W 10X22 vs IPE A 270
W 10X22 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; IPE A 270 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. W 10X22 carries more bending: 426.06 cm³ of plastic modulus against 413 cm³, 3.2% more. IPE A 270 is the lighter of the two at 30.7 kg/m against 32.7 kg/m, a saving of 6.5% on steel weight. IPE A 270 is deeper, 267 mm against 259.1 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 10X22 W | IPE A 270 IPE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 32.7 kg/m | 30.7 kg/m | +6.5% |
| Depth | 259.1 mm | 267 mm | -3.0% |
| Width | 146 mm | 135 mm | +8.1% |
| Web thickness | 6.1 mm | 5.5 mm | +10.9% |
| Flange thickness | 9.1 mm | 8.7 mm | +4.6% |
| Area | 41.9 cm² | 39.2 cm² | +6.9% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 4,912 cm⁴ | 4,920 cm⁴ | -0.2% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 426.06 cm³ | 413 cm³ | +3.2% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 380.18 cm³ | 368 cm³ | +3.3% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 474.5 cm⁴ | 358 cm⁴ | +32.5% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 99.961 cm³ | 82.3 cm³ | +21.5% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 3.38 cm | 3.02 cm | +11.9% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 9.95 cm⁴ | 10.4 cm⁴ | -4.3% |
W 10X22 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; IPE A 270 to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to IPE A 270.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, IPE A 270 has the larger second moment of area: 4,920 cm⁴ against 4,912 cm⁴, a difference of 0.2%. This matters more often than the strength comparison, because on normal floor spans deflection rather than bending capacity sets the beam size - so if the two are close on modulus but apart on inertia, the stiffer one is usually the better answer even when it is not the stronger one.
Measured as bending capacity per kilogram of steel, IPE A 270 is the more efficient section: 13.5 against 13.0 cm³ per kg/m, 3.1% better. Over a floor of repeated beams that difference is real tonnage, though it is often outweighed by whichever section the fabricator can actually source.
The two diverge much more about the minor axis: W 10X22 has 99.961 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 82.3 cm³, 21.5% more. If the member sees any minor-axis bending, or if it is unrestrained over a long length and lateral-torsional buckling governs, that gap decides the comparison even though the major-axis numbers looked equivalent.
These come from different catalogues, so treat the swap as a design change rather than a like-for-like substitution. W sections are specified to AISC Shapes Database v16.0 and IPE to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; the steel grades, tolerances and available lengths differ, connection details and bolt gauges are set out differently, and the two are rarely both stocked in the same market. Check availability before changing a section on a drawing to save 6.5% weight.
In short, W 10X22 is the stronger section and IPE A 270 is the lighter one; where those are the same section, it is the clear choice, and where they are not, decide on whether your design is governed by capacity or by tonnage.