W 36X194 vs HE 900 B
W 36X194 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 900 B is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. They are close to interchangeable in bending: 12568.9 cm³ against 12600 cm³ of plastic modulus, a difference of 0.2%. They weigh essentially the same, 288.7 kg/m and 291 kg/m. W 36X194 is deeper, 927.1 mm against 900 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 36X194 W | HE 900 B HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 288.7 kg/m | 291 kg/m | -0.8% |
| Depth | 927.1 mm | 900 mm | +3.0% |
| Width | 307.3 mm | 300 mm | +2.4% |
| Web thickness | 19.4 mm | 18.5 mm | +4.9% |
| Flange thickness | 32 mm | 35 mm | -8.6% |
| Area | 367.7 cm² | 371 cm² | -0.9% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 503,640 cm⁴ | 494,000 cm⁴ | +2.0% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 12,568.9 cm³ | 12,600 cm³ | -0.2% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 10,881 cm³ | 11,000 cm³ | -1.1% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 15,609 cm⁴ | 15,800 cm⁴ | -1.2% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,601 cm³ | 1,660 cm³ | -3.6% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.5 cm | 6.53 cm | -0.5% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 924 cm⁴ | 1,150 cm⁴ | -19.7% |
W 36X194 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 900 B to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 900 B.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 36X194 has the larger second moment of area: 503,640 cm⁴ against 494,000 cm⁴, a difference of 2.0%. 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 (43.5 against 43.3 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 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.