A thin wall profile member (TPM) with a cross-sectional shape and dimensions constant along its length is pre-constructed for use as a load carrying, weight optimized structural element. The TPM includes at least one main strip and at least one additional strip each having longitudinal reinforcing ribs. The at least one additional strip has a width that does not exceed a width of the at least one main strip and has a thickness that equals or exceeds a thickness of the at least one main strip. The ratio of the width of the at least one additional strip to the width of the at least one main strip has a value greater than 0 and less than or equal to 1. The ratio of the thickness of the at least one additional strip to the thickness of the at least one main strip has a value that is greater than or equal to 1.

A framing member incorporates a series of web slots along a portion of the member that are expanded through the process of manufacture. The expansion of the web slots creates voids and metal web elements in the webbed portion of the member, which can be a stud. The voids created during the expansion process can become the voids for running wiring, plumbing and heating ducts. The web elements can be designed to minimize thermal transmission from the exterior to the interior of a wall including the member, as well as provide adequate structure properties required from the structural member. The expanded slots allow the part to enlarge without increasing the amount of raw material and therefore substantially reducing the cost to manufacture.

A track structure component that includes a triangular girder having a top plate, a first side plate and a second side plate with a lower surface of the top plate abutting the first edge of the first side plate, the lower surface of the top plate abutting the first edge of the second side plate and the second side edge of the first side plate abutting the second side edge of the second side plate and a rail component that includes at least one rail positioned adjacent to an upper surface of the top plate.

The present invention discloses steel framing members for use in load bearing solar applications to reduce the amount of steel used by providing structural shapes that allow for more bending and torsion strength which allows for greater spans between posts and rafters to reduce the number of posts, rafters and concrete used. The structural shapes further allow for the elimination of angle braces and the elimination or reduced use of sag rods, knee braces and the associated fasteners. Multiple fastener locations on the same structural member assist further in bending and torsion strengths and allow for lighter gauge materials to be used to conserve materials. Minimizing or eliminating the number of posts, rafters, concrete, angle braces, sag rods, knee braces and fasteners also reduces the amount of equipment and labor used. The labor and material savings helps make solar applications less expensive and provides a lower carbon footprint to make the possibility of using them more attainable.

A truss system comprises at least one truss element of mutually parallel tube bodies (11, 12) which are mutually connected in a ladder element (10) by a system of shores (15, 16). The tube bodies (11, 12) are provided at opposite outer ends with coupling means (13) for a force-transmitting coupling to a further truss element. Ladder elements (10) are connected releasably to each other by form-stiff coupling elements (30).