well considering timeframe I wont be able to brain up on FEA just yet to calculate shear.....

so I will likely end up going with something like:



where I will only take out 4" from the bottom of the tie beam and 4" from the top of the plate leaving an 8x8 in each. The tie beam will sit 4" above the plate and that will be the easiest approach I guess to maximize window height under the top plate.

also plan to leave a 6" cornice overhanging the top plate since it will be covered in via the exterior wall. Will eliminate any thought of relish tearout or outward thrust on the top plate. Not that there would be much if any.

BTW Mo did you use autocad to draw that up? I have yet to figure out how to add nice grain patterns