W 24X117 vs HE 600 A
W 24X117 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 600 A is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. They are close to interchangeable in bending: 5358.6 cm³ against 5350 cm³ of plastic modulus, a difference of 0.2%. W 24X117 is the lighter of the two at 174.1 kg/m against 178 kg/m, a saving of 2.2% on steel weight. W 24X117 is deeper, 617.2 mm against 590 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 24X117 W | HE 600 A HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 174.1 kg/m | 178 kg/m | -2.2% |
| Depth | 617.2 mm | 590 mm | +4.6% |
| Width | 325.1 mm | 300 mm | +8.4% |
| Web thickness | 14 mm | 13 mm | +7.7% |
| Flange thickness | 21.6 mm | 25 mm | -13.6% |
| Area | 221.9 cm² | 226 cm² | -1.8% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 147,346 cm⁴ | 141,000 cm⁴ | +4.5% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 5,358.6 cm³ | 5,350 cm³ | +0.2% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 4,768.6 cm³ | 4,790 cm³ | -0.4% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 12,362 cm⁴ | 11,300 cm⁴ | +9.4% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,170 cm³ | 1,160 cm³ | +0.9% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 7.47 cm | 7.05 cm | +6.0% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 279.7 cm⁴ | 407 cm⁴ | -31.3% |
W 24X117 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 600 A to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 600 A.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 24X117 has the larger second moment of area: 147,346 cm⁴ against 141,000 cm⁴, a difference of 4.5%. 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 24X117 is the more efficient section: 30.8 against 30.1 cm³ per kg/m, 2.4% 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.
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 2.2% weight.
In short, W 24X117 is the stronger section and W 24X117 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.