GB2296729A - Triangulated structure formed from tubular elements - Google Patents

Abstract

Tubular elements of triangular section, or of rectangular section divided into triangles, are manufactured by pultrusion or extrusion and are interconnected at their vertices to provide a triangulated structure for decking, beams, stanchions, columns or walls. <IMAGE>

Description

LONGITU3INGULY TRIANGULATED STRUCTURAL ELDviENTS 1) This invention relates to load bearing structural elements (beams, stanchions, columns, arches, walls and decking).

2) Specific embodiment of the invention is described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: a) Figure 1 shows a typical right angle triangle section of the element.

b) Figure 2 shows a typical rectangular section of the element (a variation derived from a) above).

c) Figure 3 shows a typical method of joining the elements.

d) Figure 4 shows an optional variation of the basic element ( aX b) ) allowing the jointing of the main plates (by similar method to c) above) to prevent buckling of the main plates under stress.

e) Figures 5 and 6 show, idealised, some of the variety of ways that the elements can be joined together to produce structural beams, columns, decking, etc. of widely differing structual properties all made from multiples of the same basic element.

3) According to the present invention there is provided a basic, hollow right angle triangle section (Figure 1) or a hollow triangulated rectangular section (Figure 2) of any length which is provided with detailing at its apexes or corners to allow it to be joined to other similar sections in a variety of ways, either mechanically or with adhesives or a combination of both.

Jointing is continuous longitudinally by tongue and groove and is typically shown in Figure 3 where "x" is a continuous strip of "tongue" and "y" is the adhesive line. The distance "c" from the apexes to the centre line of the jointing grooves is identical in all instances.

4) The element(s) is/are designed to be pultruded or extruded in lengths from fibre reinforced plastic, but can also be extruded from aluminium or fabricated from stock metals, plastics or timber; The elements can be curved in the longitudinal direction during manufacture for the purpose of using multiples of the elements to form arches0 5) For large sized individual elements the long plates may be prone to buckling under stress. Figure 4 shows a variation of the basic element(s) allowing the jointing of the main plates (by similar method to that shown in Figure 3 above) to prevent this.

Claims (1)

1. CL4IiS.

   1) A unique structural element which can be longitudinally joined to similar elements in a variety of combinations to provide structural decking, beams, stanchions, columns and walls of widely differing structural properties, all made from the same basic element.