Date:
Time:

Rigidity theory and applications

A workshop sponsored by Michigan State University

June 14th-17th, 1998 Traverse City, Michigan

The purpose of the conference is to bring together people from various areas of mathematics, physics, biology and materials science who have, or should have, an interest in rigidity concepts.

Topics to be covered include:
  • Mathematical foundations of rigidity and tensegrity of graphs and networks
  • Physics and mathematics of rigidity percolation
  • Constraint counting and rigidity concepts applied to glasses
  • Applications of rigidity in the analysis of structure-property relationships of biological molecules and polymeric materials.
  • Applications of rigidity concepts to granular media
  • Other applications are also of interest
Confirmed Speakers:
Ruben Abagyan Prediction of protein structure dynamics and association
Austin Angell Fragility in covalent glass forming liquids, and the properties of glasses from Tg measurements
Punit Boolchand Experimental studies of Rigidity in Glasses
David A. Case Molecular dynamics analysis of motions in proteins and nucleic acids
Premala Chandra A designer glass: The long-range Josephson Array
Robert Connelly Tensegrity structures: Why are they stable?
Martin Dove Floppy modes in crystalline and amorphous silicates
Phillip Duxbury Comparison of connectivity and rigidity percolation
Mark Gerstein Studying macromolecular motions in a database framework
Paul Goldbart Rigidity as an emergent property of random networks: A statistical mechanical view
Prabhat Gupta

Timothy Havel

Topologically Disordered Networks of Rigid Polytopes: Applications to Glass Formation and Viscous Sintering in the Presence of Rigid Inclusions

The role of tensegrity in distance geometry

Linn Hobbs Rigidity constraints in the amorphization of tetrahedral networks
Donald Jacobs Identifying rigid and floppy regions in proteins
Béla Joós

Leslie Kuhn

The Onset of Rigidity in Diluted Central Force Networks: The Entropic Contribution

Flexibly Screening for Molecules Interacting with Proteins

Paul Leath First-Order Rigidity on Cayley Trees
Cristian Moukarzel Isostaticity and rigidity in granular media
Sergei Obukov Propagation of Rigidity: First-Order Geometrical Transition
Jim Phillips Constraint Theory and Stiffness Percolation in Network Glasses
Brigitte Servatius Generic and abstract rigidity
Michael Thorpe Rigidity in Networks and Glasses
Walter Whiteley Rigidity of Molecular and Hinged Panel Structures: generic and geometric analysis

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RIGIDITY WORKSHOP PROGRAM

23 speakers, 40 minutes each
(35 min for talk, 5 min for questions)
Meetings are held in the Lakes Rooms

Monday, June 15, 1998

7:30 ­ 8:30 Breakfast (Top of the Park)

9:00 ­ 9:10 Opening Remarks (Lakes Rooms)

Chair: M. F. Thorpe, Michigan State University

9:10 ­ 9:50 J. C. Phillips, Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies
Constraint Theory and Stiffness Percolation in Network Glasses

9:50 ­ 10:30 P. Gupta, Ohio State University
Topologically Disordered Networks of Rigid Polytopes: Applications to Glass Formation and Viscous Sintering in the Presence of Rigid Inclusions

10:30 ­ 11:00 Coffee Break

11:00 ­ 11:40 L. W. Hobbs, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Rigidity Constraints in the Amorphization of Tetrahedral Networks

11:40 ­ 12:20 M. Dove, University of Cambridge
Floppy Modes in Crystalline and Amorphous Silicates

12:20 ­ 6:30 Afternoon Free! (Lunch and Dinner not Provided by Workshop)

6:30 ­ 7:00 Dessert (Lakes Rooms)

Chair: L. Kuhn, Michigan State University

7:00 ­ 7:40 M. Gerstein, Yale University
Studying Macromolecular Motions in a Database Framework

7:40 ­ 8:20 R. Abagyan, New York University Medical Center
Prediction of Protein Structure Dynamics and Association

Tuesday, June 16, 1998

7:30 ­ 8:30 Breakfast (Top of the Park)

Chair: D. Franzblau, Rutgers University

9:00 ­ 9:40 B. Servatius, Syracuse University
Generic and Abstract Rigidity

9:40 ­ 10:20 W. Whiteley, York University
Rigidity of Molecular and Hinged Panel Structures: Generic and Geometric Analysis

10:20 ­ 10:50 Coffee Break

10:50 ­ 11:30 R. Connelly, Cornell University
Tensegrity Structures: Why are they Stable?

