W 27X161 vs HE 700 B
W 27X161 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 700 B is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. They are close to interchangeable in bending: 8439.3 cm³ against 8330 cm³ of plastic modulus, a difference of 1.3%. They weigh essentially the same, 239.6 kg/m and 241 kg/m. Both are about 701 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | W 27X161 W | HE 700 B HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 239.6 kg/m | 241 kg/m | -0.6% |
| Depth | 701 mm | 700 mm | +0.1% |
| Width | 355.6 mm | 300 mm | +18.5% |
| Web thickness | 16.8 mm | 17 mm | -1.2% |
| Flange thickness | 27.4 mm | 32 mm | -14.4% |
| Area | 307.1 cm² | 306 cm² | +0.4% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 262,642 cm⁴ | 257,000 cm⁴ | +2.2% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 8,439.3 cm³ | 8,330 cm³ | +1.3% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 7,505.3 cm³ | 7,340 cm³ | +2.3% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 20,687 cm⁴ | 14,400 cm⁴ | +43.7% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,786.2 cm³ | 1,500 cm³ | +19.1% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 8.2 cm | 6.87 cm | +19.4% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 628.5 cm⁴ | 839 cm⁴ | -25.1% |
W 27X161 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 700 B to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 700 B.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 27X161 has the larger second moment of area: 262,642 cm⁴ against 257,000 cm⁴, a difference of 2.2%. 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 (35.2 against 34.6 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 27X161 has 1786.2 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 1500 cm³, 19.1% 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, these two are genuine equivalents. Pick whichever your supplier stocks and the rest of the frame already uses.