W 18X130 vs HE 500 B
W 18X130 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 500 B is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. They are close to interchangeable in bending: 4752.2 cm³ against 4820 cm³ of plastic modulus, a difference of 1.4%. HE 500 B is the lighter of the two at 187 kg/m against 193.5 kg/m, a saving of 3.5% on steel weight. Both are about 495 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | W 18X130 W | HE 500 B HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 193.5 kg/m | 187 kg/m | +3.5% |
| Depth | 490.2 mm | 500 mm | -2.0% |
| Width | 284.5 mm | 300 mm | -5.2% |
| Web thickness | 17 mm | 14.5 mm | +17.2% |
| Flange thickness | 30.5 mm | 28 mm | +8.9% |
| Area | 247.1 cm² | 239 cm² | +3.4% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 102,393 cm⁴ | 107,000 cm⁴ | -4.3% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 4,752.2 cm³ | 4,820 cm³ | -1.4% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 4,195.1 cm³ | 4,290 cm³ | -2.2% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 11,571 cm⁴ | 12,600 cm⁴ | -8.2% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,256.9 cm³ | 1,290 cm³ | -2.6% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.86 cm | 7.27 cm | -5.6% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 603.5 cm⁴ | 548 cm⁴ | +10.1% |
W 18X130 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 500 B to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 500 B.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HE 500 B has the larger second moment of area: 107,000 cm⁴ against 102,393 cm⁴, a difference of 4.3%. 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, HE 500 B is the more efficient section: 25.8 against 24.6 cm³ per kg/m, 4.7% 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 3.5% weight.
In short, HE 500 B is the stronger section and HE 500 B 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.