11:30 ­ 12:10 T. Havel, Harvard Medical School
The Role of Tensegrity in Distance Geometry

1:00 ­ 2:30 Lunch (Not Provided by Workshop)

Chair: L. Hobbs, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2:30 ­ 3:10 M. F. Thorpe, Michigan State University
Rigidity in Networks and Glasses

3:10 ­ 3:50 P. Boolchand, University of Cincinnati
Experimental Studies of Rigidity in Glasses

3:50 ­ 4:20 Coffee Break

4:20 ­ 5:00 C. A. Angell, Arizona State University
Fragility in Covalent Glass Forming Liquids and the Properties of Glasses from Tg Measurements

5:00 ­ 5:40 B. Joós, University of Ottawa
The Onset of Rigidity in Diluted Central Force Networks: The Entropic Contribution

5:40 ­ 6:20 P. Chandra, NEC Research Institute
A Designer Glass: The Long-Range Josephson Array

7:30 ­ 8:00 Reception (Top of the Park)

8:00 ­ 10:00 Banquet (Top of the Park)

Wednesday, June 17, 1998

7:30 ­ 8:30 Breakfast (Top of the Park)

Chair: B. Hendrickson, Sandia National Laboratory

9:00 ­ 9:40 P. M. Duxbury, Michigan State University
Comparison of Connectivity and Rigidity Percolation

9:40 ­ 10:20 P. Goldbart, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Rigidity as an Emergent Property of Random Networks: A Statistical Mechanical View

10:20 ­ 10:50 Coffee Break

10:50 ­ 11:30 S. Obukov, University of Florida
Propagation of Rigidity: First-Order Geometrical Transition

11:30 ­ 12:10 P. L. Leath, Rutgers University
First-Order Rigidity on Cayley Trees

12:10 ­ 1:00 Discussion of Rigidity Concepts in Glasses
Discussion Leader - M. F. Thorpe

1:00 ­ 2:30 Lunch (Not Provided by Workshop)

Chair: P. Duxbury, Michigan State University

2:30 ­ 3:10 C. Moukarzel, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brasil
Isostaticity and Rigidity in Granular Media

3:10 ­ 3:50 D. Jacobs, Michigan State University
Identifying Rigid and Floppy Regions in Proteins

3:50 ­ 4:20 Coffee Break

4:20 ­ 5:00 L. Kuhn, Michigan State University
Flexibly Screening for Molecules Interacting with Proteins

5:00 ­ 5:40 D. A. Case, Scripps Research Institute
Molecular Dynamics Analysis of Motions in Proteins and Nucleic Acids

5:40 ­ 6:10 Discussion of Rigidity/Tensegrity Concepts in Biological Systems
Discussion Leader - L. Kuhn

Thursday, June 18, 1998

7:30 ­ 8:30 Breakfast (Top of the Park)

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Conference Chairs:

Advisory Committee:

Accommodation: All sessions will be held at the historic Park Place Hotel (photo). Participants must make their own hotel reservations, ph. (800)748-0133, FAX: (616)946-2772.
The registration fee is $100, which includes full breakfast each day at the Park Place Hotel, coffee breaks on the working days of the conference, the reception on Sunday 14th, and the conference dinner. Room rates are $95 per night, single or double. Mention the ``Rigidity theory and applications'' conference. Reservations must be made no later than 14th May, 1998, to get the special conference rate.


Travel Information: Traverse City is served by its own airport, the Cherry Capitol Airport, Traverse City, which is 2-miles from Downtown. The Park-Place Hotel has a complimentary 24 hour shuttle service. A courtesy telephone is located in the airport, close to the baggage claim area, which should be used to call for service. The nearest large airport is in Detroit which is 250 miles drive from Traverse City. It is recommended that you arrange a connecting flight to Traverse City. Car rentals are available at the Traverse City airport. There is also local transportation provided by the Bay Area Transit Authority until 8pm.


Sightseeing: Traverse City is a popular resort in the northern part of Michigan. It is located on Grand Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan. Information on sightseeing and various recreational activities is available from the Convention and Visitor Bureau, ph.(800)940-1120. Click here for some photos of the Traverse City area.


Proceedings: The Proceedings will be published as a book in the Fundamental Materials Science series, edited by M. F. Thorpe and P.M. Duxbury. This series is published by Plenum and the general series editor is M. F. Thorpe. This volume will be ready early in 1999. Manuscripts in camera ready format should be brought to the meeting. Instructions for authors can be obtained by contacting Prof. Phillip Duxbury (duxbury@pa.msu.edu) or Prof. M. F. Thorpe (thorpe@pa.msu.edu)