Intersecting structural member and a method for joining same

A method of joining a first structural member, having a first predetermined height, a first determined width, and a first structural member base edge, and a second structural member, having a second predetermined height, which is less than the first predetermined height, a second predetermined width, and a second structural member base edge, the method comprising:

• forming a predefined keyway having a flange engaging tab in a first position and a stem engaging tab in a first position in the first structural member, wherein the keyway extends to the first structural member base edge;
• bending the flange engaging tab about a flange bending axis, from the first position to a second position, and bending the stem engaging tab about a stem bending axis, from the first position to a second position, wherein the flange bending axis is substantially parallel to the first structural member base edge, thereby creating an ingress area having a predetermined ingress width;
• passing the second structural member through the ingress area to mate the first and second structural members;
• and
• interlocking the first structural member and the second structural member by bending the stem engaging tab about the stem bending axis from the second position to the first position, such that the first structural member base edge and the second structural member base edge are substantially coplanar, and thereby pinching the second structural member, and bending the flange engaging tab about the flange bending axis from the second position to the first position.

A method of joining the structural member of a ship including a first structural member, having a first predetermined height, a first determined width, and a first structural member base edge, and a second structural member, having a second predetermined height, a second predetermined width, and a second structural member base edge, in the method comprising:

• forming a predefined keyway having a flange engaging tab in a first position and a stem engaging tab in a first position in the first structural member, wherein the keyway extends to the first structural member base edge;
• bending the flange engaging tab about a flange bending axis, from the first position to a second position, and bending the stem engaging tab about a stem bending axis, from the first position to a second position, wherein the flange bending axis is substantially parallel to the first structural member base edge, thereby creating an ingress area having a predetermined ingress width, wherein the predetermined ingress width is equal to, or greater than, the second predetermined width;
• passing the second structural member through the ingress area to mate the first and second structural members;
• interlocking the first structural member and the second structural member by bending the stem engaging tab about the stem bending axis from the second position to the first position, such that the first structural member base edge and the second structural member base edge are substantially coplanar, and thereby pinching the second structural member, and bending the flange engaging tab about the flange bending axis from the second position to the first position;
• and
• fastening the at least one tab to the second structural member.