WT 6X29 vs ST 6X17.5
WT 6X29 is an WT section from the American AISC Shapes Database; ST 6X17.5 is the closest equivalent in the American AISC Shapes Database. ST 6X17.5 carries more bending: 116.68 cm³ of plastic modulus against 114.22 cm³, 2.1% more. ST 6X17.5 is the lighter of the two at 26 kg/m against 43.2 kg/m, a saving of 66.2% on steel weight. Both are about 154 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | WT 6X29 WT | ST 6X17.5 ST | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 43.2 kg/m | 26 kg/m | +66.2% |
| Depth | 154.9 mm | 152.4 mm | +1.6% |
| Width | 254 mm | 129 mm | +96.9% |
| Web thickness | 9.1 mm | 10.9 mm | -16.5% |
| Flange thickness | 16.3 mm | 13.8 mm | +18.1% |
| Area | 55 cm² | 33 cm² | +66.7% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 795 cm⁴ | 715.9 cm⁴ | +11.0% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 114.22 cm³ | 116.68 cm³ | -2.1% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 61.615 cm³ | 64.729 cm³ | -4.8% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 2,227 cm⁴ | 204.8 cm⁴ | +987.4% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 265.47 cm³ | 55.716 cm³ | +376.5% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.38 cm | 2.49 cm | +156.2% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 43.7 cm⁴ | 21.81 cm⁴ | +100.4% |
WT 6X29 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; ST 6X17.5 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0. Difference is expressed relative to ST 6X17.5.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, WT 6X29 has the larger second moment of area: 795 cm⁴ against 715.9 cm⁴, a difference of 11.0%. 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 of steel, ST 6X17.5 is the more efficient section: 4.5 against 2.6 cm³ per kg/m, 41.1% 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: WT 6X29 has 265.47 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 55.716 cm³, 376.5% 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.
In short, ST 6X17.5 is the stronger section and ST 6X17.5 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.