# Misalignment in Mechanical Interlocking Heterogeneous Integration: Emergent Behavior and Geometry Optimization

## TL;DR

This paper studies how misalignment affects the mechanical performance of interlocking structures used in integrating circuits, offering design insights to improve reliability.

## Contribution

The study introduces a design template for optimizing misalignment tolerance in cantilever arrays using nonlinear mechanics.

## Key findings

- X-axis misalignment below 15% increases snap-through force by less than 5%.
- Y-axis misalignment up to 20% reduces force by less than 5%.
- Polynomial fits provide a design template for cantilever interactions with minimal computational load.

## Abstract

This paper addresses the challenge of misalignment in cantilever-based mechanical interlocking structures used for the heterogeneous integration of integrated circuits (ICs). As IC applications expand into flexible and multi-functional platforms, precise alignment becomes critical to maintaining optimal mechanical and electrical performance. We investigate the effects of X and Y misalignment on snap-through forces in cantilever arrays, focusing on their impact on mechanical integrity. The experimental results demonstrate that for X-axis misalignments below 15%, the increase in the required snap-through force is less than 5%. In contrast, Y-axis misalignment shows an even more negligible impact, with less than a 5% reduction in force for up to 20% misalignment. Additionally, through polynomial fits of the model across a range of cantilever angles, this study provides a design template for future exploration of cantilever interactions using nonlinear mechanics while minimizing computational load. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing misalignment tolerance and improving the design of interlocking structures for IC integration, contributing to the development of robust systems for next-generation IC devices.