1.2.
1 Mesh Analysis with Voltage Sources
A current source can be connected to a circuit in two different ways;
Case 1: A current source is connected to a single mesh as shown in Fig
3.5.
4 3
10 V I1 6 I2 5A
Figure 3.5 Current source used by a single mesh
Note that in this case the second mesh current is not an unknown and
I 2 5 A .
Applying KCL in the first mesh we can get the equation required to
determine the first mesh current as
10 10I1 6I 2 0 or 10 10I1 6(5)
10 30
and I1 2 A.
10
Case 2: A current source can be shared by two meshes as shown in Fig
3.6.
6 10
2
20 V I1 I2 4
Vx 6A
Figure 3.6 Current source shared by two meshes
20
In this case the voltage across the current source is an unknown.
Denoting this unknown by vx and applying KVL in these two mesh we
can get the following equations:
20 8I1 vx 2 I 2 0 20 8I1 vx 2 I 2
16 I 2 2 I1 vx 0 0 2 I1 vx 16 I 2
If we add these equation to neglect vx we get
20 6I1 14I 2
Note that this equation can be directly written considering the concept
of supermesh described below:
6 10
20 V I1 I2 4
Figure 3.7 Supermesh
Here, supermesh is defined by neglecting the common branch
including current source. So considering each element with its own
current we can write that
20 6I1 14I 2 0 20 6I1 14I 2 (1)
But, at the moment there is no any other mesh any more to get an
equation in terms of unknown mesh currents. That is why we must
apply KCL at the node at which current source is connected.
6 I1 I 2 or I 2 I1 6 (2)
Now solving (1) and (2) the mesh currents are determined as
21
I1 3.2 A and I 2 =2.8 A.
Example 3.8 Find V0 using mesh analysis in the following circuit.
4 2.5 2
Vb
193 V V0 0.4Vb 0.5 A 0.8Va
Va
6 7.5 8
Solution:
4 2.5 2
Vb
I2
193 V V0 0.4Vb 0.5 A 0.8Va
I1
I3
Va
6 7.5 8
For the supermesh
193 4 I1 2.5I 2 2 I 3 0.8Va 8I 3 7.5I 2 6 I1 0 ;
193 10 I1 10 I 2 10 I 3 0.8Va
Va 7.5I 2
193 10 I1 10 I 2 10 I 3 0.8(7.5I 2 )
193 10 I1 4 I 2 10 I 3 (1)
Applying KCL at the second node
22
I 3 I 2 0.5 (2)
Applying KCL at the first node
I 2 I1 0.4Vb
Vb 2 I 3
I 2 I1 0.4(2 I 3 )
I 2 I1 I 3 0.8 (3)
or in matrix form (1) (2) and (3) can be written as
10 4 10 I1 193
1 1 0.8 I 0
2
0 1 1 I3 0.5
First mesh current is enough fort he voltage drop V0 ;
193 4 10
0 1 0.8
0.5 1 1 32
I1 2 A.
10 4 10 16
1 1 0.8
0 1 1
and finally applying KVL in the first mesh
193 4 I1 V0 6 I1 0
V0 193 10 I1
V0 193 10(2)
V0 173 V.
23
4. Circuit Theorems
Circuit theorems are widely used to simplify given circuist in
general but some of them directly reply some important question and
some of them can be used to simplify the solution without changing the
topology of the circuit.
4.1 Superposition Theorem
Superposition principle (or theorem) states that, the voltage across
(or current through) a circuit element in a linear circuit is the algebraic
sum of the voltages across (or current through) that element due to each
independent source acting alone.
If the circuit includes more than one independent sources, we
consider one independent source at a time while all of the other
independent sources are killed. (To kill an independent voltage source
replace it by a short circuit and to kill an independent current source
replace it by an open circuit).
Steps in Superposition Theorem:
1. Kill all of the independent sources except one. Find the
contribution of this source (voltage or current) to the required
circuit variable by using an analysis technique or by simplifying
the circuit.
2. Repeat step-1 for each independent source.
3. Find the total contribution by adding algebraically all the
contributions due to the independent sources.
Example 4.1: In the circuit given below, find V0 using superposition
principle.
3 5
2 V0 8A 20 V
24
Solution:
Kill the current source and find the contribution of the voltage source
to V0 ;
3 5
I1
2 '
8A 20 V
V0
20
20+(3+5+2)I1 0 I1 2 A .
10
V0' 2I1 2(2) 4 V.
Kill the voltage source and find the contribution of the current source
to V0 ;
3 Ix 5
2 V0" 8A
Using current divider equation
5
Ix 8 4A and V0 2I x 2(4) 8 V.
''
3 25
And adding these contributions we can get the total voltage V0 as
V0 V0' V0'' 4 8 12 V.
25
Example 4.2: In the circuit given below, find V0 using superposition
principle.
Ix 5 0.4Vx
10 V V0 20 Vx 10 5A
2I x
Solution:
Kill the current source and find the contribution of voltage source;
I x' 5 0.4Vx'
10 V V0' 20 Vx' 10
2 I x'
Vx' 10(0.4Vx' ) 4Vx' 5Vx' =0; Vx' =0
This means that dependent current source acts as open circuit, so the
'
only current flowing in this circuit is I x ;
10
V0' 20I x' 20 8 V.
