Morphing with flexible fibres

Flexible frictional fiber aggregates behave like an elastoplastic material that, when compressed, can be molded and shaped into complex three-dimensional structures. In nature, this effective cohesion ensures the mechanical stability of natural structures such as birds nests or beaver dams. Here, we rationalize the mechanical properties of the aggregate by tensile and compressive force-displacement measurements and characterize the structural evolution of the aggregate using X-ray microtomography. We propose a simple mechanical model to capture the structural properties and effective cohesion of the assembly.