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

Beam Bears on Steel Bearing Seat 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 (shown) or bucket connection to the beam. Beam bears on seat 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

  • Knife plate instead of bucket connection is more commonly used for exposed connections.
  • Bearing plate size is dependent on perpendicular-to-grain bearing.
  • 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.
  • May be desirable to extend bearing plate beyond knife plate to cover kerf in beam for knife plate.
  • Top-mount connection is shown; face-mount connection is possible.
  • See the 2018 NDS and AITC Technical Note 19 Guidelines for Evaluation of Holes and Notches in Structural Glued Laminated Timber Beams for notch sizing.
  • 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 Moderate
Fire
Fire Rating III

Related Mass Timber

Beam Bears on Steel Bearing Seat 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 (shown) or bucket connection to the beam. Beam bears on seat 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 Steel Bearing Seat with Knife Plate