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03.A - Beam Bears on Concealed Steel Bearing Plate with Knife Plate

Beam Bears on Concealed Steel Bearing Plate with Knife Plate

Wood beam is connected to wood girder with a custom-fabricated steel connection consisting of bearing plates for both the beam and girder, and a beam knife plate connected to the beam. Beam bears on seat in slot and is connected to steel knife plate with dowel-type fasteners. The connection is fastened to the girder with partially-threaded screws or lag bolts through the bearing plate.

Purpose: Transfer of vertical load from wood beam to wood girder.

Design Notes

  • Bearing plate size is dependent on perpendicular-to-grain bearing.
  • Method of concealing bearing plate will determine the construction sequence.
  • Designer must account for eccentricity between load and reaction.
  • Dowel connector is for positive connection only.
  • At top-bearing connections, designer should account for fit of material above. CLT is not typically notched to accommodate connections.
  • Face-mount connection is possible where blocking is used below bearing plate, as shown in lower image.
  • See the 2018 NDS and AAITC Technical Note 19 Guidelines for Evaluation of Holes and Notches in Structural Glued Laminated Timber Beams for notch sizing. A deep notch methodology is provided in MTC Solutions’ ASSY Screws as Tensile Reinforcement in Notched Beams.
  • Deck not shown for clarity. Beam may require bracing for lateral-torsional buckling.

Other Applications:

  • Table 10: Mass Timber Beam Support at Mass Timber Wall Panel, at top of panel or where bearing notch is provided
Class
Class 2
Load
Load High
Cost
Cost $$$
Const.
Constructability Advanced
Fire
Fire Rating I

Related Mass Timber

Beam Bears on Concealed Steel Bearing Plate with Knife Plate

Wood beam is connected to wood girder with a custom-fabricated steel connection consisting of bearing plates for both the beam and girder, and a beam knife plate connected to the beam. Beam bears on seat in slot and is connected to steel knife plate with dowel-type fasteners. The connection is fastened to the girder with partially-threaded screws or lag bolts through the bearing plate.
03.A - Beam Bears on Concealed Steel Bearing Plate with Knife Plate