W 40X183 vs HE 1000 A
W 40X183 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 1000 A is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. They are close to interchangeable in bending: 12683.6 cm³ against 12800 cm³ of plastic modulus, a difference of 0.9%. They weigh essentially the same, 272.3 kg/m and 272 kg/m. Both are about 990 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | W 40X183 W | HE 1000 A HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 272.3 kg/m | 272 kg/m | +0.1% |
| Depth | 990.6 mm | 990 mm | +0.1% |
| Width | 299.7 mm | 300 mm | -0.1% |
| Web thickness | 16.5 mm | 16.5 mm | same |
| Flange thickness | 30.5 mm | 31 mm | -1.6% |
| Area | 343.9 cm² | 347 cm² | -0.9% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 549,425 cm⁴ | 554,000 cm⁴ | -0.8% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 12,683.6 cm³ | 12,800 cm³ | -0.9% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 11,061.3 cm³ | 11,200 cm³ | -1.2% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 13,777 cm⁴ | 14,000 cm⁴ | -1.6% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,447 cm³ | 1,470 cm³ | -1.6% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.32 cm | 6.35 cm | -0.5% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 803.3 cm⁴ | 835 cm⁴ | -3.8% |
W 40X183 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 1000 A to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 1000 A.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HE 1000 A has the larger second moment of area: 554,000 cm⁴ against 549,425 cm⁴, a difference of 0.8%. 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 (46.6 against 47.1 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 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.