TransWikia.com

Is using a 4x4 bolted to the face of 2x12 enough?

Engineering Asked on December 17, 2020

I am working on a project that has three 2×12’s supporting a load of 12,000 lbs. similar, but not exactly, to how joists support a house.

The 2×12’s are supporting about 6,000 lbs. on each end.

The three 2×12’s are:
a) Each cut to 90in.

b) The load takes up 24in. from each end of the 2×12’s leaving 42in. of free space in between.

c) The three 2×12’s are spaced parallel to each other, with one 2×12 being 24in. in front of the other.

d) The 6,000lb. (On each side) load is laying on a thick wooden plank (on each end) that is perpendicular to the three 2×12’s.

e) The two thick wooden planks on each end of 2×12’s (mentioned in “d”) is securely fastened to the 1.5in. part of the 2×12’s, as well as having blocking and other bolted wooden members that leaves (as stated in “b”) 42 in. Of free space in between.

f) The three 2×12’s are only 12in. off the ground.

Everything is stable and strong without any issues except for one.

I need to lift this so that it is 14in. off the ground (lifting it 2 in. in total).

Removing the load; as well as dissembling is not an option.

This will have to be lifted with the three 2×12’s and everything above (including load) remaining intact.

My best option is to lift (with a hydraulic jack) the front most 2×12 to 14in. and then lift the back most 2×12 to 14in.
-I’ve done this before with no problems.

The only problem, that I have now, is that directly under the 2×12 is things that I can not remove and is not strong enough jack it from.

The saddle of the jack is 2in.
All wood is Douglas Fir #2 or better.

My plan is to bolt a 4×4 cut to 42in. (to fit in the free space mentioned in “b” and to better distribute the force of the jack).

This 4×4 will be bolted (3 bolts spaced almost equally apart) to the outward face of the 11.25in. part of the front most and back most 2×12’s.

Questions:

  1. Do you think is strong enough to support the load plus force of the jack or do you think it will just rip the 4×4 off of the 2×12; while also destroying the face of the 2×12’s?

  2. Do you think maybe adding a 4×4 on the inward faces of the 2×12’s (these will not have the jack touch it) will provide any more strength to make this process acceptable?

One Answer

In the absence of detailed information and assuming that the existing fasteners and connections are strong enough just as an illustration and with the understanding that this is not advice, I would consider using 4 Simpson Strong-tie fasteners with, uplift rating of $12000/4= 3000lbs 3000*1.5= 4500lbs$

Using 1.5 safety factor we look for a fastener with the 4500lbs uplift rating from Simpson's fastener online calculator here.

Simpson fastener selector

This is a picture of a similar fastener. By the way, you made a mistake and posted your comment as an answer.

fastener

Answered by kamran on December 17, 2020

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question

Get help from others!

© 2024 TransWikia.com. All rights reserved. Sites we Love: PCI Database, UKBizDB, Menu Kuliner, Sharing RPP