20 5
By killing independent voltage source we can get the contribution of
the independent current source in the resultant circuit given below:
26
I x" 5 0.4Vx"
V0" 20 Vx" 10 5A
2 I x"
KCL at the first node:
V0'' V0''
0.4Vx" 0 5V0'' 8Vx" 0 (1)
20 5
KCL at the second node:
Vx"
0.4V 5 0
x
"
5Vx" 50; Vx" 10 V. (2)
10
And by substituting (2) into (1)
80
5V0'' 8(10) 0 V0'' 16 V.
5
So, V0 V0' V0'' 8 16 24 V.
Example 4.3: In the circuit given below, find I using superposition
principle.
24 V 8
4 4
Ix
12 V 3 3A
27
Solution:
Kill 24 Volt voltage source and 3 A current source to find the
contribution of 12 Volt voltage source to the current I .
8
4 4
I1
12 V Req1 3
Req
(4)(12)
Req1 4 //(8 4) 3 .
4 12
Req Req1 3 3 3 6 .
12 12
I1 2 A.
Req 6
Kill 12 Volt voltage source and 3 A current source to find the
contribution of 24 Volt voltage source to the current I .
Req
24 V 8
I
4 4
I2
12 V 3
28
12 96
Req (8 4) (4 // 3) 12 .
7 7
24 24 7
I A.
Req 96 / 7 4
Using current divider equation;
4 7 4
I2 I 1 A.
43 4 7
Kill the voltage sources to find the contribution of current source to the
current I .
8 8
4 4 4 Iy
I3 12
3A 7 3A
3
12
Req 4 // 3
7
Again using current divider equation
8 24 7
Iy 3 A.
8 4 12 / 7 96 / 7 4
And using current divider equation one more time
4 7 4
I3 I y 1 A.
43 4 7
Finally the current I can be expressed as the algebraic sum of the
indivudual contributions of each source as
I I1 I 2 I 3 2 (1) 1 2 A.
29
4.2 Source Transformation
Source transformation allows a voltage source in series with a
resistor to be replaced by a current source in parallel with the same
resistor or vice versa.
Consider that the following circuits are equivalent to each other
in terms of their terminal characteristics.
Rs
a a
Vs Ip Rp
b b
Figure 3.8 Equivalent circuits
So, the following conditions must be satisfied:
1. Their equivalent resistance seen from terminals a-b must be same.
Rs
a a
Rp
Vs
Req1 Req 2
b b
Figure 3.9 Equivalent resistances
Req1 Rs Req 2 Rp
Req1 Req 2 Rs Rp
2. Short circuit currents must be equal.
30
R
a a
I sc1 Ip R
Vs I sc 2
b b
Figure 3.10 Equivalent short circuit currents
Vs
I sc1 I sc 2 I p
R
Vs
I sc1 I sc 2 Ip
R
3. Open circuit voltages must be equal.
R
a a
Voc1 Ip R
Vs Voc 2
b b
Figure 3.11 Equivalent open circuit voltages
Voc1 Vs Voc 2 RI p
Voc1 Voc 2 Vs RI p
Source transformation can be applicable for dependent sources also.
R
a a
Vs Ip R
b b
Figure 3.12 Source transformation between dependent sources
31
where
Vs
Ip
R
Example 4.4: In the circuit shown below find the power supplied by 6
V source using sequential source transformations.
4 6 5
6V 30 20 40 V
10
Solution:
Transform the 40 V source to the current source.
40
I p1 8 A.
5
4 6
6V 30 20 5 8A
10
20 and 5 resistors are in parallel:
Req 20 // 5 4
32
4 6
6V 30 4 8A
10
Transform the parallel connection of 8 A current source into the
voltage source;
Vs1 8(4) 32 V .
4 6 4
6V 30 32 V
10
4 , 6 and 10 resistors are in series;
Req 4 6 10 20 .
4 20
6V 30 32 V
33
Transform the 32 V source into current source;
32
I p2 1.6 A
20
And the parallel equivalence of 20 and 30 resistors is
Req 20 // 30 12
4 4
6V 30 20 1.6 A 6 V 12 1.6 A
Applying one more current to voltage source transformation:
Vs 2 1.6(12) 19.2 V .
4 12
6V I 19.2 V
In this simplified circuit the circuit current will be
19.2 6
6 16 I 19.2 0 I 0.825 A
16
and the power associated by the 6 V source is
P6V 6(0.825) 4.95
W (absorbing)
Example 4.5: In the circuit shown below find the voltage Vx using
source transformations.
34
4
2 a 0.25Vx
6V Vx 2 18 V
b
Solution:
Transform the 6 V voltage source into current source and dependent
current source into voltage source:
6
Ip 3 A. Vs1 4(0.25Vx ) Vx
2
a Vx 4
3A 2 Vx 2 18 V
b
The parallel equivalence of 2 resistors is
Req 2 // 2 1 .
Transforming current source to a voltage source again we can get the
simplest circuit as;
35
1 a Vx 4
3V Vx 18 V
I
b
So applying KVL
3 5I 18 Vx 0 .
and
Vx Vx 4 I 18 0 ; I
9
A.
2
Vx 7.5 V.
36
