A hammer piece (Dutch: hamerstuk) is a structural component of timber or iron intended to distribute forces coming from a single point above across a larger surface below. In this way it prevents a concentrated load from exerting too much pressure locally on the structure beneath.
How it works
A point load — for example the end of a beam or a post — concentrates all the force onto a small area. If that force were to press directly onto masonry or a wall plate, the material beneath could fail or deform. The hammer piece acts as an intermediate element:
- It receives the point load at the top
- It spreads that force over a larger bearing area onto the structure below
- The pressure per square centimetre decreases, so the underlying material copes better
Applications
Hammer pieces are used where a concentrated load must be received and distributed:
- Beneath the ends of heavy beams and purlins
- At the bearing of trusses on walls or posts
- In historic timber structures, where the hammer piece is often finely worked
- As a bearing block to transfer compressive forces evenly onto masonry
The principle is akin to that of a wall plate or bearing plate: by enlarging the bearing area, you reduce the local pressure. In the design, attention is paid to sufficient bearing length and to the force the material (timber or stone) can carry per unit of area.
Related terms
- Structure
- Beam
- Truss
- Purlin
- Wall plate
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