W 24X76 vs IPE A 600
W 24X76 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; IPE A 600 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. W 24X76 carries more bending: 3277.4 cm³ of plastic modulus against 3140 cm³, 4.4% more. IPE A 600 is the lighter of the two at 108 kg/m against 113.1 kg/m, a saving of 4.7% on steel weight. Both are about 602 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | W 24X76 W | IPE A 600 IPE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 113.1 kg/m | 108 kg/m | +4.7% |
| Depth | 607.1 mm | 597 mm | +1.7% |
| Width | 228.3 mm | 220 mm | +3.8% |
| Web thickness | 11.2 mm | 9.8 mm | +14.3% |
| Flange thickness | 17.3 mm | 17.5 mm | -1.1% |
| Area | 144.5 cm² | 137 cm² | +5.5% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 87,409 cm⁴ | 82,900 cm⁴ | +5.4% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 3,277.4 cm³ | 3,140 cm³ | +4.4% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 2,884.1 cm³ | 2,780 cm³ | +3.7% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 3,434 cm⁴ | 3,120 cm⁴ | +10.1% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 468.67 cm³ | 442 cm³ | +6.0% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 4.88 cm | 4.77 cm | +2.3% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 111.6 cm⁴ | 122 cm⁴ | -8.5% |
W 24X76 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; IPE A 600 to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to IPE A 600.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 24X76 has the larger second moment of area: 87,409 cm⁴ against 82,900 cm⁴, a difference of 5.4%. 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 (29.0 against 29.1 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 4.7% weight.
In short, W 24X76 is the stronger section and IPE A 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.