Lacrosse Head Sidewall Struts for Fatigue Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lacrosse head sidewalls face stress concentrations and potential fatigue failure due to the connection of struts to top and bottom rails, which can lead to reduced rigidity and increased weight, affecting the overall performance and maneuverability of the lacrosse stick.
Innovation Solution
The integration of combined struts that are subject to both compressive and tensile forces, connected along their lengths to reduce stress concentrations and material volume, while maintaining structural properties, and the use of unitary struts that cross each other to reinforce and reduce weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional struts are connected to top and bottom rails, then structural support is provided, but stress concentrations and fatigue failure occur
Solution Approach 1:
The strut is divided into multiple segments (first strut and second strut) that are directly connected along their lengths. This segmentation allows stress to be distributed across multiple connection points rather than concentrated at single rail connections, reducing stress concentrations and preventing fatigue failure while maintaining structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The struts are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration where they cross each other and connect at multiple points along their lengths. This spatial arrangement creates a more complex load path that distributes stresses throughout the structure rather than concentrating them at the traditional rail connection points.
2Strength
If more material is used in struts, then strength is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the strut into multiple sections connected along their lengths, the design achieves structural strength through distributed support rather than through increased material volume. This allows for weight reduction while maintaining the necessary strength to support the head structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second struts are merged by directly connecting them along their lengths, creating a unified load-bearing structure. This combination allows the struts to share and distribute loads more efficiently, reducing the total material needed while maintaining or improving structural strength.
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional strut connections are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but rigidity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented strut design with multiple connection points along the strut lengths creates a more rigid structure by distributing support throughout the head. This segmentation allows each segment to contribute to overall rigidity while maintaining structural integrity through the interconnected design.
Solution Approach 2:
The three-dimensional arrangement of crossing struts connected along their lengths creates additional structural bracing in multiple directions. This spatial configuration enhances rigidity by preventing deformation in various planes while maintaining structural integrity through the interconnected geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects disclosed herein relate to lacrosse heads and sidewalls thereof. The sidewalls include struts which reduce weight and/or reduces stresses which can lead to fatigue failure. In some embodiments, two struts are arranged on the sidewall such that they abut each other and have a similar angle in the ball stop end to scoop end direction of the sidewall, but the two struts cross over each other in a side-to-side direction. When force is applied in a certain direction, one of the struts may be primarily in compression, while its companion strut may be primarily in tension.