Torsion Box Dining Table - End Grain

HI All,

I am sending several initial designs to a client for a 8 place dining table. One of them is using a torsion box construction to appear like thicker solid timber. The reason is to illuminate the need for aprons and allow for placement of the legs where i want them.
I have three questions:

• What is the suggested thickness for the solid timber skins on top and bottom when building torsion box tables?

• I'm wondering if there would be any issues, difficulties or considerations in creating a strip of end grain for each end of the table sandwiched between the top and bottom skin so it looks like solid timber? My thoughts are that the timber shrinkage of the end grain would all be in the same direction as the top and bottom skins, so no problems.

• Is there a tried and tested method of filling the spaces in a torsion box to stop it sounding hollow.. or is this not really an issue? i've never tapped on one.

Any input would be appreciated.
Cheers
Mike

Torsion Box Dining Table - End Grain