I am working on a project where the architect wants to "nail" five 10x10 timber columns together to create a large, wide column element. The AITC manual does not provide any criteria for the spacing of spikes other than to not split the wood and information about the drill size for pilot holes. I am specifying 1/2" diameter spikes at 6" o.c. with the spikes in each "layer" staggered 3". Just curious if anyone has any rules of thumb picked up in the timber framing world that might be helpful. Thanks.
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Spacing of spikes
- Thread starter archeng59
- Start date
MiketheEngineer
Structural
What the hell are you building???
How about drilling through and using bolts or All_Threads??
How about drilling through and using bolts or All_Threads??
msquared48
Structural
Never heard of doing this - usually just thru-bolted. I would think with 7/16" pilot holes at the 3" spacing though you should be OK. Just watch the edge distances.
I guess I would have to ask if he just wants to see a spike for the Architectural effect? If so, just pound the exposed boltheads to smitherines!![[hammer]](/data/assets/smilies/hammer.gif "[hammer] [hammer]")
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
I guess I would have to ask if he just wants to see a spike for the Architectural effect? If so, just pound the exposed boltheads to smitherines!
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
- Thread starter
- #4
The architect wants a column 46 1/4" (five 10x10's side by side) x 9 1/4". Could thru-bolt, but the architect does not want to see the bolts/nuts. There are no edge distance criteria for spikes/nails like there is for bolts, unless you just use the same criteria which is what I intend to do.
msquared48
Structural
You can always cap in the bolts and plug the ends with wood dowels. Like the spike heads won't show!
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
- Thread starter
- #7
Not looking for options. Glulam is not an option. The architect wants the spike heads to show. Go figger, but this is what the architect convinced the owner to do. I'll just use the same edge spacing and fastener spacing criteria as for a bolt.
Dry environment, I hope... I would probably 'tack' them together with pre-drilled spikes and use adhesive... Shrinkage could be a whole bunch... and likely develop face splits... 5 - 10x10's would have a load capacity of maybe 500K... how tall is the building <G>...
Dik
Dik
woodman88
Structural
- Oct 23, 2009
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I would thru bolt the center three 10x10's with counter sunk nuts. Then spike the end 10x10's for the look.
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.
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.
I like the combo option from Boo and Woodman by facing a large glulam with non-load-carrying lumber by spiking them to the engineered column. The thru-bolts being counter sunk is perfect too.
Before you doing anything creative, make sure the code likes the artwork you are trying to wow the world with.
Before you doing anything creative, make sure the code likes the artwork you are trying to wow the world with.
Look at timber bridge deck details. We have built some decks using 12x12's and using sledge hammers to install the spikes. I'm not in my office now - but I remember some timber bridge drawing details with a blue cover(!). I used an oval platform constructed like this for a tunnel work platform on a 40 degree slope. I believe these details are quite common.
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