W 16X77 vs H-450x300x10x15
W 16X77 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; H-450x300x10x15 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. W 16X77 carries more bending: 2458.1 cm³ of plastic modulus against 2384 cm³, 3.1% more. H-450x300x10x15 is the lighter of the two at 106 kg/m against 114.6 kg/m, a saving of 8.1% on steel weight. H-450x300x10x15 is deeper, 434 mm against 419.1 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 16X77 W | H-450x300x10x15 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 114.6 kg/m | 106 kg/m | +8.1% |
| Depth | 419.1 mm | 434 mm | -3.4% |
| Width | 261.6 mm | 299 mm | -12.5% |
| Web thickness | 11.6 mm | 10 mm | +16.0% |
| Flange thickness | 19.3 mm | 15 mm | +28.7% |
| Area | 145.8 cm² | 135 cm² | +8.0% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 46,202 cm⁴ | 46,800 cm⁴ | -1.3% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 2,458.1 cm³ | 2,384 cm³ | +3.1% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 2,195.9 cm³ | 2,157 cm³ | +1.8% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 5,744 cm⁴ | 6,695 cm⁴ | -14.2% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 673.51 cm³ | 686 cm³ | -1.8% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.27 cm | 7.04 cm | -10.9% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 148.6 cm⁴ | 104 cm⁴ | +42.9% |
W 16X77 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; H-450x300x10x15 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-450x300x10x15.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, H-450x300x10x15 has the larger second moment of area: 46,800 cm⁴ against 46,202 cm⁴, a difference of 1.3%. 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, H-450x300x10x15 is the more efficient section: 22.5 against 21.4 cm³ per kg/m, 4.6% 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 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 8.1% weight.
In short, W 16X77 is the stronger section and H-450x300x10x15 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.