Patent ID: 7448103

Claim:
A girder system for distributing a bending moment of the girder under a uniform applied load, the girder system comprising: a girder having a neutral axis extending through its length; and an enhancing mechanism coupled to the girder such that the enhancing mechanism is positioned primarily below the neutral axis, wherein the enhancing mechanism has: a first truss segment and a second truss segment positioned substantially parallel to each other; a first diagonal segment and a second diagonal segment positioned between the first truss segment and the second truss segment, wherein the first diagonal segment and the second diagonal segment are coupled to the first truss segment and a second truss member at an angle, respectively; a horizontal member connecting one end of the first truss segment to one end of the second truss segment; and first and second diagonal truss members coupled to the one end of the first truss segment and the one end of the second truss segment, respectively, and extending in different directions than the first diagonal segment and the second diagonal segment.