I have a 9'-6" long radius glulam beam (radius = 5') with a 2200# point load at center. I currently have it called out as an 8 3/4" x 10 1/2" radius glulam. The lumberyard is proposing to cut this beam out of a 10x20 with a joint at the center and a 1/4" x 9 1/4" flitch plate with 3/4" diameter...
I have a framer who used 6 2x6 top plates around for all the exterior walls instead of two. He also used 4 top plates on on a steel beam instead of one. How many top plates are reasonable for each condition?