Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
(OP)
I have had a debate with other engineers in our office about the function of this member. See attached sketch. I am talking about the red member I have labeled "splice"
Can anybody elaborate?
Thanks
Can anybody elaborate?
Thanks






RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
Perhaps someone felt a need for a tension resisting connection beam to beam, if I'm understanding your drawing correctly.
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
/I also echo Triangled's comment about the seemingly excessive nature of the beam material.
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
A few of these "splice" members are broken at the nail locations.
I am thinking that they were installed to resist longitudinal movement of the beam away from each other? Basically, to tie them together, but with little or no moment resistance.
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
or, it did "try" to carry moment loads at some earlier lifetime of the wooden building, and the splices failed utterly at their nailed joints.
So: Leave the splices as-is, but clean them up and get rid of the nails! They are splitting the wood beam right where the load is the most (over the steel plate at the column) and they are splitting the wood splices. Bolt through the wood splices and the wood beam and clamp the joint tightly together. Epoxy or glue it? Not sure if that will help unless you can clamp the glue and split ends all together while drying.
Is every one of the steel plates in good shape? Not bent, not rusted, not distorted or itself splitting or slipping? They are what is holding up the second floor.
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
Is this an existing condition or a proposed retrofit?
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
I was assuming it was only there for tension purposes longitudinal to the beam.
Steel plates are in good shape. Looks to be a recent (within the last 40-50 years) renovation where the wood "keystone" was replaced with a grout/concrete one, the columns used to be wood, and cast iron plates replaced for steel.
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
Typically, for normal wood construction (SFR), I use Simpson CS18 x 2'-6", both sides.
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
Garth Dreger PE - AZ Phoenix area
As EOR's we should take the responsibility to design our structures to support the components we allow in our design per that industry standards.
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
The "antique look" could be attained if you use specially detailed straps of at least 3/16" thickness, and paint them some color other than silver. Use lag screws rather than nails.
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
Is that the name of the book the image is from? The Architect and Builders Pocketbook?
Thanks
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
You might want to do a scan on the bottom of those beams from the side. If those dowels are present as I suspect, you may not have as much of a problem as you think.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
Much appreciate all of the help.
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
Even the old farts new they should do this before it became a code requirement. I think the problem was they didn't design the splice for enough load!
RE: Curious as to the actual use of this memebr?
Can you elaborate on the “out-of-plane wall loads” a bit?
I was thinking it was purely to tie the beams to each other?
Thanks again for the help.