W 10X30 vs IPE O 270
W 10X30 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; IPE O 270 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. W 10X30 carries more bending: 599.77 cm³ of plastic modulus against 575 cm³, 4.3% more. IPE O 270 is the lighter of the two at 42.3 kg/m against 44.6 kg/m, a saving of 5.4% on steel weight. IPE O 270 is deeper, 274 mm against 266.7 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 10X30 W | IPE O 270 IPE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 44.6 kg/m | 42.3 kg/m | +5.4% |
| Depth | 266.7 mm | 274 mm | -2.7% |
| Width | 147.6 mm | 136 mm | +8.5% |
| Web thickness | 7.6 mm | 7.5 mm | +1.3% |
| Flange thickness | 13 mm | 12.2 mm | +6.6% |
| Area | 57 cm² | 53.8 cm² | +5.9% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 7,076 cm⁴ | 6,950 cm⁴ | +1.8% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 599.77 cm³ | 575 cm³ | +4.3% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 530.94 cm³ | 507 cm³ | +4.7% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 695.1 cm⁴ | 514 cm⁴ | +35.2% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 144.86 cm³ | 118 cm³ | +22.8% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 3.48 cm | 3.09 cm | +12.6% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 25.89 cm⁴ | 25 cm⁴ | +3.6% |
W 10X30 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; IPE O 270 to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to IPE O 270.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 10X30 has the larger second moment of area: 7,076 cm⁴ against 6,950 cm⁴, a difference of 1.8%. 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, the two are equally efficient (13.4 against 13.6 cm³ per kg/m), so on a pure steel-tonnage basis there is nothing to choose between them. The decision comes down to availability, connection detailing and what the rest of the frame uses.
The two diverge much more about the minor axis: W 10X30 has 144.86 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 118 cm³, 22.8% 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 5.4% weight.
In short, W 10X30 is the stronger section and IPE O 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.