W 14X34 vs H-350x175x7x11-49.6
W 14X34 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; H-350x175x7x11-49.6 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. W 14X34 carries more bending: 894.73 cm³ of plastic modulus against 868 cm³, 3.1% more. H-350x175x7x11-49.6 is the lighter of the two at 49.6 kg/m against 50.6 kg/m, a saving of 2.0% on steel weight. Both are about 353 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | W 14X34 W | H-350x175x7x11-49.6 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 50.6 kg/m | 49.6 kg/m | +2.0% |
| Depth | 355.6 mm | 350 mm | +1.6% |
| Width | 171.5 mm | 175 mm | -2.0% |
| Web thickness | 7.2 mm | 7 mm | +2.9% |
| Flange thickness | 11.6 mm | 11 mm | +5.5% |
| Area | 64.5 cm² | 63.1 cm² | +2.2% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 14,152 cm⁴ | 13,560 cm⁴ | +4.4% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 894.73 cm³ | 868 cm³ | +3.1% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 796.41 cm³ | 775 cm³ | +2.8% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 969.8 cm⁴ | 985 cm⁴ | -1.5% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 173.7 cm³ | 174 cm³ | -0.2% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 3.89 cm | 3.95 cm | -1.5% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 23.68 cm⁴ | 23 cm⁴ | +3.0% |
W 14X34 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; H-350x175x7x11-49.6 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-350x175x7x11-49.6.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 14X34 has the larger second moment of area: 14,152 cm⁴ against 13,560 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, the two are equally efficient (17.7 against 17.5 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 MB & MC to 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 2.0% weight.
In short, W 14X34 is the stronger section and H-350x175x7x11-49.6 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.