W 27X235 vs HE 700 x 352
W 27X235 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 700 x 352 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. W 27X235 carries more bending: 12650.8 cm³ of plastic modulus against 12400 cm³, 2.0% more. They weigh essentially the same, 349.7 kg/m and 352 kg/m. Both are about 729 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | W 27X235 W | HE 700 x 352 HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 349.7 kg/m | 352 kg/m | -0.7% |
| Depth | 729 mm | 728 mm | +0.1% |
| Width | 360.7 mm | 308 mm | +17.1% |
| Web thickness | 23.1 mm | 25 mm | -7.6% |
| Flange thickness | 40.9 mm | 46 mm | -11.1% |
| Area | 447.7 cm² | 449 cm² | -0.3% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 403,744 cm⁴ | 390,000 cm⁴ | +3.5% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 12,650.8 cm³ | 12,400 cm³ | +2.0% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 11,094 cm³ | 10,700 cm³ | +3.7% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 32,008 cm⁴ | 22,500 cm⁴ | +42.3% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 2,753 cm³ | 2,290 cm³ | +20.2% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 8.46 cm | 7.08 cm | +19.5% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 1,956 cm⁴ | 2,450 cm⁴ | -20.2% |
W 27X235 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 700 x 352 to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 700 x 352.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 27X235 has the larger second moment of area: 403,744 cm⁴ against 390,000 cm⁴, a difference of 3.5%. 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 27X235 is the more efficient section: 36.2 against 35.2 cm³ per kg/m, 2.7% 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 27X235 has 2753 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 2290 cm³, 20.2% 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, W 27X235 is the stronger section and W 27X235 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.