W 24X104 vs IPE O 600
W 24X104 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; IPE O 600 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. W 24X104 carries more bending: 4735.9 cm³ of plastic modulus against 4470 cm³, 5.9% more. They weigh essentially the same, 154.8 kg/m and 154 kg/m. Both are about 611 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | W 24X104 W | IPE O 600 IPE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 154.8 kg/m | 154 kg/m | +0.5% |
| Depth | 612.1 mm | 610 mm | +0.3% |
| Width | 325.1 mm | 224 mm | +45.1% |
| Web thickness | 12.7 mm | 15 mm | -15.3% |
| Flange thickness | 19 mm | 24 mm | -20.8% |
| Area | 198.1 cm² | 197 cm² | +0.6% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 129,032 cm⁴ | 118,000 cm⁴ | +9.3% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 4,735.9 cm³ | 4,470 cm³ | +5.9% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 4,227.9 cm³ | 3,880 cm³ | +9.0% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 10,780 cm⁴ | 4,520 cm⁴ | +138.5% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,022.6 cm³ | 640 cm³ | +59.8% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 7.39 cm | 4.79 cm | +54.3% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 196.5 cm⁴ | 316 cm⁴ | -37.8% |
W 24X104 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; IPE O 600 to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to IPE O 600.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 24X104 has the larger second moment of area: 129,032 cm⁴ against 118,000 cm⁴, a difference of 9.3%. 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 24X104 is the more efficient section: 30.6 against 29.0 cm³ per kg/m, 5.4% 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 24X104 has 1022.6 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 640 cm³, 59.8% 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 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 a marginal amount of weight.
In short, W 24X104 is the stronger section and IPE O 600 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.