Originally posted by Dan Miller.
As I understand braces, they are designed to prevent racking, not to carry load (though they may contribute to load bearing somewhat).
If a brace is loaded in compression it can and will lift a plate off of the post if it is not pegged down. I believe that the braces do help carry the load and that the shear and moment charts do not take this in to account. The scarf, placed over the post with braces both sides, is supported in three places not just one. If the scarf is placed over the brace and the brace is helping to carry the load, where are the shear forces now ?
I believe in supporting scarf joints.
Doubting Thomas
