Jiacheng Ji¹, Boyu Zhang¹, Hongying Zhang^1,*

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.31, No.3, pp. 1-3, 2024, DOI:10.32604/icces.2024.012193

Abstract Tensegrity metamaterial, well-known for its unique synergy between compressed bars and tensile strings, enable a remarkable deformation and distinctive vibration characteristic [1]. These materials are increasingly recognized for their potential to facilitate advanced locomotion in soft robots. Tensegrity metamaterials, primarily constructed manually, have found applications in large-scale sectors like architecture and aerospace engineering [2]. However, their integration into soft robots necessitates scaling down to a centimeter scale, presenting challenges in automatic prototyping and kinematic simulation to guide the design process [3].
Recent advancements advocate for 3D-printed tensegrity structures to achieve integrated, one-piece systems [3,4]. Yet,… More >

E. P. Yalcintas¹, J. Hu¹, Y. Liu^1,2, A. Voloshin^1,2,3

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.98, No.2, pp. 151-180, 2014, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2014.098.151

Abstract Mechanical behavior of cells plays a crucial role in response to external stimuli and environment. It is very important to elucidate the mechanisms of cellular activities like spreading and alignment as it would shed light on further biological concepts. In this study, a multi-scale computational approach is adopted by modeling the cytoskeleton of cell as a tensegrity structure. The model is based on the complementary force balance between the tension and compression elements, resembling the internal structure of cell cytoskeleton composed of microtubules and actin filaments. The effect of surface topology on strain energy of… More >

K. Y. Volokh^*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.8, No.3, pp. 195-214, 2011, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2011.008.195

Abstract All models are wrong, but some are useful. This famous saying mirrors the situation in cell mechanics as well. It looks like no particular model of the cell deformability can be unconditionally preferred over others and different models reveal different aspects of the mechanical behavior of living cells. The purpose of the present work is to discuss the so-called tensegrity models of the cell cytoskeleton. It seems that the role of the cytoskeleton in the overall mechanical response of the cell was not appreciated until Donald Ingber put a strong emphasis on it. It was… More >

D.E. Ingber¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.1, No.1, pp. 53-68, 2004, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2004.001.053

Abstract This article is a summary of a lecture presented at a symposium on "Mechanics and Chemistry of Biosystems'' in honor of Professor Y.C. Fung that convened at the University of California, Irvine in February 2004. The article reviews work from our laboratory that focuses on the mechanism by which mechanical and chemical signals interplay to control how individual cells decide whether to grow, differentiate, move, or die, and thereby promote pattern formation during tissue morphogenesis. Pursuit of this challenge has required development and application of new microtechnologies, theoretical formulations, computational models and bioinformatics tools. These… More >