This dissertation provides a thermodynamic framework, to investigate collective behaviors and emergent mechanisms of muscle contraction. It emphasizes the need for a chemical thermodynamic approach to properly characterize muscle mechanics by presenting facts and historical context to show the inadequacies of the molecular mechanics’ approach. A simple and comprehensive model is proposed to explain experimental findings that conventional models of muscle contraction are unable to explain by integrating quantifiable features backed by studies. This study extends our understanding of ensemble muscle function and addresses important issues in the field of muscle research by integrating theory, experimentation, and computer simulations
