Suture inspired interlocking structure with programmable stiffness

Structural properties often depend on scale, with the number of unit cells significantly influencing overall performance. Similar to systems like capstans, twisted yarns, and interleaved books, sutured structures also exhibit force amplification. In this study, we demonstrate a substantial force amplification effect in a suture-inspired interlocking structure, where the total pullout force increases dramatically with the number of components. This phenomenon highlights the feedback interactions among the system's elements. By integrating theoretical analysis, numerical simulations, and experimental validation, we show that this behavior can be controlled through parameters that include component count, geometry, and friction coefficients. Utilizing topological principles from graph theory, we quantify the interaction strengths within the system and apply this framework to structural design. The resulting suture-inspired interlocking structure (SIIS) features programmable deformation and tailored mechanical responses.