Beam Supported by Knife Plate

Design Notes

Capacity of connection is dependent on fastener shear capacity.
Consider eccentricity of beam loading.
At dowel connection, designer should account for shrinkage of beam with appropriate dowel location and spacing. Refer to APA EWS T300 Glulam Connection Details Construction Guide for additional information.
Knife plate kerf may be full height of beam and will be visible.
Beam cannot be disconnected from rigging until connected to knife plate.
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.