W 40X372 vs HE 1000 x 584
W 40X372 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 1000 x 584 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. They are close to interchangeable in bending: 27530.3 cm³ against 28000 cm³ of plastic modulus, a difference of 1.7%. W 40X372 is the lighter of the two at 553.6 kg/m against 584 kg/m, a saving of 5.2% on steel weight. HE 1000 x 584 is deeper, 1056 mm against 1031.2 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 40X372 W | HE 1000 x 584 HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 553.6 kg/m | 584 kg/m | -5.2% |
| Depth | 1031.2 mm | 1056 mm | -2.3% |
| Width | 408.9 mm | 314 mm | +30.2% |
| Web thickness | 29.5 mm | 36 mm | -18.1% |
| Flange thickness | 52.1 mm | 64 mm | -18.6% |
| Area | 709.7 cm² | 744 cm² | -4.6% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 1,232,045 cm⁴ | 1,246,000 cm⁴ | -1.1% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 27,530.3 cm³ | 28,000 cm³ | -1.7% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 23,925.1 cm³ | 23,600 cm³ | +1.4% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 59,105 cm⁴ | 33,400 cm⁴ | +77.0% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 4,539.2 cm³ | 3,480 cm³ | +30.4% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 9.14 cm | 6.7 cm | +36.4% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 4,828 cm⁴ | 7,150 cm⁴ | -32.5% |
W 40X372 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 1000 x 584 to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 1000 x 584.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HE 1000 x 584 has the larger second moment of area: 1,246,000 cm⁴ against 1,232,045 cm⁴, a difference of 1.1%. 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 of steel, W 40X372 is the more efficient section: 49.7 against 47.9 cm³ per kg/m, 3.7% 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 40X372 has 4539.2 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 3480 cm³, 30.4% 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 5.2% weight.
In short, HE 1000 x 584 is the stronger section and W 40X372 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.