Variable stiffness beam

1. A device, comprising:

a first beam member including:

first tension elements; and

first compression elements;

a second beam member including:

second tension elements; and

second compression elements, wherein the first and second beam members are configured to join together to form a beam assembly by interleaving the first and second compression elements, wherein:

the first tension elements extend between adjacent first compression elements;

the second tension elements extend between adjacent second compression elements;

the first compression elements each include a first gap;

the first beam member includes a plurality of first vertical protrusions each protruding from a respective first tension element;

the second compression elements each include a second gap;

the second beam member includes a plurality of second vertical protrusions each protruding from a respective second tension element;

each first protrusion extends into a respective second gap when the first and second beam members are joined together; and

each second protrusion extends into a respective first gap when the first and second beam members are joined together.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein when the first and second beam members are separated from each other, the first and second beam members have a flexibility at least an order of magnitude greater than a flexibility of the beam assembly when the first and second compression elements are interleaved with each other.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein flexibility corresponds to linear deflection in a cantilevered configuration.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein: the first compression elements each include a respective first horizontal protrusion; and the second compression elements each include a respective second horizontal protrusion.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

when the first and second beam members are joined together each first tension element contacts a respective second compression element; and

when the first and second beam members are joined together each second tension element contacts a respective first compression element.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second beam members include a polymer material.

7. A device comprising:

a first beam member including:

a plurality of first flexible elements; and

a plurality of first protrusions each protruding relative to the first flexible elements and each positioned between two first flexible elements;

a second beam member including:

a plurality of second flexible elements; and

a plurality of second protrusions each protruding relative to the first flexible elements and each positioned between two second flexible elements, wherein the first and second beam members are configured to join together to form a beam assembly by interleaving the first and second protrusions;

a first reinforcer coupled to a surface of the first beam member and including third protrusions protruding within the first protrusions; and

a second reinforcer coupled to a surface of the second beam member and including fourth protrusions protruding within the second protrusions.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein a length of the first tension elements is approximately equal to a length of the first compression elements.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein a ratio of a thickness of the first compression elements to the length of the first tension elements is between 0.4 and 0.8.

10. A device, comprising:

a first beam member including:

a plurality of first flexible elements,

a plurality of first protrusions each protruding relative to the first flexible elements and each positioned between two first flexible elements;

a plurality of first reinforcers each extending along a length of the first beam member and passing through the first protrusions; and

a plurality of first slots positioned in the first protrusions;

a second beam member including:

a plurality of second flexible elements;

a plurality of second protrusions each protruding relative to the first flexible elements and each positioned between two second flexible elements;

a plurality of second reinforcers each extending along a length of the second beam member and passing through the second protrusions; and

a plurality of second slots positioned in the second protrusions, wherein, the first and second beam members are configured to join together to form a beam assembly by interleaving the first and second protrusions, the first slots are configured to receive the second reinforcers when the first and second beam members are joined together, and the second slots are configured to receive the first reinforcers when the first and second beam members are joined together.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the first and second reinforcers are metal.