Block properties and behaviors

You can use Rhapsody® that automatically creates the Block Definition Diagrams category in the browser to add blocks and links to the diagrams to show relationships.

Blocks run actions that are primitive behaviors.

Examples:

• x=x+1
• y = sin(x)^2 + cos(x)^2
• addTogether(int x, int y)

Actions might be grouped in different ways:

• As a method to start a behavior consisting of a set of actions.
• As a state machine specifying sequences of actions to be executed when the block receives events.
• As an activity diagram specifying sequences of actions from start to completion

Blocks have three different types of properties:

• Structural properties are parts that refer to other system elements that are required for the system to exist. Therefore, parts have a context and show the usage of the system elements or blocks.
• Reference properties point to other model elements that are not parts.
• Value properties provide system information such as mass, length, or status, but not the target of any reference. Values can be UML data types (integers) or SysML value types in engineering units with additional characteristics (unit of measure and dimension).

You can also use features that are included in the Rhapsody FMI (Functional Mock up Interface) profile to create an FMU (Functional Mock up Unit) from a SysML block in your model. During this process, SysML block elements are mapped to corresponding elements within the FMI. Then, you generate a package that contains the Functional Mock Up unit. For more information, see the FMU export guide at Developer's Corner on the Rhapsody wiki.