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From: John McLaughlin <John.McLaughlin@cbr.dit.csiro.au>
Subject: Re: modeling complex systems
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Date: Wed, 5 Jun 1996 06:12:12 GMT
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Benny Warlick wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Im developing an alife platform that supports muscular movement between
> cells.
> 
> o--*--o
> |  |  |
> o--*--o
> |  |  |
> o--o--o
> 
> this "drawing" shows 9 cells(o and *) with muscular connections(| and --)
> that can contract.  The problem is modeling how all 9 cells will move
> when a link is contracted.  If the two * cells contract their link then
> the cells at the upper corners will bend inwards, but how much?  A friend
> pointed me to Lagrangian Mechanics but I haven't found anything yet.  If
> anyone has done such a simulation before and can give any info I would
> appreciate it.
> 

Hi,

If your connections are elastic, then the cells will move to minimise the
elastic potential energy in the connections. So you need to find the equation
for elastic potential energy (I dont know it :), and solve a system of
equations to get your minimised solution. Alternately, you could model an
elastic system iteratively (ie by calculating the net force on the mobile
cell and moving it a small amount in that direction until it reaches an
equilibrium).

-John McLaughlin
