EC 111: FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING
Lecture 3: Techniques of D.C Circuits Analysis
Mesh current method and Node voltage analysis
DC Circuit Analysis
◼ Circuit analysis is the process of determining voltages across
(or the currents through) the elements of the circuit.
◼ When circuits become large and complicated, it is useful to
have various methods for simplifying and analysing the circuit.
◼ There is no perfect formula for solving a circuit; depending on
the type of circuit, there are different methods that can be
employed to solve the circuit.
◼ Some methods might not work, and some methods may be
very difficult in terms of long mathematical problems.
DC Circuit Analysis
◼ Two of the most important methods for solving circuits are
mesh current analysis and nodal analysis.
◼ Mesh analysis is the application of Kirchhoff’s voltage law to
solve for mesh currents, whereas nodal analysis is the
application of Kirchhoff’s current law to solve for the voltages
at each node in a network.
◼ Mesh analysis is often easier as it requires fewer unknowns.
DC Circuit Analysis
◼ Two of the most important methods for solving circuits are
mesh current analysis and nodal analysis.
◼ Mesh analysis is the application of Kirchhoff’s voltage law to
solve for mesh currents, whereas nodal analysis is the
application of Kirchhoff’s current law to solve for the voltages
at each node in a network.
◼ Mesh analysis is often easier as it requires fewer unknowns.
DC Circuit Analysis
Node, Branches and Loops
◼ A branch represents a single element such as a voltage source
or a resistor.
◼ A node is the point of connection between two or more branches.
◼ A loop is any closed path in a circuit.
◼ A network with b branches, n nodes, and l independent loops will
satisfy the fundamental theorem of network topology:
Mesh Current Analysis
◼ Mesh-current analysis is merely an extension of the use of
Kirchhoff’s laws.
◼ The Figure shows a network whose circulating currents I1, I2
and I3 have been assigned to closed loops in the circuit rather
than to branches.
◼ Currents I1, I2 and I3 are called mesh-currents or loop-
currents.
Mesh Current Analysis
◼ In mesh-current analysis the loop-currents are all arranged to
circulate in the same direction (in the figure the clockwise
direction was used).
◼ Kirchhoff’s voltage law is applied to each of the loops in turn,
producing three equations with three unknowns which may be
solved for I1, I2 and I3.
Mesh Current Analysis
◼ The branch currents are determined by taking the phasor sum
of the mesh currents common to that branch.
◼ For example, the current flowing in impedance Z2 is given by
(I1−I2) phasorially.
◼ The method of mesh-current analysis, called Maxwell’s
theorem.
Mesh Current Analysis
◼ Use mesh-current analysis to determine the current flowing in
(a) the 5Ω resistance and (b) the 1Ω resistance of the d.c.
circuit.
Mesh Current Analysis
.
Mesh Current Analysis
.
Mesh Current Analysis
Mesh Analysis with Current Sources
◼ Applying mesh analysis to circuits containing current sources
(dependent or independent) may appear complicated.
◼ But it is actually much easier than what we encountered in the
previous section, because the presence of the current sources
reduces the number of equations.
◼ Consider the following two possible cases
When a current source exists only in one mesh: Consider
the circuit, for example. We set 𝑖2 = −5𝐴 and write a
mesh equation for the other mesh in the usual way; that
is,
Mesh Current Analysis
Mesh Analysis with Current Sources
◼ When a current source exists between two meshes: Consider the circuit
◼ 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.
Mesh Current Analysis
Mesh Analysis with Current Sources
◼ Applying KVL to the supermesh
◼ We apply KCL to a node in the branch where the two meshes intersect.
◼ Applying KCL to node 0
Nodal Analysis
◼ A node of a network is defined as a point where two or more
branches are joined.
◼ If three or more branches join at a node, then that node is
called a principal node or junction.
◼ In the Figure, points 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are nodes, and points 1,
2 and 3 are principal nodes.
Nodal Analysis
◼ A node voltage is the voltage of a particular node with respect
to a node called the reference node.
◼ If in the Figure, for example, node 3 is chosen as the
reference node then V13 is assumed to mean the voltage at
node 1 with respect to node 3 (as distinct from V31).
◼ Similarly, V23 would be assumed to mean the voltage at node
2 with respect to node 3, and so on. However, since the node
voltage is always determined with respect to a particular
chosen reference node, the notation V1 for V13 and V2 for
V23 would always be used in this instance.
Nodal Analysis
◼ The object of nodal analysis is to determine the values of
voltages at all the principal nodes with respect to the
reference node, e.g., to find voltages V1 and V2.
◼ When such voltages are determined, the currents flowing in
each branch can be found.
◼ Current flows from a higher potential to a lower potential in a
resistor.
Vhigher−Vlower
I=
R
Nodal Analysis
◼ Kirchhoff’s current law is applied to nodes 1 and 2 and two
equations with unknowns V1 and V2 are obtained which may
be simultaneously solved.
◼ Let us assume that all branch currents are leaving the node.
Nodal Analysis
Nodal Analysis
Nodal Analysis
Nodal Analysis
Nodal Analysis
Example: Calculate the node voltages in the circuit shown below
Question
Solution
Nodal Analysis
Node Analysis with Voltage Source
◼ 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.
Nodal Analysis
Node Analysis with Voltage Source
◼ 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.
◼ Supernodes are treated differently.
◼ An essential component of nodal analysis is applying KCL, which
requires knowing the current through each element.
Nodal Analysis
Node Analysis with Voltage Source
◼ There is no way of knowing the current through a voltage
source in advance.
◼ However, KCL must be satisfied at a supernode like any other
node.
◼ At the supernode
Nodal Analysis
Node Analysis with Voltage Source
◼ Applying KVL at supernode
Nodal Analysis
Node Analysis with Voltage Source
◼ Example
Nodal Analysis
Node Analysis with Voltage Source
◼ Example
❖ The supernode contains the 2-V source, nodes 1 and 2, and the 10Ω-resistor.
❖ Applying KCL to the supernode in (a)
Nodal Analysis
Node Analysis with Voltage Source
◼ To get the relationship between and we apply KVL to the circuit
in (b)
Nodal VS Mesh Analysis
◼ The first factor is the nature of the particular network. Networks that contain
many series-connected elements, voltage sources, or supermeshes are more
suitable for mesh analysis, whereas networks with parallel-connected
elements, current sources, or supernodes are more suitable for nodal analysis.
◼ Also, a circuit with fewer nodes than meshes is better analyzed using nodal
analysis, while a circuit with fewer meshes than nodes is better analyzed using
mesh analysis.
◼ The key is to select the method that results in the smaller number of
equations.
◼ The second factor is the information required. If node voltages are required, it
may be expedient to apply nodal analysis.
◼ If branch or mesh currents are required, it may be better to use mesh analysis.
End!!!!!
