Round Wood Post Caps? 3

[Revv]

Hey guys, how do you normally connect beams to a round wood post? Not seeing any products for this currently, do you have to develop a custom connection? If so, how do you guys usually go about that?

 

[jayrod12]

If it just needs to provide some form of positive connection would a steel saddle with two straps down the post solve it?

Or a knife plate on the bottom of a beam saddle?

 

[JoelTXCive]

What is the diameter of the post? And what size beams?

I've always been a fan of notching the post to create a bearing connection. Then the bolts serve to keep the connection together.

 

[phamENG]

I agree with both jay and Joel - if the beam is less than half the diameter of the pile/post, I spec a notch in the post and through bolts (through bolts for uplift and lateral stability only - bearing is the gravity load reaction). If the beam is too wide, then it sits on top with either a saddle and side plates or just two 3/16" straps. Sometimes the top of the pile/post has to be cut slightly to line it all up.

 

[Revv]

@phamEng Gotcha thats very helpful, if you don't mind me asking, what saddles do you normally use for this? You're ok with the side plates on the rounded ends? I guess you just count the screws you know you can get or?

 

[jayrod12]

I think he'd expect specifically bolts at the centreline of the column. I know I would.

 

[Revv]

@jayrod12 I'm picturing a Z shaped plate for the custom connection that would thru bolt through the beams at the top then thru bolt through the top of the column. Does that seem right? Or do you actually have a premade saddle that works for this?

 

[jayrod12]

Something like a Simpson strongtie CC column cap if the dimensions work. Or a custom fabricated one similar to it.

 

[JoelTXCive]

Google:

"FEMA Homebuilders Guide to Coastal Construction"

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/fema499_2010_edition.pdf

They do not have connection design or structural analysis in this guidebook, but they do have images of common post to beam connections.

 

[phamENG]

Late to the party - jay and Joel nailed it again. Or bolted, as the case may be...

 

[Revv]

Thanks for all the help guys. I called Simpson who said they barely work with it and with your help identified some of the pieces we needed to use. For future Reference, I used the CC caps for the normal condition and a ECCL Cap for the end/Corner condition. I had triple 2x's going over these and a corner condition with 2 triple 2x beams going over it. 10" diameter viga posts.