

Engr. Jose Ferlino P. Raymundo

Instructor
SAMPLE COMPUTATIONS
Mesh Analysis

(1) VS1 = I1 (R1 + R2 + R3 ) - I2 R3 - I3 R2

(2) -VS2 = I2 (R3 + R4 + R5) - I1 R3 - I3 R2
(3) VS3 = I3 (R2 + R5) - I1 R2 - I2 R5

Eqn. 1: 1640 I1 - 750 I2 - 330 I3 = 15

Eqn. 2: 1610 I2 - 750 I1 - 470 I3 = -5
Eqn. 3: - 330 I1 - 470 I2 + 800 I3 = 10

I1 = 0.024 A
I2 = 0.017 A
I3 = 0.032 A

V1 = I1 R1 = (0.024 A) (560 |) = 13.44 V

V2 = (I3 - I2) R2 = (0.032 A - 0.024 A) (330 |) = 2.64 V
V3 = (I1 - I2) R3 = (0.024 A - 0.017 A) (750 |) = 5.25 V
V4 = I2 R4 = 6.63 V
V5 = (I3 - I2) R5 = (0.032 A - 0.017 A) (470 |) = 7.05 V”

Nodal Analysis

V1 - Vb V2 - Vb Vb
+ =
R1 R2 R3

15 - Vb 5 - Vb Vb
+ =
560 330 750

Vb= 10 V

Va - Vb 9.09 V - 10 V
I1 = = = - 0.001625 A
R1 560 |

Vc - Vb 14.09 V- 10 V
I2 = = = 0.01239 A
R2 330 |

Vb 10 V
I3 = = = 0.0133 A
R3 750 |

V1=I1 R1= (- 0.001625 A) (560 |) = - 0.91 V

V2=I2 R2= (0.01239 A) (330 |) = 4.09 V
V3=I3 R3= (- 0.0133 A) (750 |) = - 10 V
FINAL DATA SHEET
Experiment 6: Mesh Analysis and Nodal Analysis

Table 6.1 Mesh Analysis

Simulated Mesh Currents Voltages

Values I1 I2 I3 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5
23.62mA 17.37mA 32.45mA 13.23 V 2.91 V 4.69 V 6.77 V 7.09 V
Calculated I1 I2 I3 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5
Values 0.024 A 0.017 A 0.032 A 13.44 V 2.64 V 5.25 V 6.63 V 7.05 V

Table 6.2 Nodal Analysis

Simulated Node Voltages Currents

Values V1 V2 V3 I1 I2 I3
-0.905 V 4.09 V -10 V -1.62 mA 12.41 mA -13.33 mA
Calculated V1 V2 V3 I1 I2 I3
Values -0.910 V 4.09 V -10 V 1.54 mA 12.40 mA 13.33 mA
QUESTION AND PROBLEMS
1. What is a mesh current?

A mesh current is the current that circulates in the mesh. A mesh is

a closed path or loop that contains no closed path within it.

2. What does a negative mesh current imply?

A negative mesh current implies that the initial assumption of the

polarity of a given circuit element is the opposite.

3. What technique is employed if (a) a current source appears on the periphery of

only one mesh in a given mesh circuit? (b) a current source is common to two
meshes of a given mesh circuit?

(a) If a dependent source is contained within an essential mesh, the

dependent source should be treated like a normal source. After the mesh
equation is formed, a dependent source equation is needed. This is an
equation that relates the dependent source’s variable to the voltage or
current that the source depends on in the circuit.

(b) A supermesh occurs when a current source is contained between

two meshes. To handle the supermesh, first treat the circuit without
considering the current source. This leads to one equation that
incorporates two mesh currents. Once this equation is formed, an
equation is needed that relates the two mesh currents with the current
source.

4. How many node equations are obtained from an N number of nodes present on
a given circuit?

The number of node equations will be N – 1, where N is the number

of nodes.
5. What technique is employed if (a) a voltage source appears connected to a given
node and a reference node (ground) in a given nodal circuit? (b) a voltage source
lies between two given nodes of a given nodal circuit?

