Advanced Multi-Domain Modelling: Advantages and Dangers

Multi-domain modelling becomes a very modern expression for approaches which support so called physical modelling when combining components from different application areas. Physical modelling means in this contest a modelling when a computer aided approach is used with the basic aim to keep the physical structure of a real system or its topology as much as possible in the model. Bond graphs represent a very efficient and traditional approach. However new object-oriented and multi-domain tools based on Modelica language are more appropriate for industrial staff or for the people who do not have a deep insight into modelling and simulation. In the paper we describe some experiences obtained with several education and industrial application projects using Dymola-Modelica environment. Mostly advantages obtained with object oriented approach and a special connection implementation will be presented. However such advanced tools bring also potential dangers: namely when users can develop complex models with powerful libraries they often forget that validation is still the most important part of a modelling cycle. The second problem appears from the complexity which is usually obtained. These problems directed our research activities and will be briefly presented at the end of the paper.