W 24X229 vs HE 650 x 343
W 24X229 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 650 x 343 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. HE 650 x 343 carries more bending: 11400 cm³ of plastic modulus against 11061.3 cm³, 3.0% more. They weigh essentially the same, 340.8 kg/m and 343 kg/m. HE 650 x 343 is deeper, 680 mm against 660.4 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 24X229 W | HE 650 x 343 HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 340.8 kg/m | 343 kg/m | -0.6% |
| Depth | 660.4 mm | 680 mm | -2.9% |
| Width | 332.7 mm | 309 mm | +7.7% |
| Web thickness | 24.4 mm | 25 mm | -2.4% |
| Flange thickness | 43.9 mm | 46 mm | -4.6% |
| Area | 433.5 cm² | 438 cm² | -1.0% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 318,417 cm⁴ | 334,000 cm⁴ | -4.7% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 11,061.3 cm³ | 11,400 cm³ | -3.0% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 9,635.6 cm³ | 9,820 cm³ | -1.9% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 27,097 cm⁴ | 22,700 cm⁴ | +19.4% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 2,523.6 cm³ | 2,300 cm³ | +9.7% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 7.9 cm | 7.21 cm | +9.6% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 2,135 cm⁴ | 2,440 cm⁴ | -12.5% |
W 24X229 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 650 x 343 to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 650 x 343.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HE 650 x 343 has the larger second moment of area: 334,000 cm⁴ against 318,417 cm⁴, a difference of 4.7%. 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 650 x 343 is the more efficient section: 33.2 against 32.5 cm³ per kg/m, 2.3% 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 24X229 has 2523.6 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 2300 cm³, 9.7% 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 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 a marginal amount of weight.
In short, HE 650 x 343 is the stronger section and W 24X229 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.