W 8X48 vs HE 220 B
W 8X48 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 220 B is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. HE 220 B carries more bending: 827 cm³ of plastic modulus against 802.97 cm³, 2.9% more. They weigh essentially the same, 71.4 kg/m and 71.5 kg/m. Both are about 218 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | W 8X48 W | HE 220 B HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 71.4 kg/m | 71.5 kg/m | -0.1% |
| Depth | 215.9 mm | 220 mm | -1.9% |
| Width | 206 mm | 220 mm | -6.4% |
| Web thickness | 10.2 mm | 9.5 mm | +7.4% |
| Flange thickness | 17.4 mm | 16 mm | +8.7% |
| Area | 91 cm² | 91 cm² | same |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 7,659 cm⁴ | 8,090 cm⁴ | -5.3% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 802.97 cm³ | 827 cm³ | -2.9% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 707.92 cm³ | 736 cm³ | -3.8% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 2,535 cm⁴ | 2,840 cm⁴ | -10.7% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 375.26 cm³ | 394 cm³ | -4.8% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 5.28 cm | 5.59 cm | -5.5% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 81.58 cm⁴ | 77 cm⁴ | +5.9% |
W 8X48 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 220 B to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 220 B.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HE 220 B has the larger second moment of area: 8,090 cm⁴ against 7,659 cm⁴, a difference of 5.3%. 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, HE 220 B is the more efficient section: 11.6 against 11.2 cm³ per kg/m, 2.8% 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.
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, HE 220 B is the stronger section and W 8X48 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.