My name is Joel Foster, I am a student at Cork Institute of Technology in Cork, Ireland. I’m originally from Canada, but am here studying a BSc (hons) Architectural technology. As a requirement of my program I am writing a thesis on the ‘necessities of the hammer beam'.



Throughout my research I have found out the how and why, but lack the information on the typical joinery of the hammer beam and arched ribs spanning from the hammer post to the tie beam. My questions are:

1.
Are the arches typically cut/milled from a single timber, or are they constructed by joining two or more timbers to create the arch. If multiple timbers are used, what type of joinery connects them? - scarf joint?

2.
When the hammer post joins to the hammer beam what is the typical connection? would most simply do a mortise and tenon, or would you use a through tenon for decorative proposes?

Thank you,
Joel