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INSTRUCTOR: 
Alexander Newman, P.E., F.ASCE

Purpose and Background

One of the most difficult issues in designing wood structures involves their connections. The capacities of wood fasteners are rather limited, and using too many risks splitting the wood. And there are other difficulties, particularly the existence of two totally different approaches to selecting connections – prescriptive and rational. The number of fasteners listed in a prescriptive code table for a particular connection might be totally different from the number obtained by rational analysis.

This course provides a concise and practical overview of various wood fasteners and methods of their design. The discussion covers bolts, lag screws, wood screws, nails, and proprietary wood connectors. The participants learn about the relevant code provisions, including those of the National Design Specification® for Wood Construction (NDS®) by American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA). The NDS® forms the basis for the wood design requirements in the International Building Code and other authoritative publications.

Drawing on three decades of professional experience, the instructor offers practical suggestions for designing and detailing wood connections. He explains some difficult issues such as the nailing nomenclature and the existence of different types of nails with the same “pennyweight” but different diameters. Another important topic is the effects of shrinkage on wood connections and the steps that can help avoid wood splits at multiple fasteners. The design examples illustrate connection designs in real life applications.

Benefits and Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Determine the available wood fasteners, their advantages and disadvantages
• Explore practical methods of designing wood connections and work through a number of design examples
• Recognize the difference between the two main approaches for wood design
• Study the effects of shrinkage on timber connections and how to minimize these effects
• Identify how to specify nails to avoid job-site confusion and misunderstanding

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and/or fill in the blank questions).

Who Should Attend?

Structural and civil engineers and technically inclined architects, contractors and building officials seeking to broaden their knowledge of designing wood connections will benefit from this seminar.

Outline

• Design standards
• Dowel-type fasteners
  • Bolts
  • Lag screws
  • Wood screws
  • Nails
• Effects of shrinkage on wood connection design
• Split rings and shear plates
• Connection in lateral force-resisting systems

How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs

This course is worth .2 CEUs /2 PDHs. To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 30 days of the course.

How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?

1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]