W 16X89 vs H-400x200x16x28
W 16X89 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; H-400x200x16x28 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. H-400x200x16x28 carries more bending: 2941 cm³ of plastic modulus against 2867.7 cm³, 2.5% more. W 16X89 is the lighter of the two at 132.4 kg/m against 140 kg/m, a saving of 5.4% on steel weight. Both are about 428 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | W 16X89 W | H-400x200x16x28 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 132.4 kg/m | 140 kg/m | -5.4% |
| Depth | 426.7 mm | 430 mm | -0.8% |
| Width | 264.2 mm | 208 mm | +27.0% |
| Web thickness | 13.3 mm | 16 mm | -16.9% |
| Flange thickness | 22.2 mm | 28 mm | -20.7% |
| Area | 169 cm² | 179 cm² | -5.6% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 54,110 cm⁴ | 54,850 cm⁴ | -1.3% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 2,867.7 cm³ | 2,941 cm³ | -2.5% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 2,540 cm³ | 2,551 cm³ | -0.4% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 6,785 cm⁴ | 4,216 cm⁴ | +60.9% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 788.22 cm³ | 632 cm³ | +24.7% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.32 cm | 4.86 cm | +30.0% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 226.8 cm⁴ | 373 cm⁴ | -39.2% |
W 16X89 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; H-400x200x16x28 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-400x200x16x28.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, H-400x200x16x28 has the larger second moment of area: 54,850 cm⁴ against 54,110 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, W 16X89 is the more efficient section: 21.7 against 21.0 cm³ per kg/m, 3.1% 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 16X89 has 788.22 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 632 cm³, 24.7% 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.
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 5.4% weight.
In short, H-400x200x16x28 is the stronger section and W 16X89 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.