W 36X135 vs H-900x300x15x23-210
W 36X135 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; H-900x300x15x23-210 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. H-900x300x15x23-210 carries more bending: 8750 cm³ of plastic modulus against 8341 cm³, 4.7% more. W 36X135 is the lighter of the two at 200.9 kg/m against 210 kg/m, a saving of 4.3% on steel weight. Both are about 897 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | W 36X135 W | H-900x300x15x23-210 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 200.9 kg/m | 210 kg/m | -4.3% |
| Depth | 904.2 mm | 890 mm | +1.6% |
| Width | 304.8 mm | 299 mm | +1.9% |
| Web thickness | 15.2 mm | 15 mm | +1.3% |
| Flange thickness | 20.1 mm | 23 mm | -12.6% |
| Area | 257.4 cm² | 267 cm² | -3.6% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 324,661 cm⁴ | 338,500 cm⁴ | -4.1% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 8,341 cm³ | 8,750 cm³ | -4.7% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 7,193.9 cm³ | 7,608 cm³ | -5.4% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 9,365 cm⁴ | 10,280 cm⁴ | -8.9% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 978.31 cm³ | 1,079 cm³ | -9.3% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.05 cm | 6.2 cm | -2.4% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 291.4 cm⁴ | 361 cm⁴ | -19.3% |
W 36X135 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; H-900x300x15x23-210 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-900x300x15x23-210.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, H-900x300x15x23-210 has the larger second moment of area: 338,500 cm⁴ against 324,661 cm⁴, a difference of 4.1%. 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 (41.5 against 41.7 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: H-900x300x15x23-210 has 1079 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 978.31 cm³, 9.3% 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 MB & MC to 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 4.3% weight.
In short, H-900x300x15x23-210 is the stronger section and W 36X135 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.