W 14X193 vs HP 16X183
W 14X193 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HP 16X183 is the closest equivalent in the American AISC Shapes Database. They are close to interchangeable in bending: 5817.4 cm³ against 5719.1 cm³ of plastic modulus, a difference of 1.7%. HP 16X183 is the lighter of the two at 272.3 kg/m against 287.2 kg/m, a saving of 5.5% on steel weight. HP 16X183 is deeper, 419.1 mm against 393.7 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 14X193 W | HP 16X183 HP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 287.2 kg/m | 272.3 kg/m | +5.5% |
| Depth | 393.7 mm | 419.1 mm | -6.1% |
| Width | 398.8 mm | 414 mm | -3.7% |
| Web thickness | 22.6 mm | 28.7 mm | -21.3% |
| Flange thickness | 36.6 mm | 28.7 mm | +27.5% |
| Area | 366.5 cm² | 349 cm² | +5.0% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 99,896 cm⁴ | 104,474 cm⁴ | -4.4% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 5,817.4 cm³ | 5,719.1 cm³ | +1.7% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 5,080 cm³ | 4,981.7 cm³ | +2.0% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 38,751 cm⁴ | 34,048 cm⁴ | +13.8% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 2,949.7 cm³ | 2,556.4 cm³ | +15.4% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 10.29 cm | 9.88 cm | +4.1% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 1,448 cm⁴ | 1,120 cm⁴ | +29.3% |
W 14X193 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HP 16X183 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0. Difference is expressed relative to HP 16X183.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HP 16X183 has the larger second moment of area: 104,474 cm⁴ against 99,896 cm⁴, a difference of 4.4%. 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, HP 16X183 is the more efficient section: 21.0 against 20.3 cm³ per kg/m, 3.6% 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.
The two diverge much more about the minor axis: W 14X193 has 2949.7 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 2556.4 cm³, 15.4% 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.
In short, W 14X193 is the stronger section and HP 16X183 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.