Woven baskets aren’t just aesthetically pleasing – materials science research finds they’re sturdier and more resilient than stiff containers

By Guowei (Wayne) Tu, Ph.D. Student in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan
Evgueni Filipov, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan

People have been using flat, ribbonlike materials, such as reed strips, to make woven baskets for thousands of years. This weaving method has reemerged as a technique for engineers to create textile and fabric structures with complex geometry. While beautiful and intricate, these baskets can also be surprisingly strong.

We are a team of structures…

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