W 10X54 vs HE 280 A
W 10X54 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 280 A is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. They are close to interchangeable in bending: 1091.4 cm³ against 1110 cm³ of plastic modulus, a difference of 1.7%. HE 280 A is the lighter of the two at 76.4 kg/m against 80.4 kg/m, a saving of 5.2% on steel weight. HE 280 A is deeper, 270 mm against 256.5 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 10X54 W | HE 280 A HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 80.4 kg/m | 76.4 kg/m | +5.2% |
| Depth | 256.5 mm | 270 mm | -5.0% |
| Width | 254 mm | 280 mm | -9.3% |
| Web thickness | 9.4 mm | 8 mm | +17.5% |
| Flange thickness | 15.6 mm | 13 mm | +20.0% |
| Area | 101.9 cm² | 97.3 cm² | +4.7% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 12,612 cm⁴ | 13,700 cm⁴ | -7.9% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 1,091.4 cm³ | 1,110 cm³ | -1.7% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 983.22 cm³ | 1,010 cm³ | -2.7% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 4,287 cm⁴ | 4,760 cm⁴ | -9.9% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 512.92 cm³ | 518 cm³ | -1.0% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.5 cm | 7 cm | -7.1% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 75.75 cm⁴ | 63.5 cm⁴ | +19.3% |
W 10X54 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 280 A to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 280 A.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HE 280 A has the larger second moment of area: 13,700 cm⁴ against 12,612 cm⁴, a difference of 7.9%. 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, HE 280 A is the more efficient section: 14.5 against 13.6 cm³ per kg/m, 6.6% 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.
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 HE 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 5.2% weight.
In short, HE 280 A is the stronger section and HE 280 A 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.