Wood Beam Compression-Side End Notch Shear (NDS 3.4.3.2)

The shear capacity of a beam notched on the COMPRESSION face at the end.

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Details, formula, and sources

a completely different, far gentler rule than a tension-side notch. NDS 3.4.3.2(e) Eq 3.4-5 uses an effective depth de = d - ((d - dn)/dn) e that grows back toward the full depth as the notch e moves toward the support, so Vr' = (2/3) Fv' b de. At e = 0 (notch right at the bearing) de = d and there is NO reduction at all; the same 4x12 notched 2 in and 3 in from the support keeps 4,453 lb where a tension-side notch keeps only 2,626 lb - about 1.7x more. This is why, when a notch is unavoidable, the compression face is the place to put it. Enter e up to dn (beyond that the net depth dn governs). A design aid, not a substitute for the engineer of record.

de = d - ((d - dn)/dn) e (capped at dn for e >= dn); Vr' = (2/3) Fv' b de; tension-side contrast Vr' = (2/3) Fv' b dn (dn/d)^2; fv = 3V / (2 b de); dcr = V / Vr'.

NDS 3.4.3.2(e) compression-side end-notch rule (2018 Eq 3.4-5), by name; the adjusted shear value comes from the NDS Supplement.

The compression-side end-notch rule is stated in NDS 3.4.3.2, published free read-only by AWC at awc.org; the arithmetic is public.

Estimate. AHJ and licensed professional govern.

Field names used by the API: fv_prime_psi, b_in, d_in, dn_in, e_in, v_applied_lb, de_in, vr_lb, vr_tension_lb, dcr

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