HE 400 A vs HP 16X88
HE 400 A is an HE section from the European (Continental) range; HP 16X88 is the closest equivalent in the American AISC Shapes Database. HP 16X88 carries more bending: 2638.3 cm³ of plastic modulus against 2560 cm³, 3.0% more. HE 400 A is the lighter of the two at 125 kg/m against 131 kg/m, a saving of 4.6% on steel weight. Both are about 389 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | HE 400 A HE | HP 16X88 HP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 125 kg/m | 131 kg/m | -4.6% |
| Depth | 390 mm | 388.6 mm | +0.4% |
| Width | 300 mm | 398.8 mm | -24.8% |
| Web thickness | 11 mm | 13.7 mm | -19.7% |
| Flange thickness | 19 mm | 13.7 mm | +38.7% |
| Area | 159 cm² | 166.5 cm² | -4.5% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 45,100 cm⁴ | 46,202 cm⁴ | -2.4% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 2,560 cm³ | 2,638.3 cm³ | -3.0% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 2,310 cm³ | 2,376.1 cm³ | -2.8% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 8,560 cm⁴ | 14,526 cm⁴ | -41.1% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 873 cm³ | 1,117.6 cm³ | -21.9% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 7.34 cm | 9.35 cm | -21.5% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 193 cm⁴ | 143.6 cm⁴ | +34.4% |
HE 400 A to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; HP 16X88 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0. Difference is expressed relative to HP 16X88.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HP 16X88 has the larger second moment of area: 46,202 cm⁴ against 45,100 cm⁴, a difference of 2.4%. 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 (20.5 against 20.1 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.
The two diverge much more about the minor axis: HP 16X88 has 1117.6 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 873 cm³, 21.9% 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 4.6% weight.
In short, HP 16X88 is the stronger section and HE 400 A 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.