W 18X60 vs IPE O 450
W 18X60 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; IPE O 450 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. They are close to interchangeable in bending: 2015.6 cm³ against 2050 cm³ of plastic modulus, a difference of 1.7%. W 18X60 is the lighter of the two at 89.3 kg/m against 92.4 kg/m, a saving of 3.4% on steel weight. Both are about 459 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | W 18X60 W | IPE O 450 IPE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 89.3 kg/m | 92.4 kg/m | -3.4% |
| Depth | 462.3 mm | 456 mm | +1.4% |
| Width | 192 mm | 192 mm | same |
| Web thickness | 10.5 mm | 11 mm | -4.5% |
| Flange thickness | 17.7 mm | 17.6 mm | +0.6% |
| Area | 113.5 cm² | 118 cm² | -3.8% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 40,957 cm⁴ | 40,900 cm⁴ | +0.1% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 2,015.6 cm³ | 2,050 cm³ | -1.7% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 1,769.8 cm³ | 1,800 cm³ | -1.7% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 2,085 cm⁴ | 2,080 cm⁴ | +0.2% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 337.57 cm³ | 341 cm³ | -1.0% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 4.27 cm | 4.21 cm | +1.4% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 90.32 cm⁴ | 109 cm⁴ | -17.1% |
W 18X60 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; IPE O 450 to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to IPE O 450.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 18X60 has the larger second moment of area: 40,957 cm⁴ against 40,900 cm⁴, a difference of 0.1%. 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 (22.6 against 22.2 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 IPE 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 3.4% weight.
In short, IPE O 450 is the stronger section and W 18X60 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.