Introduction

Columns can be classified into solid columns, built-up columns and spaced columns.
Solid columns are single members or individual members glued together to act as one
solid member. Mechanically laminated built-up columns are formed by fastening two or
more members with bolts, nails or screws. If built-up members have spacer blocks
between the members, they create a spaced column. The design of built-up columns is
different from the design of solid columns.

These three classes of columns have differing load capacities. The capacity of a built-up
column can be expressed as a percentage of the strength of a solid column of the same
dimensions and made with material of the same grade and species. The ratio of the
built-up column compression capacity to that of a solid column is defined as efficiency
(1). The efficiency of built-up columns is 1.0 in the strong axis and between 60 and 75
percent in the weak axis depending on the type of fastening. The loss in capacity in the
weak axis compared to a solid column is due to the slip between the laminations.

Column failure is due to crushing, buckling, or a combination of both modes. Short

columns more often experience crushing failure, and long columns tend to fail more
often by buckling. According to the NDS, the efficiencies are generally higher in short
and long columns than in intermediate columns. The NDS assigns nailed built-up
intermediate columns a 60% efficiency and bolted built-up intermediate columns a 75%
efficiency. Even though long and short columns would have higher efficiencies, all
column lengths are assigned a single efficiency. Note that provisions in NDS 15.3.2.2
allow short columns to use full design values when designed as individual columns.

Whole-section engineered wood products are recommended for higher compression

loads, although they can add cost.

Solid Columns

Design of solid columns is addressed in Section 3.7 of the NDS. The main difference
between solid column and built-up column capacity is in the calculation of Cp, the
column stability factor. The column stability factor adjusts for the buckling effect on the
column capacity. If the column is completely braced in all directions, then C p can be
taken as 1. For all other conditions, Cp should to be evaluated for both strong-axis and
weak-axis bracing conditions. In solid columns, the column stability factor is calculated
as follows:
In this calculation, le/d represents the larger of the ratios l1/d1 and l2/d2 as shown in Figure
1. The slenderness ratio of solid columns, le/d, shall not exceed 50. Higher slenderness
ratios have a lower Cp factor, which means that a slender column can buckle more
easily and has lower compression capacity than a similar column with a lower
slenderness ratio. The same holds true for built-up columns.

Built-up Columns

Built-up columns fastened with nails or bolts are addressed in Sections 15.3.3 and
15.3.4 of the NDS. However, fastening built-up column members with screws is not
addressed in the NDS. For built-up columns, the only difference in design compared to
solid columns is the addition of Kf, a column stability coefficient, in the calculation of Cp.
See Figure 2 for built-up column notation. For built-up columns, Cp is calculated as
follows:

The Cp value is calculated for slenderness ratios based on l1/d1 and l2/d2, and the smaller
Cp is used to calculate the adjusted compression design value parallel to grain. In the
strong axis, Kf = 1, and the design is similar to solid columns. However, in the weak axis
buckling is affected by the slip and load transfer that occurs at fasteners between the
laminations, and the Kf factor changes with the type of fastener.
 NDS Section 15.3.1 provides the limitations for built-up columns based on these design
attributes:

 Each lamination has a rectangular cross section and is at least 1-1/2” thick,
 All laminations are of same depth and faces of adjacent laminations are in contact,
 All laminations are full column length.

These limitations apply to laminations fastened with nails and bolts. In Simpson Strong-
Tie design method they also apply to Strong-Drive SDW screws.

Nailing

The spacing and end distance requirements for nails are covered in Section 15.3.3.1 of
the NDS. The nails need to be driven from opposite sides of the column and need to
penetrate at least ¾ of the thickness of last lamination. If all of the requirements are
met, Kf of 0.6 can be used in the calculation of Cp, when l2/d2 is the limiting ratio for
calculation of FcE. The NDS does not provide a table for built-up column capacities
fastened with nails. The designer has to run through calculations and follow the
provisions of NDS Section 15.3.3 to determine the capacity of a nailed built-up column.

Let’s figure out the nail length needed to connect 3 – 2xmembers. For a 3-ply member
the nail length needs to be a minimum of 2 x 1.5inches +3/4 x 1.5 inches = 4.125
inches. Only 30d or higher nails are available in these lengths. Since these nails are not
commonly used in the job site and do not fit the regular nail gun, installers may need to
use a special nail gun. The NDS provides some typical nailing schedules that are shown
here in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Nailing Schedules for 2-ply and 3-

ply Built-Up Columns with 2×4 and 2×6 Lumber (NDS).
Bolting

NDS Section 15.3.4.1 has end, edge distance and spacing requirements for bolts. Also
a metal plate or washer is required between the wood and the bolt head and between
the wood and the nut. The nuts should be tightened to ensure that the faces of adjacent
laminations are in contact. Figure 4 is a detail showing the typical bolting schedules. If
the requirements of the NDS Section 15.3.4 are met, Kf of 0.75 can be used in the
calculation of Cp, when l2/d2 is the limiting ratio for calculation of FcE. The NDS does not
provide built-up column capacities fastened with bolts. Again the designer has to
determine these capacities by calculation.

