W 10X60 vs HE 260 B
W 10X60 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 260 B is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. HE 260 B carries more bending: 1280 cm³ of plastic modulus against 1222.5 cm³, 4.5% more. W 10X60 is the lighter of the two at 89.3 kg/m against 93 kg/m, a saving of 4.0% on steel weight. Both are about 260 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | W 10X60 W | HE 260 B HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 89.3 kg/m | 93 kg/m | -4.0% |
| Depth | 259.1 mm | 260 mm | -0.3% |
| Width | 256.5 mm | 260 mm | -1.3% |
| Web thickness | 10.7 mm | 10 mm | +7.0% |
| Flange thickness | 17.3 mm | 17.5 mm | -1.1% |
| Area | 114.2 cm² | 118 cm² | -3.2% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 14,193 cm⁴ | 14,900 cm⁴ | -4.7% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 1,222.5 cm³ | 1,280 cm³ | -4.5% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 1,093 cm³ | 1,150 cm³ | -5.0% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 4,828 cm⁴ | 5,140 cm⁴ | -6.1% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 573.55 cm³ | 602 cm³ | -4.7% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.53 cm | 6.58 cm | -0.8% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 103.2 cm⁴ | 127 cm⁴ | -18.7% |
W 10X60 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 260 B to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 260 B.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HE 260 B has the larger second moment of area: 14,900 cm⁴ against 14,193 cm⁴, a difference of 4.7%. 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 (13.7 against 13.8 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.
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 4.0% weight.
In short, HE 260 B is the stronger section and W 10X60 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.