Structural member

A vehicle frame assembly comprising:

• first and second parallel and spaced-apart structural members and a plurality of cross members connecting said structural members;
• each of said structural members including an upper plate member, a lower plate member substantially parallel to and spaced from said upper plate member, and a reinforcing web comprising a plurality of web segments extending back and forth between said plate members in zigzag fashion, said web segments meeting said plate members at a web angle;
• said structural member including regions having different load requirements wherein a lower load region includes a plurality of web segments meeting said upper and lower plate members at a first angle and a higher load region including at least two adjacent web segments meeting said upper and lower plate members at a second angle which is greater than said first angle whereby the bending strength of said higher load region is increased.

A load-bearing structural member comprising:

• an upper plate member, a lower plate member, said upper and lower plate members being spaced apart a distance equal to variable X, and a reinforcing web comprising a plurality of web segments extending back and forth between said plate members in zigzag fashion, said web segments meeting said plate members at a web angle equal to variable .theta.;
• said structural member including a region having a higher load requirement wherein the distance between the points of intersection of adjacent web segments with said plate members is shorter for both of said upper and lower plate members and in regions having lesser load requirements, the distance between said points of intersection being reduced by varying at least one of said variables.

A load-bearing structural member comprising:

• an upper plate member, a lower plate member substantially parallel to and spaced from said upper plate member, and a reinforcing web comprising a plurality of web segments extending back and forth between said plate members in zigzag fashion, said web segments meeting said plate members at a web angle;
• said structural member including regions having different load requirements wherein a lower load region includes a plurality of web segments meeting said upper and lower plate members at a first angle and a higher load region including at least two adjacent web segments meeting said upper and lower plate members at a second angle which is greater than said first angle whereby the bending strength of said higher load region is increased.