HE 360 B vs HP 14X102
HE 360 B is an HE section from the European (Continental) range; HP 14X102 is the closest equivalent in the American AISC Shapes Database. HP 14X102 carries more bending: 2769.4 cm³ of plastic modulus against 2680 cm³, 3.2% more. HE 360 B is the lighter of the two at 142 kg/m against 151.8 kg/m, a saving of 6.5% on steel weight. Both are about 358 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | HE 360 B HE | HP 14X102 HP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 142 kg/m | 151.8 kg/m | -6.5% |
| Depth | 360 mm | 355.6 mm | +1.2% |
| Width | 300 mm | 375.9 mm | -20.2% |
| Web thickness | 12.5 mm | 17.9 mm | -30.2% |
| Flange thickness | 22.5 mm | 17.9 mm | +25.7% |
| Area | 181 cm² | 194.2 cm² | -6.8% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 43,200 cm⁴ | 43,704 cm⁴ | -1.2% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 2,680 cm³ | 2,769.4 cm³ | -3.2% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 2,400 cm³ | 2,458.1 cm³ | -2.4% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 10,100 cm⁴ | 15,817 cm⁴ | -36.1% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,030 cm³ | 1,291.3 cm³ | -20.2% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 7.49 cm | 9.04 cm | -17.1% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 298 cm⁴ | 224.3 cm⁴ | +32.9% |
HE 360 B to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; HP 14X102 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0. Difference is expressed relative to HP 14X102.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HP 14X102 has the larger second moment of area: 43,704 cm⁴ against 43,200 cm⁴, a difference of 1.2%. 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 360 B is the more efficient section: 18.9 against 18.2 cm³ per kg/m, 3.5% 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: HP 14X102 has 1291.3 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 1030 cm³, 20.2% 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. HE sections are specified to EN 10365 · Continental Steel and HP to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; 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 6.5% weight.
In short, HP 14X102 is the stronger section and HE 360 B 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.