A glass beam element, for constructing a loadbearing structure, comprises at least one elongate structural reinforcement section extending along a longitudinal direction, and at least one glass segment bonded to said at least one elongate structural reinforcement section. The at least one elongate structural reinforcement section comprises a weldable material, and the at least one glass segment has a length along the longitudinal direction that is shorter than the elongate structural reinforcement section such as to allow welding of an end region of the at least one elongate structural reinforcement section without thereby damaging the at least one glass segment.

A method of making a fiber reinforced hoop includes forming two plates having a face opposing one another and defining an outer periphery with a recessed groove to define a channel between the two plates. Fibrous strands coated with an adhesive are wrapped around the two plates within the channel a plurality of times. The adhesive is allowed to cure so that the fibrous strands form a rigid hoop. In a particular embodiment, the two plates are connected to a rotary spindle to rotate the two plates a plurality of times as the fibrous strands are fed into the channel. In a still further embodiment, multiple plate sets can be mounted to rotate with the spindle and fibrous strands can be wound into the channels in each of the plate sets so that multiple hoops can be formed and cured simultaneously.

A reinforced structural component includes a body portion made of a combination of plastic material and chopped fibers. The body portion has a central longitudinal axis and a cross-section orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis, with the cross-section having an outer periphery and an inner core inward of the outer periphery. The body portion has an outer peripheral portion and an inner core portion corresponding to respective longitudinal projections of the outer periphery and inner core. The body portion is configured for being acted upon by a combination of forces causing tension within one or more longitudinal segments of the inner core portion. The reinforced structural component also includes one or more layers of continuous fiber disposed longitudinally within the one or more longitudinal segments, so as to resist tension caused within the one or more longitudinal segments.

A structural column comprises an inner sleeve comprising a first non-glass material, at least one sheet comprising bulk glass, and an outer sleeve comprising a second non-glass material. The inner sleeve has an outer surface and an inner surface defining a hollow interior of the structural column. An inner surface of each sheet is adjacent to at least a portion of the outer surface of the inner sleeve. The outer sleeve has an inner surface that is attached to at least a portion of an outer surface of each sheet, and the inner surface of the outer sleeve is attached to at least a portion of the outer surface of the inner sleeve. The inner sleeve and the outer sleeve can have a rectangular shape in cross-section. The bulk glass can comprise soda lime glass, and the first non-glass material and the second non-glass material can comprise high-density polyethylene.

A method of making a fiber reinforced hoop includes forming two plates having a face opposing one another and defining an outer periphery with a recessed groove to define a channel between the two plates. Fibrous strands coated with an adhesive are wrapped around the two plates within the channel a plurality of times. The adhesive is allowed to cure so that the fibrous strands form a rigid hoop. In a particular embodiment, the two plates are connected to a rotary spindle to rotate the two plates a plurality of times as the fibrous strands are fed into the channel. In a still further embodiment, multiple plate sets can be mounted to rotate with the spindle and fibrous strands can be wound into the channels in each of the plate sets so that multiple hoops can be formed and cured simultaneously.

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.

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 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.