Truss structure

Abstract

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.

1 . A three-dimensional (3D) load bearing structure, comprising:
 a longitudinal frame including a plurality of longitudinal members arranged in parallel with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the load bearing structure and extending longitudinally along a length of the transverse frame; and   a transverse frame integrally coupled with the longitudinal frame at a respective plurality of nodes, the transverse frame including a plurality of transverse members defining a plurality of 3D polyhedral structures sequentially arranged along the central longitudinal axis of the load bearing structure, each of the 3D polyhedral structures following a helical pattern relative to the central longitudinal axis;   wherein:   the plurality of nodes are respectively defined at a plurality of points of intersection between the plurality of longitudinal members and the plurality of 3D polyhedral structures; and   each of the plurality of nodes includes an interweaving of longitudinal fibers of a longitudinal membr, of the plurality of longitudinal members, with transverse fibers of a transvers member of a polyhedral structure, of the plurality of 3D polyhedral structures.   
     
     
         2 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal frame is integrally coupled to the transverse frame at points at which a contour of each of the plurality of 3D polyhedral structures changes direction. 
     
     
         3 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the transverse frame is integrally coupled to the longitudinal frame at points at which a contour of each of the plurality of 3D polyhedral structures forms an apex. 
     
     
         4 . The structure of  claim 3 , wherein each apex of each of the plurality of 3D polyhedral structures is integrally coupled to a corresponding longitudinal member of the plurality of longitudinal members. 
     
     
         5 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal frame includes six longitudinal members, each extending in parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the load bearing structure. 
     
     
         6 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein a fiber pattern at each of plurality of nodes includes:
 a first section including an interweaving of a first portion of the transverse fibers of the respective polyhedral structure and a first portion of the longitudinal fibers of the respective longitudinal member;   a second section adjacent to the first section, the second section including an arrangement of a second portion of the longitudinal fibers of the respective longitudinal member; and   a third section adjacent to the second section, the third section including an interweaving of a second portion of the transverse fibers of the respective polyhedral structure and a third portion of the longitudinal fibers of the respective longitudinal member.   
     
     
         7 . A method of forming a load bearing structure, comprising:
 integrally forming a transverse frame and a longitudinal frame, the transverse frame including a plurality of transverse members arranged end to end to define a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) polyhedral structures, and the longitudinal frame including a plurality of longitudinal members arranged in parallel with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the load bearing structure, wherein integrally forming the transverse frame and the longitudinal frame includes:   forming a plurality of nodes at a respective plurality of points of intersection between the transverse frame and the longitudinal frame, including, for each nodc of the plurality of nodes:
 interweaving transverse fibers of a transverse member of a corresponding 3D polyhedral structure with longitudinal fibers of a longitudinal member of the plurality of longitudinal members, at a portion of the transverse frame at which a contour of each of the plurality of 3D polyhedral structures forms an apex. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein integrally forming the transverse frame and the longitudinal frame includes integrally forming the transverse frame and the longitudinal frame including six longitudinal members arranged in parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the load bearing structure, and arranged symmetrically about a central longitudinal plane of the load bearing structure. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of 3D polyhedral structures includes a plurality of apexes, and wherein each apex of the plurality of apexes of each of the plurality of 3D polyhedral structures is positioned at a respective node of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein interweaving the transverse fibers of the transverse member of the corresponding 3D polyhedral structure with the longitudinal fibers of the longitudinal member of the plurality of longitudinal members includes:
 forming a first section of the node, including arranging the longitudinal fibers of the longitudinal member and the transverse fibers of the transverse member in a first pattern; and   forming a second section of the node, the second section being adjacent to the first section, including arranging remaining longitudinal fibers of the longitudinal member and remaining transverse fibers of the transverse member in a second pattern,   wherein the second pattern is different from the first pattern.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 compressing the first section and the second section of the node; and   curing the compressed first section and second to form the node integrally coupling the longitudinal member and the transverse member   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein forming the second section of the node includes:
 forming a first portion of the second section of the node, the first portion of the second section being adjacent to the first section of the node; and   forming a second portion of the second section, the second portion of the second section being adjacent to the first portion of the second section.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein
 forming the first portion of the second section of the node includes arranging a first portion of the remaining longitudinal fibers of the longitudinal member and a first portion of the remaining transverse fibers of the transverse member in a third pattern; and   forming the second portion of the second section of the node includes arranging a second portion of the remaining longitudinal fibers of the longitudinal member and a second portion of the remaining transverse fibers of the transverse member in a fourth pattern.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion of the second section of the node includes only longitudinal fibers of the longitudinal member, and the second portion of the second section of the node includes the remaining longitudinal fibers of the longitudinal member and the remaining transverse fibers of the transverse member.