Mechanics of beadwork surfaces

Beadwork is not only visually captivating but also mechanically fascinating. Comprised of woven thread linking beads into packed structures, beadwork can be made into a number of the same geometric surfaces through unique topological choices. This talk explores how the flexibility of craft---such as selection of materials, weave topologies, and geometries---may be used to program beadwork surface properties including stiffness, floppy modes, and failure.