n

outputs while leaving

the question open which of the variables in a pair gets the role of input or output as
long as the relation is bilateral, i.e., one input and one output. These bilateral pairs
are represented by the (power) ports and the other inputs and outputs by the signal
ports.
Earlier we noted that in a design context the constitutive relation can be
chosen as the unknown, requiring both effort and flow as inputs, which violates the above use of the causal stroke. This refers to the situation that when
a given model structure is found, the equations can be rewritten in such a way
that the constitutive relation, mostly the constitutive parameter, can be found
for a certain desired behavior. The mathematical solution of this kind of question is sometimes mapped on the bond graph by using half causal strokes at
both sides of a bond. This graphical approach is addressed by the terminology
bi-causality and is discussed in more detail in
Chapters 5
and
6
.