W 24X279 vs HE 650 x 407
W 24X279 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 650 x 407 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. They are close to interchangeable in bending: 13683.2 cm³ against 13600 cm³ of plastic modulus, a difference of 0.6%. HE 650 x 407 is the lighter of the two at 407 kg/m against 415.2 kg/m, a saving of 2.0% on steel weight. HE 650 x 407 is deeper, 696 mm against 678.2 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 24X279 W | HE 650 x 407 HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 415.2 kg/m | 407 kg/m | +2.0% |
| Depth | 678.2 mm | 696 mm | -2.6% |
| Width | 337.8 mm | 314 mm | +7.6% |
| Web thickness | 29.5 mm | 29.5 mm | same |
| Flange thickness | 53.1 mm | 54 mm | -1.7% |
| Area | 528.4 cm² | 519 cm² | +1.8% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 399,582 cm⁴ | 405,000 cm⁴ | -1.3% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 13,683.2 cm³ | 13,600 cm³ | +0.6% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 11,765.9 cm³ | 11,600 cm³ | +1.4% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 34,256 cm⁴ | 28,000 cm⁴ | +22.3% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 3,162.7 cm³ | 2,800 cm³ | +13.0% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 8.05 cm | 7.35 cm | +9.5% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 3,767 cm⁴ | 3,930 cm⁴ | -4.1% |
W 24X279 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 650 x 407 to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 650 x 407.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HE 650 x 407 has the larger second moment of area: 405,000 cm⁴ against 399,582 cm⁴, a difference of 1.3%. 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, the two are equally efficient (33.0 against 33.4 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.
The two diverge much more about the minor axis: W 24X279 has 3162.7 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 2800 cm³, 13.0% 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 2.0% weight.
In short, W 24X279 is the stronger section and HE 650 x 407 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.