W 10X77 vs HE 240 C
W 10X77 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 240 C is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. W 10X77 carries more bending: 1599.4 cm³ of plastic modulus against 1560 cm³, 2.5% more. W 10X77 is the lighter of the two at 114.6 kg/m against 119 kg/m, a saving of 3.7% on steel weight. W 10X77 is deeper, 269.2 mm against 255 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 10X77 W | HE 240 C HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 114.6 kg/m | 119 kg/m | -3.7% |
| Depth | 269.2 mm | 255 mm | +5.6% |
| Width | 259.1 mm | 244 mm | +6.2% |
| Web thickness | 13.5 mm | 14 mm | -3.6% |
| Flange thickness | 22.1 mm | 24.5 mm | -9.8% |
| Area | 146.5 cm² | 152 cm² | -3.6% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 18,939 cm⁴ | 17,300 cm⁴ | +9.5% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 1,599.4 cm³ | 1,560 cm³ | +2.5% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 1,407.6 cm³ | 1,360 cm³ | +3.5% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 6,410 cm⁴ | 5,940 cm⁴ | +7.9% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 752.17 cm³ | 744 cm³ | +1.1% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.6 cm | 6.25 cm | +5.6% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 212.7 cm⁴ | 289 cm⁴ | -26.4% |
W 10X77 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 240 C to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 240 C.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 10X77 has the larger second moment of area: 18,939 cm⁴ against 17,300 cm⁴, a difference of 9.5%. 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, W 10X77 is the more efficient section: 14.0 against 13.1 cm³ per kg/m, 6.5% 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 3.7% weight.
In short, W 10X77 is the stronger section and W 10X77 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.