Glulam Building: Start to Finish – Part Three D

Welcome to our “Glulam Building: Start to Finish” series. Our goal is to provide an overview – from idea to completion – of a glulam building, from the perspective of a glulam manufacturer and designer.


Part 3D: Finer Points of Modeling


While technically part of the Glulam Modeling and Connection Modeling process, today we’ll take a closer look at some important items a detailer needs to pay attention to while modeling.

Fairly standard connection on a hip roof

Having the correct glulam member sizes, steel plate thicknesses, bolt quantities, spacing, and edge distances are all critical to the structural performance of the finished building. But, it is important to take one or two steps back for other considerations, for example:


Up Close: How difficult (or impossible) is the glulam fabrication being modeled? Things like curved holes are clearly impossible. There are other items like deep kerf cuts, very long holes, or daps within an inside corner that may have equipment limits or be difficult to fabricate. Perhaps a small change, or careful hole location, will make it easier – now is the time to talk to our shop and incorporate those changes.

Notch for bolt head and clearance for bolt installation. Also note where fit-up gaps are and are not included in this connection.

One Step Back: Are all fasteners possible to install? We try to leave the order of assembly and bolt install direction as flexible as possible, but at a minimum we need to make sure there is clearance to install all bolts. Are appropriate fit-up gaps modeled at end of members and between steel plates? Are glulam members notched to fit around bolt heads where necessary?

Extended kerf cut to allow for installation

The Bigger Picture: Are all glulam members and connections possible to assemble? What direction will each piece be installed? Do any notches or kerf cuts at connections need to be extended to allow assembly?