BOND GRAPH MODELING - A GENERAL SYSTEM-THEORY APPROACH

Bond graph models are studied with the frame of General Systems Theory. Bond graph models as conceptual systems belong to the “Structure” level of GST. The Structure level can be partitioned in a hierarchy of four epistemological sublevels. To the “third” sublevel belong physical net-systems obeying the generalized Kirchhoff laws, consisting from R, C, I 1-ports, TR and GY 2-ports and from junction N-ports. It is shown that the acausal bond graph is the shorthand notation of the physical net-system, belonging therefore to the same epistemological sublevel. The causal bond graph conveys more information than the acausal one, allowing the formulation of the state space system equations in a straightforward manner. It represents therefore the next, higher level of structural system specification. © 1990, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.