Beaded networks

Beaded materials embed discrete, volumetric elements in programmable thread networks, enabling structures that carry tension along threads and compression at bead contacts. These coupled interactions give rise to emergent behaviors such as tunable stiffness, metastability, and superjamming. We study how the geometry and topology of bead networks, coupled with friction, contribute to macroscale behaviors in larger assemblies. This work suggests a path toward hybrid entangled systems as a versatile platform for programmable matter and adaptive structures.