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Cornel Sultan

Bio: Cornel Sultan is an academic researcher from Virginia Tech. The author has contributed to research in topics: Tensegrity & Nonlinear system. The author has an hindex of 23, co-authored 113 publications receiving 2061 citations. Previous affiliations of Cornel Sultan include Harvard University & University of Virginia.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper presents a strategy for tensegrity structures deployment by using a certain set of equilibria to which the undeployed and deployed configurations belong and conducting the deployment such that the deployment trajectory is close to this equilibrium manifold.

178 citations

Patent
05 Jun 2001
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an orthopedic implant including a first plate, a second plate and a flexible support, which is suitable for arthroplasty procedures where optimized multifunctional behavior of the implant is desired.
Abstract: The present application is directed to an orthopedic implant. More specifically, the orthopedic implant is suitable for arthroplasty procedures where optimized multifunctional behavior of the implant is desired. In some embodiments the implant is suitable for the replacement of a spinal disc. In one embodiment, the present application is directed to an orthopedic implant including a first plate a second plate and a flexible support. The flexible support may have a single connection to the first plate and a single connection to the second plate and may vary in cross section. The first plate, the second plate and the flexible support may be unitarily formed. This application is also directed to methods of producing metal articles having microstructure for improved mechanical properties. Such methods may be suitable for the production of medical devices. In one embodiment, the method includes directing a stream including a particulate material in a pattern corresponding to at least a portion of a structure of an orthopedic implant and fusing at least a portion of the particulate material with a laser.

176 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that a mathematical model of cell mechanics that depicts the intracellular cytoskeleton as a tensegrity structure composed of a prestressed network of interconnected microfilaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments, also can predict fundamental dynamic behaviors of living cells.
Abstract: Rheological properties of living cells play a key role in the control of cell shape, growth, movement, and contractility, yet little is known about how these properties are governed. Past approaches to understanding cell mechanics focused on the contributions of membranes, the viscous cytoplasm, and the individual filamentous biopolymers that are found within the cytoskeleton. In contrast, recent work has revealed that the dynamic mechanical behavior of cells depends on generic system properties, rather than on a single molecular property of the cell. In this paper, we show that a mathematical model of cell mechanics that depicts the intracellular cytoskeleton as a tensegrity structure composed of a prestressed network of interconnected microfilaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments, and that has previously explained static cellular properties, also can predict fundamental dynamic behaviors of living cells.

128 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors formulate the general prestressability conditions for tense-grity structures as a set of nonlinear equations and inequalities on the tendon tensions, and present several examples of tense-gird structures for which the conditions can be analytically solved.

99 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an onboard simulator with anonlinear controller that can be tuned to guarantee tracking to within a prespecie ed tolerance and with a prescribed rate of exponential convergence.
Abstract: Inthispaperweproposeanewmotionsimulatorbasedonatendon-controlledtensegritystructure.Thesimulator isequipped with anonlinearcontrollerthatachievesrobusttrackingofdesired motions.Thecontrollerparameters can be tuned to guarantee tracking to within a prespecie ed tolerance and with a prescribed rate of exponential convergence. The design is verie ed through numerical simulations forspecie clongitudinal motions of a symmetric aircraft.

97 citations


Cited by
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Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: This chapter introduces the finite element method (FEM) as a tool for solution of classical electromagnetic problems and discusses the main points in the application to electromagnetic design, including formulation and implementation.
Abstract: This chapter introduces the finite element method (FEM) as a tool for solution of classical electromagnetic problems. Although we discuss the main points in the application of the finite element method to electromagnetic design, including formulation and implementation, those who seek deeper understanding of the finite element method should consult some of the works listed in the bibliography section.

1,820 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Future research in this area will require analysis, understanding, and modeling of tensionally integrated systems of mechanochemical control, and the presence of isometric tension at all levels of these multiscale networks ensures that various molecular scale mechanochemical transduction mechanisms proceed simultaneously and produce a concerted response.
Abstract: Analysis of cellular mechanotransduction, the mechanism by which cells convert mechanical signals into biochemical responses, has focused on identification of critical mechanosensitive molecules and cellular components. Stretch-activated ion channels, caveolae, integrins, cadherins, growth factor receptors, myosin motors, cytoskeletal filaments, nuclei, extracellular matrix, and numerous other structures and signaling molecules have all been shown to contribute to the mechanotransduction response. However, little is known about how these different molecules function within the structural context of living cells, tissues, and organs to produce the orchestrated cellular behaviors required for mechanosensation, embryogenesis, and physiological control. Recent work from a wide range of fields reveals that organ, tissue, and cell anatomy are as important for mechanotransduction as individual mechanosensitive proteins and that our bodies use structural hierarchies (systems within systems) composed of interconnected networks that span from the macroscale to the nanoscale in order to focus stresses on specific mechanotransducer molecules. The presence of isometric tension (prestress) at all levels of these multiscale networks ensures that various molecular scale mechanochemical transduction mechanisms proceed simultaneously and produce a concerted response. Future research in this area will therefore require analysis, understanding, and modeling of tensionally integrated (tensegrity) systems of mechanochemical control.

1,524 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that optimal controllers have an inherent degree of decentralization, and this provides a practical distributed controller architecture and a general result that applies to partially distributed control and a variety of performance criteria is proved.
Abstract: We consider distributed parameter systems where the underlying dynamics are spatially invariant, and where the controls and measurements are spatially distributed. These systems arise in many applications such as the control of vehicular platoons, flow control, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), smart structures, and systems described by partial differential equations with constant coefficients and distributed controls and measurements. For fully actuated distributed control problems involving quadratic criteria such as linear quadratic regulator (LQR), H/sub 2/ and H/sub /spl infin//, optimal controllers can be obtained by solving a parameterized family of standard finite-dimensional problems. We show that optimal controllers have an inherent degree of decentralization, and this provides a practical distributed controller architecture. We also prove a general result that applies to partially distributed control and a variety of performance criteria, stating that optimal controllers inherit the spatial invariance structure of the plant. Connections of this work to that on systems over rings, and systems with dynamical symmetries are discussed.

893 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Part II of this article covers how combined use of tensegrity and solid-state mechanochemistry by cells may mediate mechanotransduction and facilitate integration of chemical and physical signals that are responsible for control of cell behavior and examines how cell structural networks affect gene and protein signaling networks to produce characteristic phenotypes and cell fate transitions during tissue development.
Abstract: The major challenge in biology today is biocomplexity: the need to explain how cell and tissue behaviors emerge from collective interactions within complex molecular networks. Part I of this two-part article, described a mechanical model of cell structure based on tensegrity architecture that explains how the mechanical behavior of the cell emerges from physical interactions among the different molecular filament systems that form the cytoskeleton. Recent work shows that the cytoskeleton also orients much of the cell's metabolic and signal transduction machinery and that mechanical distortion of cells and the cytoskeleton through cell surface integrin receptors can profoundly affect cell behavior. In particular, gradual variations in this single physical control parameter (cell shape distortion) can switch cells between distinct gene programs (e.g. growth, differentiation and apoptosis), and this process can be viewed as a biological phase transition. Part II of this article covers how combined use of tensegrity and solid-state mechanochemistry by cells may mediate mechanotransduction and facilitate integration of chemical and physical signals that are responsible for control of cell behavior. In addition, it examines how cell structural networks affect gene and protein signaling networks to produce characteristic phenotypes and cell fate transitions during tissue development.

827 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A literature review of the recently developed technologies related to the kinematics, dynamics, control and verification of space robotic systems for manned and unmanned on-orbit servicing missions is provided in this article.

825 citations