Built up Wood Beam Support 1

[Earthmover]

I have a situation where a group of 4 2x4's were used to create a wooden beam. The current situation is that the beam is supported at the ends with a steel steel pipe column supporting the beam at about a quarter of the distance from one of the ends. The new situation will be to install 2 new pipe columns at about the third points. The pipe columns have a steel plate welded to them at the top. Does this plate need to span all of the beam's 2x4's? If so, can a 2x4 be used as a seat to support the 2x4's in the beam?

Thanks.

 

[boo1]

Four 2x4 is not much of a beam!

If the bending, shear, compressive stress and deflection are within acceptable limits an additional bottom plate is not needed.

 

[DaveAtkins]

Preferably, the column cap plate should be as wide as the beam (6&quot. I'm not saying a flatwise 2x4 will not work as a cap plate, but the steel cap plate is better. DaveAtkins

 

[Trussdoc]

Depending on the span, load and species of wood used, you should check if there is sufficient contact area between the column plate and the remaining wood to keep Fc|| from being exceeded