HE 400 B vs W 16X100
HE 400 B is an HE section from the European (Continental) range; W 16X100 is the closest equivalent in the American AISC Shapes Database. They are close to interchangeable in bending: 3230 cm³ against 3244.6 cm³ of plastic modulus, a difference of 0.4%. W 16X100 is the lighter of the two at 148.8 kg/m against 155 kg/m, a saving of 4.2% on steel weight. W 16X100 is deeper, 431.8 mm against 400 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | HE 400 B HE | W 16X100 W | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 155 kg/m | 148.8 kg/m | +4.2% |
| Depth | 400 mm | 431.8 mm | -7.4% |
| Width | 300 mm | 264.2 mm | +13.6% |
| Web thickness | 13.5 mm | 14.9 mm | -9.4% |
| Flange thickness | 24 mm | 25 mm | -4.0% |
| Area | 198 cm² | 189.7 cm² | +4.4% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 57,700 cm⁴ | 62,018 cm⁴ | -7.0% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 3,230 cm³ | 3,244.6 cm³ | -0.4% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 2,880 cm³ | 2,867.7 cm³ | +0.4% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 10,800 cm⁴ | 7,742 cm⁴ | +39.5% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,100 cm³ | 899.65 cm³ | +22.3% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 7.4 cm | 6.38 cm | +16.0% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 361 cm⁴ | 321.7 cm⁴ | +12.2% |
HE 400 B to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; W 16X100 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0. Difference is expressed relative to W 16X100.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 16X100 has the larger second moment of area: 62,018 cm⁴ against 57,700 cm⁴, a difference of 7.0%. 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, W 16X100 is the more efficient section: 21.8 against 20.8 cm³ per kg/m, 4.4% 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: HE 400 B has 1100 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 899.65 cm³, 22.3% 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 W 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 4.2% weight.
In short, W 16X100 is the stronger section and W 16X100 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.