(a) If the voltage source is between the reference node and any other
node, a 'free' node voltage is given. We simply make the value of the non-
reference node equal to that of the voltage source.

(b) If a voltage source is connected between two non-reference nodes,

then it is a supernode. Since the super-node is an enclosed area, KVL will
still be applied (current entering = current leaving). KVL is also used by
showing that the voltage difference between the two nodes is equal to
that of the voltage source.

6. What basic laws are the underlying principles of mesh analysis and nodal
analysis?

The basic laws used in the concept of mesh analysis and nodal
analysis are the Ohm’s Law and the Kirchhoff’s Laws. Kirchhoff’s current
law is used for nodal analysis, and Ohm’s law is used to write the currents
in terms of the node voltages in the circuit. Kirchhoff’s voltage law is used
in mesh analysis while Ohm’s law is used to write the voltages in terms of
the mesh currents in the circuit.

7. Determine the mesh current Ix shown in the figure below.

5 10
Ix

+ 36V
24V 2A 20
_

KVL:
5Ix + 2A (20 |) - 20I2 - 24 V = 0 (eqn. 1)
10I2 + 36 V - 2A (20|) + 20I2 = 0 (eqn. 2)
 Combining eqn. 1 and eqn. 2:

5Ix + 10I2 + 12 = 0

KCL:
Ix + 2A = I2

5Ix + 10 (Ix + 2A) + 12 = 0

15Ix = - 32 A
Ix = - 2.133 A

8. Determine the mesh currents in the figure below.

Ix Ix 10

2 + 10 10 By applying 2 + 10

Vx 2
10V
Vx 2 4Ix + Supermesh: 10V
4Ix +
_
_
_ 3Vx
_ 3Vx
5V I1 5V I2 I3

(1) 5 = 4I1 – 2I2 5 = 4I1 – 2I2 I1 = 8 A Ix = I2

(2) 5-4Ix = -2I1 + 12I2 +10I3 5 = -2I1 + 16I2 +10I3 Ix = 13.5 A
Ix = I2 0 = -6I1 + 5I2 + I3 I2 = 13.5 A
(3) 3Vx = I3 – I2 Vx = 2(I1 – I2) =
2(8-13.5)
Vx = 2 (I1 – I2) I3 = -19.5 A Vx = -11 V

9. Determine the node voltages in the circuit below.

-3A -3A

By using 1 2 3
3mho 2mho Nodal 3mho 2mho
Analysis:
4mho 1mho 4mho 1mho
-8A -25A -8A -25A
5mho 5mho

(1) -8-3 = (3+4) V1 – 3V2 – 4V3 V1 = 1 V

- 11 = 7V1 – 3V2 – 4V3
(2) 3 = -3V1 + (3+2+1) V2 - 2V3 V2 = 2 V
3 = -3V1 + 6V2 – 2V3
(3) 25 = -4V1 – 2V2 + (4+2+5) V3 V3 = 3 V
25 = -4V1 -2V2 + 11V3
 10. Determine the node voltages in the circuit below.

4mho Ix
-3A
-+
3mho Ix /2
-25A
-8A 1mho
5mho

Node 1: - 8 - 3 - 3 (V1 - V2) - 4(V1 - V3) = 0

Node 2: 3 - 2 (V2 - V1) - V2 - 5V3 + 25 - 4 (V3 - V1) = 0
Supernode: V3 - V2 = Ix/2
Ix = 4V3 - V1
4V1 - V2 - 3V3 = 0

(1) 7V1 - 3V2 - 4V3 = -11

(2) -7V1 + 4V2 + 9V3 = -28
(3) 4V1 - V2 - 3V3 = 0

V1 = 1 V

V2 = 2 V

V3 = 3 V
CONCLUSION
After we have conducted the experiment, we were able to investigate the effects
of mesh analysis on multiple active linear source in a network and verify whether the
linear response at any point in a mesh circuit is similar to Kirchhoff’s voltage law. We also
have learned the effects of nodal analysis on the multiple active linear sources in a
network. When we were finished doing the simulation and computations regarding the
experiment, we saw that the linear response at any point in a nodal circuit is similar to
Kirchhoff’s current law.

