Kandahar University

Engineering Faculty
Energy Department

Chapter 3
Methods of Analysis

Lecturer: Eng. Abdul Majeed Azizi Date : 2023 / 6 / 3

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Nodal Analysis
3. Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources
4. Mesh Analysis
5. Mesh Analysis with Current Sources
6. Nodal and Mesh Analyses by Inspection
7. Nodal Versus Mesh Analysis

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 1. Introduction
➢ 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: is based on a systematic application of Kirchhoff’s current law
(KCL).
• Mesh Analysis: is based on a systematic application of Kirchhoff’s voltage law
(KVL).

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 2. Nodal Analysis
➢ Nodal analysis provides a general procedure for analyzing circuits using node
voltages as the circuit variables.
➢ Nodal analysis applies KCL to find unknown voltages in a given circuit.
➢ 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.

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 2. Nodal Analysis
➢ A circuit with n nodes without voltage sources, steps to Determine Node
Voltages:
1. Select a node as the reference node. Assign node voltages. The voltages are
referenced with respect to the reference node.
2. Apply KCL to each of the nonreference nodes. Use Ohm’s law to express the
branch currents in terms of node voltages.
3. Solve the resulting simultaneous equations to obtain then unknown node
voltages.

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 2. Nodal Analysis
1. The first step in nodal analysis is selecting a node as the reference or datum
node.
➢ It is commonly called the ground, since it is assumed to have zero potential.
➢ Once we have selected a reference node, we assign voltage designations to
nonreference nodes.
➢ The node voltages are defined with respect to the reference node.

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 2. Nodal Analysis
2. As the second step, we apply KCL to each nonreference node in the circuit.

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 2. Nodal Analysis
2. As the second step, we apply KCL to each nonreference node in the circuit.

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Calculate the node voltages in the circuit shown in Fig.

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Cont.

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Cont.

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Cont.

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Cont.

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3. Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources
➢ We now consider how voltage sources affect nodal analysis.
➢ Consider the following two possibilities.

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 3. Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources
➢ 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.

➢ The voltage source inside the supernode provides a constraint equation needed
to solve for the node voltages.
➢ A supernode has no voltage of its own. A supernode requires the application of
both KCL and KVL. Date : 2023 / 6 / 3
• For the circuit shown in Fig, find the node voltages.

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Cont.

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Cont.

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 4. Mesh Analysis
➢ A mesh is a loop which does not contain any other loops within it.
➢ It applies KVL to find unknown currents.
➢ Steps to Determine Mesh Currents:
1. Assign mesh currents 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.

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For the circuit in Fig, find the branch currents I1, I2, and I3 using
mesh analysis.

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Cont.

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Cont.

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 5. Mesh Analysis with Current Sources
➢ Applying mesh analysis to circuits containing current sources (dependent or
independent) may appear complicated.
➢ the presence of the current sources reduces the number of equations.
➢ Consider the following two possible cases:

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 5. Mesh Analysis with Current Sources
➢ A supermesh results when two meshes have a (dependent or independent) current
source in common.

➢ Note the following properties of a supermesh:

1. The current source in the supermesh provides the constraint equation necessary to
solve for the mesh currents.
2. A supermesh has no current of its own.
3. A supermesh requires the application of both KVL and KCL.
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For the circuit in Fig, find i1 to i4 using mesh analysis.

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Cont.

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Cont.

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 6. Nodal and Mesh Analyses by Inspection

➢ It is a shortcut approach based on mere inspection of a circuit.

➢ When all sources in a circuit are independent current sources, we do not need to
apply KCL to each node to obtain the node-voltage equations.
➢ In general, if a circuit with independent current sources has N nonreference
nodes, the node-voltage equations can be written in terms of the conductances
as:

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Cont.

➢ Similarly, we can obtain mesh-current equations by inspection when a linear

resistive circuit has only independent voltage sources. In general, if the circuit
has N meshes, the mesh-current equations can be expressed in terms of the
resistances as:

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Cont.

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Cont. Example
Write the node-voltage matrix equations for the circuit in Fig by
inspection.

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Cont.

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Cont.

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Cont. Example
By inspection, write the mesh-current equations for the circuit in Fig.

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Cont.

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Cont.

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 7. Nodal Versus Mesh Analysis
➢ Someone may ask: Given a network to be analyzed, how do we know which
method is better or more efficient?
➢ The choice of the better method is dictated by two factors.
1. 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,
➢ Networks with parallel-connected elements, current sources, or supernodes are
more suitable for nodal analysis.

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 7. Nodal Versus Mesh 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.
2. 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.

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Homework

Solve all practice problems of chapter 3.

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