Glulam Column for High Axial Load per NDS 2024

Summary: Design a glulam column supporting heavy roof loads per NDS 2024 §3.7 and Supplement Table 5A. Free wood beam calculator NDS. Glulam offers higher…

Overview

Design a glulam column supporting heavy roof loads per NDS 2024 §3.7 and Supplement Table 5A. Free wood beam calculator NDS. Glulam offers higher capacity than sawn lumber for the same dimension.

Problem statement

A 6¾×6¾ Doug Fir-Larch Gluam column, 14 ft tall, fixed at base, pinned at top (Ke=0.8). Axial load 25 kip D + 15 kip Lr (snow). CD=1.25 for snow. Check per NDS 2024.

Workflow in StructSuite

StructSuite's free structural design software: select product Glulam, species/grade. Geometry: height, Ke=0.8 (fixed-pinned). Loads: D, Lr with CD. NDS 2024 Supplement Table 5A for glulam Fc, Emin. 6¾×6¾ glulam typically 30–50 kip capacity at 14 ft. Sawn 6×6 would be lower.

Design considerations (excerpt)

14 ft, Ke=0.8 (fixed-pinned): Le=11.2 ft. Fixed base typical for glulam on pier or embedment. Slenderness Le/d: 6.75 in. d → Le/d=20. Glulam Emin higher than sawn—buckles less for same slenderness. Unbraced length critical for slender columns.

Glulam Fc 2–3× sawn #2 for same dimension. 24F-1.7E: 2400 psi bending, 1.7E stiffness. DF-L Table 5A; SP 5B. No Cr for columns. Wet service reduces; glulam often protected.

40 kip D+Lr. CD=1.25 for snow (7-day to 2-month). Roof load from trusses, beams. Add L if floor; W, E for lateral. Governing: highest P/allowable. Heavy roof (snow): Lr often governs.

6¾×6¾ glulam at 14 ft: 35–50 kip typical. Sawn 6×6 would be ~15–20 kip at same height. Glulam…

Related terms

• StructSuite
• structural engineering
• design example
• wood column
• NDS 2024
• glulam column

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