Figure 4. Bolt schedule for 4- ply built-up

columns with 2 x 8 lumber (NDS).
New Option – Fastening with Simpson Strong-Tie® Strong-Drive® TRUSS –PLY
SDW Screws

Simpson Strong-Tie® tested column assemblies as shown in the Figure 5 to determine

Column Stability Coefficient, Kf, for SDW screws. The limitations of NDS Section 15.3.1
have been found to also apply to Strong-Drive Truss-Ply SDW screws. The spacing and
end distance requirements for the screws are shown in Figure 5. One huge advantage
of using SDW screws is the screws can be installed from one side of the column or from
both sides of the column. Installation from one side or both sides affects the Kf factor
used in the calculation of Cp. If the screws are installed from one side of the column,
then Kf of 0.6 can be used in the calculation of Cpwhen l2/d2 is used to calculate FcE. If the
screws are installed from both sides of the column, then Kf of 0.7 can be used in the
calculation of Cp when l2/d2 is the limiting ratio for calculation of FcE.
 Figure 5. Fastener schedule for built-up
columns fastened with Strong-Drive SDW TRUSS-Ply screws.
Let’s work on a design example for built-up columns fastened with Strong-Drive® Truss-
Ply® SDW screws:

Example: Calculate the capacity of a 3-2×6 built-up member attached with SDW screws
with a) installation of screws from only one side b) Installation of screws from both sides
of the column.

Column Type: Built-up

Column Length: 10 ft.

Bracing: Completely unbraced in both directions

Size if Column: 3–2x6

Wood Species: SPF

Grade: #2

Load Duration Factor, CD: 1

Temperature Factor, Ct: 1

Wet Service Factor, CM: 1

Per Table 4.3.1 (table shown below) of NDS:

Fc’ = Fc x CD x CM x Ct x CF x Cp

Per Table 4A or 4B of NDS, Compression parallel to grain, Fc = 1150 psi

Emin = 510000 psi

Size Factor CF = 1.1

Fc* = Fc x CD x CM x Ct x CF 1265 psi

Now let’s calculate Cp in both directions:

Cp in Strong-Axis –

Where:

Fc* = reference compression design value parallel-to-grain multiplied by all applicable

modification factors except Cp (see 2.3 of NDS)

FcE = 0.822 Emin‘/ (l1/d1)2

l1 = 120 in

d1 = 5.5 in

FcE = 881 psi

Kf = 1.0 for solid columns and for built-up columns where l1/d1 is used to calculate
FcE and the built-up columns are either nailed or bolted

c = 0.8 for sawn lumber

Substituting the values above, Cp = 0.557

Cp in Weak-Axis –
Where:

Fc* = reference compression design value parallel-to-grain multiplied by all applicable

modification factors except Cp (see 2.3 of NDS)

FcE = 0.822 Emin‘/ (l2/d2)2

l2 = 120 in

d2 = 4.5 in

FcE = 590 psi

Kf = 0.6 for built-up columns fastened with SDW screws from one side of column

Kf = 0.7 for built-up columns fastened with SDW screws from both sides of column

c = 0.8 for sawn lumber

Substituting the values above with Kf = 0.6, Cp = 0.246 (Screws installed

from one side)

Substituting the values above with Kf = 0.7, Cp = 0.287 (Screws installed

from both sides)

For screws installed from same side, minimum Cp = Minimum (0.557, 0.246) = 0.246

Column Capacity = Fc* x Cp x d1 x d2= 7690 lbs.

For screws installed from both sides, minimum Cp = Minimum (0.557, 0.287) = 0.287

Column Capacity = Fc* x Cp x d1 x d2= 8970 lbs.

 Figure 6. Adjustment factors for sawn lumber
(NDS) to show the applicable adjustments for parallel-to-grain compression design
To avoid these long calculation steps and to help the designer, Simpson Strong-Tie
compiled a table with allowable compression capacities for built-up columns made with
several typical combinations of No. 2 visually graded lumber and fastened with SDW
screws. Now that you have a new and faster way of fastening multiple plies using SDW
screws along with an easy to use design table, go ahead and design away!

If you have any questions or comments about fastening built-up columns with Simpson
Strong-Tie fasteners, pass them along to us in the Engineering Department.