Patent ID: 6082072
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: E04C,F16F,Y10T

Abstract:
A structural beam comprising;an upper surface in one of compression or tension due to a loading force;a lower surface in the other of compression or tension due to the loading force;means for connecting the upper surface to the lower surface; anda plurality of structural elements disposed along the length of the upper and lower surfaces, each structural element comprising a compressive and a tensile structural element, the compressive structural element having a first enclosure having first walls surrounding a first cavity, the tensile structural element having a second enclosure having second walls surrounding a second cavity, a first non-compressible material disposed in the first cavity, and a second non-compressible material disposed in the second cavity, wherein the first walls are shaped such that the loading force tends to compress the structural element by a first deflection causing an amplified second deflection of the first walls into the first non-compressible material, exerting a first compressive force against the first non-compressible material, resulting in a resistance to the first deflection and the loading force, and wherein the second walls are shaped such that the loading force tends to elongate the structural element by a third deflection causing an amplified fourth deflection of the second walls into the second non-compressible material, exerting a second compressive force against the second non-compressible material, resulting in a resistance to the third deflection and the loading force.