title: Modelica vs Simscape
body: <p>This question has two main aspects actually. Right at the beginning, I have to admit that I am totally new to physical modeling and would be glad to be corrected as well, not only be answered. For those who find it <strong>too long to read</strong>, I can give a <strong>brief summary</strong>:</p>
  
  <pre><code>1) Simulink vs Modelica
  
  2) Simscape vs Modelica
  </code></pre>
  
  <p><strong>1)</strong> The first one is the comparison of  modeling approaches. Conventionally, there are different names for the two main approaches I want to compare:</p>
  
  <p><strong>#</strong> <em>Signal flow approach / block-based modeling / causal modeling ...</em>:   The typical models in Simulink. There are boxes with inputs and outputs and transfer functions in between.</p>
  
  <p>vs</p>
  
  <p><strong>#</strong> <em>Network Approach / component-based modeling / acausal(noncausal) modeling...</em> : There are physical ports instead of signal I/O and the flow entities(current, heat etc) can flow in both directions.</p>
  
  <p>In this comparison, I have read some opinions in the web and searched for some papers. It comes down to the comparison of Modelica based development environments and Simulink <a href="http://www.dei.unipd.it/~rampazzom/058_Kofranek.pdf" rel="noreferrer">(for example)</a>, as far as I get. Disadvantages and advantages of these two are more clear to me than the other point I want to ask.</p>
  
  <p><strong>2)</strong> After reading much on the first comparison, it was more preferable for me to go with component-based modeling. However, Modelica isn't the only option here. There is also <a href="https://www.mathworks.com/products/simscape.html" rel="noreferrer">Simscape</a>, using which you can <a href="https://www.mathworks.com/company/newsletters/articles/real-time-simulation-using-noncausal-physical-models.html" rel="noreferrer">combine physical ports</a> (as in Modelica) with block-based modeling of Simulink.</p>
  
  <p>I would like to know the advantages and disadvantages of this <strong>Simscape <em>vs</em> Modelica</strong> comparison. To avoid misunderstanding, I need to underline that Modelica is a language. Therefore, it would be more meaningful to compare any Modelica environment with Simscape, let's say, <strong>OpenModelica <em>vs</em> Simscape</strong></p>