What lower-profile options do I have to replace a triple 2×12 beam

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I am removing a center post on my patio cover to create a clear span of 15'. The current beam is 2 2x8s with three 4×4 posts. I have had a engineer friend calculate the load for the roof (pic attached). His recommendation is to replace the beam with 3 2x12s to support the roof loads and eliminate the middle post. Posts will become 6x6s.

My question is: What would be a suitable beam replacement for the suggested 3 2x12s? My goal is to find something that will be less tall than the 11-1/4" of the 2×12 beam since the existing patio cover beam is pretty low.

My thought is a wood I-joist or LVL, but I haven't worked with them before and am having trouble finding specs.

Thank you.specs

Best Answer

You can do it with LVL.

Grabbing the first LVL spec sheet I came across (Boise Cascade, from https://www.bc.com/versa-lam-lvl-span-size-chart/), I find a Versa-Lam LVL 2.1E 3100 has an allowable bending stress of 3100 psi. That will get you above the 2930 psi from your friend's calculations. So let's start there.

That LVL comes in (among other sizes) 3.5" x 7.25", which is really close to your existing doubled 2x8. In fact, it's enough bigger that it'll give you I (=bh3/12)) of 111.1 in4, up from the 90.4 in4 of your current beam.

Bending

So then your bending stress (fb=MC/I) becomes (74390 * 3.625)/111.1 = 2426.2 psi. That's below the 2930 psi allowable, so that will work.

Shear

The allowable shear for that LVL is 4821 pounds -- well above the 1725 pounds that you need to carry.

Deflection

The LVL also has a higher modulus of elasticity (E) than typical dimensional lumber, but will have a smaller I than the triple 2x12, so let's check.

Deflection = 5WL4/384EI = 5 * 20 * 172.54 / 384 * 2,000,000 * 111.1 = 1.04 inches. That's slightly over the 0.96 inches allowed. You could go up one size (to a 3.5 X 9.25 or to a 5.25 x 7.25) and that would get the deflection back under 0.96 inches.