Methods and apparatuses for reinforcing structural members

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment, a method of reinforcing a round structural member of a lattice structure comprises locating a reinforcement member having at least four facets on the round structural member, wherein each of the at least four facets forms a point of contact with the round structural member; and securing the reinforcement member to the round structural member.

1 . A method of reinforcing a round structural member of a lattice structure, the method comprising:
 locating a reinforcement member having at least four facets on the round structural member, wherein at least two of the at least four facets forms a point of contact with the round structural member; and   securing the reinforcement member to the round structural member.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first leg and a second leg of the reinforcement member extend beyond a centroid of the round structural member when the reinforcement member is located at the round structural member. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a centroid of the reinforcement member is within the round structural member when the reinforcement member is located on the round structural member. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the points of contact is a direct point of contact between the reinforcement member and the round structural member. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the points of contact is an indirect point of contact between the reinforcement member and the round structural member. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising locating an inner tab member between the reinforcement member and the round structural member, wherein the points of contact between the reinforcement member and the round structural member are indirect points of contact via the inner tab member. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a first leg and a second leg of the reinforcement member extend beyond a first leg and a second leg of the inner tab member. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member comprises a hot rolled plate. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member comprises a cold formed plate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising securing a first end of the reinforcement member to a splice plate of the round structural member on a first side of the splice plate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 joining the reinforcement member with a second reinforcement member to extend a length of continuous reinforcement along the round structural member.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein joining the reinforcement member and the second reinforcement member comprises joining the reinforcement member and the second reinforcement member around a splice plate of the round structural member. 
     
     
         13 . A method of reinforcing a structural member of a lattice structure, the method comprising:
 locating first and second reinforcement members on the round structural member, the first and second reinforcement members each comprising first and second tubular members;   locating a first threaded bar within the first tubular member of the first and second reinforcement members and locating a second threaded bar within the second tubular member of the first and second reinforcement members; and   securing the first threaded bar at the first and second reinforcement members using first and second threaded locking members and securing the second threaded bar at the first and second reinforcement members using third and fourth locking members.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second threaded bars span a segment of the round structural member located between a first and second splice plate of the round structural member. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second threaded bars span a splice plate of the round structural member. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second threaded bars secure the first reinforcement member to the second reinforcement member during the installation of the first and second reinforcement members. 
     
     
         17 . A reinforcement system for a round structural member of a lattice structure, the reinforcement system comprising:
 a reinforcement member having at least four facets, wherein the reinforcement member has an open-ended cross sectional shape, the reinforcement member coupled with the round structural member such that each of the at least four facets forms a point of contact with the round structural member along a longitudinal span of the round structural member.   
     
     
         18 . The reinforcement system of  claim 17 , wherein in a cross sectional view taken perpendicular to a centroid of the round structural member, a first leg and a second leg of the reinforcement member extend beyond a centroid of the round structural member. 
     
     
         19 . The reinforcement system of  claim 17 , wherein the reinforcement member is a first reinforcement member, wherein the longitudinal span is a first longitudinal span, the reinforcement system further comprising:
 a second reinforcement member having at least four facets, wherein the second reinforcement member has an open-ended cross sectional shape, the second reinforcement member coupled with the round structural member such that each of the at least four facets forms a point of contact with the round structural member along a second longitudinal span of the round structural member; and   a coupling assembly spanning the first and second reinforcement members, the coupling assembly coupled to both the first and second reinforcement members, the coupling assembly configured to permit a longitudinal distance between the first and second reinforcement members to be adjusted after the first and second reinforcement members have been coupled to the round structural member.   
     
     
         20 . The reinforcement system of  claim 17 , wherein the reinforcement member is a first reinforcement member, wherein the round structural member is a first round structural member, the reinforcement system further comprising:
 a second reinforcement member having at least four facets, wherein the second reinforcement member has an open-ended cross sectional shape, the second reinforcement member coupled with a second round structural member such that each of the at least four facets forms a point of contact with the second round structural member along a longitudinal span of the second round structural member;   a splice connection between the first and second round structural members; and   a coupling assembly spanning the first and second reinforcement members, the coupling assembly coupled to both the first and second reinforcement members, the coupling assembly configured to permit a longitudinal distance between the first and second reinforcement members to be adjusted after the first reinforcement member has been coupled to the first round structural member and the second reinforcement member has been coupled to the second round structural member.