The possible source of error for this experiment would be in making the formula
using mesh and nodal analysis. It can sometimes be confusing since the signs must be
correct and should be consistent based on the assumption of current flow, for example.
The results from the simulation would not be wrong since it was done by the computer.
The only error would be from human calculations.

An effective way to conduct this experiment faster and easier is to carefully

analyze the given circuit and have knowledge on how to apply mesh analysis and nodal
analysis. Also, be sure to layout the circuit in the software properly so that it would give
accurate results and that you could base your calculated answers to it which would give
a more satisfying result.
DISCUSSION
Having understood the fundamental laws of circuit theory (Ohm’s law and
Kirchhoff’s laws), we are now prepared to apply these laws to develop two powerful
techniques for circuit analysis: nodal analysis, which is based on a systematic application
of Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL), and mesh analysis, which is based on a systematic
application of Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL). The two techniques are so important in circuit
analysis since they provide an easier and new approach on dealing with circuits.

Nodal analysis provides a general procedure for analyzing circuits using node
voltages as the circuit variables. Choosing node voltages instead of element voltages as
circuit variables is convenient and reduces the number of equations one must solve
simultaneously. In nodal analysis, we are interested in finding the node voltages. Given a
circuit with n nodes without voltage sources, the nodal analysis of the circuit involves
taking the following three steps.

1. Select a node as the reference node. Assign voltages V1, V2, ... Vn-1 to the remaining n -
1 nodes. The voltages are referenced with respect to the reference node.

2. Apply KCL to each of the n - 1 nonreference nodes. Use Ohm’s law to express the branch
currents in terms of node voltages.

3. Solve the resulting simultaneous equations to obtain the unknown node voltages.

Voltage sources also affect nodal analysis. There are two cases.

Case 1. If a voltage source is connected between the reference node and a nonreference
node, we simply set the voltage at the nonreference node equal to the voltage of the
voltage source.

Case 2. If the voltage source (dependent or independent) is connected between two

nonreference nodes, the two nonreference nodes form a generalized node or supernode;
we apply both KCL and KVL to determine the node voltages.

A supernode is formed by enclosing a (dependent or independent) voltage source

connected between two nonreference nodes and any elements connected in parallel with
it.

Mesh analysis provides another general procedure for analyzing circuits, using
mesh currents as the circuit variables. Using mesh currents instead of element currents
as circuit variables is convenient and reduces the number of equations that must be
solved simultaneously. Recall that a loop is a closed path with no node passed more than
once. A mesh is a loop that does not contain any other loop within it.

Nodal analysis applies KCL to find unknown voltages in a given circuit, while mesh
analysis applies KVL to find unknown currents. Mesh analysis is not quite as general as
nodal analysis because it 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
nonplanar. A circuit may have crossing branches and still be planar if it can be redrawn
such that it has no crossing branches. In the mesh analysis of a circuit with n meshes, we
take the following three steps.

1. Assign mesh currents I1, I2, In to the n meshes.

2. Apply KVL to each of the n meshes. Use Ohm’s law to express the voltages in terms of
the mesh currents.

3. Solve the resulting n simultaneous equations to get the mesh currents.

Current sources also affect mesh analysis. There are two cases.

Case 1. When a current source exists only in one mesh.

Case 2. When a current source exists between two meshes. We create a supermesh by
excluding the current source and any elements connected in series with it.

A supermesh results when two meshes have a (dependent or independent)

current source in common.
REFERENCES

 Mesh Current Analysis. Retrieved from:

http://www.ee.nmt.edu/~rison/ee211/98_09_25/mesh_anal/mesh_anal.html
 Mesh-Current Method. Retrieved from:
http://aries.ucsd.edu/najmabadi/CLASS/MAE140/NOTES/analysis-2.pdf
 (Alexander,2013) Fundamentals of Electric Circuits, 5th Ed. Chapter 3.2 Nodal
Analysis. Chapter 3.5 Mesh Analysis. pp. 82-110.