Form-finding of complex tensegrity structures: application to cell cytoskeleton modelling

Abstract

The ability to model the mechanical behaviour of the cell cytoskeleton as realistically as possible is a key point in understanding numerous biological mechanisms. Tensegrity systems have already demonstrated their pertinence for this purpose. However, the structures considered until now are based only on models with simplified geometry and topology compared to the true complexity of cytoskeleton architecture. The aim of this Note is to propose a form-finding method for generating nonregular tensegrity shapes of higher diversity and complexity. The process relies on the use of the dynamic relaxation method. Further improvements have made it possible to control the computed morphologies and to modify them to approach experimentally observed configurations. Various examples illustrate the use of the method and the results obtained for different cell typologies. To cite this article: H. Baudriller et al., C. R. Mecanique 334 (2006). © 2006 Académie des sciences.