A length-adjustable truss stiffener is intended to be used to strengthen truss systems at locations of localized over-stress to reduce the cost from the alternative solution which is to reduce truss spacings. The stiffener consists of two or more sleeves locking around two or more components of the main truss. The sleeves mounted on different truss components are connected to one another with a length-adjustable shank. The stiffener may be used in two-dimensional or three-dimensional trusses. Of a collection of prefabricated trusses necessary to erect a structure, only a subset of one or more trusses are customized with stiffeners according to loading calculations predicting failure of that subset under required loading conditions, while all other trusses are installed in their original prefabricated state.

A joist chord reinforcement apparatus for a joist having a chord with a first chord end and a second chord end is disclosed that includes a reinforcement rod, first and second end clamp assemblies operable to clamp the reinforcement rod to the first and second ends of the chord respectively, and at least one rod clamping assembly operable to secure the reinforcement rod to the chord between the first and second end clamp assemblies when the first and second end clamp assemblies are clamping the reinforcement rod to first and second ends of the chord respectively. A method of reinforcing the chord of a joist is also disclosed.

A joist reinforcement apparatus is disclosed for a joist having a top chord, a bottom chord, and plurality of cross supports extending between the top chord and the bottom chord, the plurality of cross supports forming panel points along the joist. A panel point bracket assembly can be securable about one of the panel points of the joist. A load bracket assembly can be securable to either the top chord or the bottom chord of the joist. An adjustable coupling assembly can have a first end pivotally connected to the panel point bracket assembly and a second end pivotally connected to the load bracket assembly. The apparatus can help provide non-welded single point load reinforcement on a chord of a joist.

A panel assembly includes two frame members and a plurality of panels extending between the frame members. Each panel has fastening elements at either end. The fastening elements are arranged to clip onto mating portions of the frame members, and are also arranged to frictionally engage internal surfaces of the panels to thereby hold the panels relative to the frame members.

A composite lattice beam. The composite lattice beam includes four or more longitudinals. The four or more longitudinals are parallel to one another, comprise the four corners of a rectangle and include a tow, where the tow includes a bundle of untwisted fibers. The composite lattice beam also includes one or more outer diagonals. The one or more outer diagonals vary in two dimensions and include a tow, where the tow includes a bundle of untwisted fibers. The composite lattice beam further includes one or more inner diagonals. The one or more inner diagonals vary in three dimensions and include a tow, where the tow includes a bundle of untwisted fibers. The composite lattice beam additionally includes one or more nodes. The nodes are each an interweaving of at least one of the four or more longitudinals, at least one of the one or more outer diagonals and at least one of the one or more inner diagonals.

An extruded profile defining a normal section surface, a horizontal loading direction along the normal section surface and a vertical loading direction along the normal section surface perpendicular to the horizontal loading direction The profile includes a core arranged in a central position at the intersection of the directions, a plurality of arms each including a radial segment radially connected to the core and a tangential segment perpendicularly connected to the radial segment The radial segments of the adjacent arms are perpendicular to each other and each oriented 45? to the horizontal load direction and/or the vertical load direction, and the tangential segments of the adjacent arms are configured to simultaneously support the same load along the horizontal load direction and/or the vertical load direction.

An expandable downhole tool for use in an oil well, including a flexible member rolled into a helix and comprising first and second lateral edges on opposing lateral ends of the member. The flexible member is selectively changeable between a compressed configuration wherein the transverse cross-section of the flexible member has a first diameter, and an expanded configuration wherein the transverse cross-section of the flexible member has a second diameter, the second diameter larger than the first diameter.

A composite lattice beam. The composite lattice beam includes four or more longitudinals. The four or more longitudinals are parallel to one another, comprise the four corners of a rectangle and include a tow, where the tow includes a bundle of untwisted fibers. The composite lattice beam also includes one or more outer diagonals. The one or more outer diagonals vary in two dimensions and include a tow, where the tow includes a bundle of untwisted fibers. The composite lattice beam further includes one or more inner diagonals. The one or more inner diagonals vary in three dimensions and include a tow, where the tow includes a bundle of untwisted fibers. The composite lattice beam additionally includes one or more nodes. The nodes are each an interweaving of at least one of the four or more longitudinals, at least one of the one or more outer diagonals and at least one of the one or more inner diagonals.

A truss structure may include a plurality of load bearing members, or force members, that are joined at a plurality of nodes to define a load bearing structure. The truss structure may include a plurality of longitudinal members extending in parallel along a longitudinal length of the truss structure, and a plurality of transverse members, joined to the plurality of longitudinal members at nodes, and extending between the plurality of longitudinal members. The plurality of transverse members may provide buckling support to the plurality of longitudinal members, so that an axial load, or compressive load, or buckling load, may be effectively carried by the truss structure.

A truss structure may include a plurality of load bearing members, or force members, that are joined at a plurality of nodes to define a load bearing structure. The truss structure may include a plurality of longitudinal members extending in parallel along a longitudinal length of the truss structure, and a plurality of transverse members, joined to the plurality of longitudinal members at nodes, and extending between the plurality of longitudinal members. The plurality of transverse members may provide buckling support to the plurality of longitudinal members, so that an axial load, or compressive load, or buckling load, may be effectively carried by the truss structure.