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Beam Connected to Girder with Concealed Face-Mounted Knife Plate Connector

Wood beam is connected to wood girder with a concealed, face-mounted plate with a knife plate. Beams bears on dowel-type fasteners in shear.

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

Design Notes

  • The capacity of this connection is dependent on the dowel connections to both the beam and the girder.
  • Connection has tight construction tolerances.
  • Face-mount connection is shown; top-mount connection is possible.
  • The knife plate kerf may be visible depending on architectural finishes.
  • Proprietary options exist; possible manufacturers include Simpson Strong-Tie.
  • Verify connection is NDS compliant for shear over the reduced cross-section per sections 3.4.3.2 and 5.3.10.  Reduced section is generally the top of the member to the bottom dowel or bearing point of the connector.
  • Dowels and connecting fasteners should be spaced per NDS Chapter 12 guidelines to help minimize beam checking due to constrained shrinkage between the fasteners.  Dowels and connecting fasteners should be located outside of the neutral axis of the beam, opposite of the load path to avoid tension perpendicular to grain loading of the beam.
  • Deck not shown for clarity. Beam may require bracing for lateral-torsional buckling.

Other Applications:

  • Table 9: Mass Timber Beam Support at Mass Timber Column
  • Table 10: Mass Timber Beam Support at Mass Timber Wall Panel
Class
Class 2
Load
Load Medium
Cost
Cost $$
Const.
Constructability Moderate
Fire
Fire Rating II

Beam Connected to Girder with Concealed Face-Mounted Knife Plate Connector

Wood beam is connected to wood girder with a concealed, face-mounted plate with a knife plate. Beams bears on dowel-type fasteners in shear.
03.A - Beam Connected to Girder with Concealed Face-mounted Knife Plate Connector