HE 400 B vs H-400x400x11x18
HE 400 B is an HE section from the European (Continental) range; H-400x400x11x18 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. HE 400 B carries more bending: 3230 cm³ of plastic modulus against 3118 cm³, 3.6% more. H-400x400x11x18 is the lighter of the two at 147 kg/m against 155 kg/m, a saving of 5.4% on steel weight. Both are about 397 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | HE 400 B HE | H-400x400x11x18 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 155 kg/m | 147 kg/m | +5.4% |
| Depth | 400 mm | 394 mm | +1.5% |
| Width | 300 mm | 398 mm | -24.6% |
| Web thickness | 13.5 mm | 11 mm | +22.7% |
| Flange thickness | 24 mm | 18 mm | +33.3% |
| Area | 198 cm² | 187 cm² | +5.9% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 57,700 cm⁴ | 56,150 cm⁴ | +2.8% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 3,230 cm³ | 3,118 cm³ | +3.6% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 2,880 cm³ | 2,850 cm³ | +1.1% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 10,800 cm⁴ | 18,930 cm⁴ | -42.9% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,100 cm³ | 1,441 cm³ | -23.7% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 7.4 cm | 10.1 cm | -26.7% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 361 cm⁴ | 194 cm⁴ | +86.1% |
HE 400 B to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; H-400x400x11x18 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-400x400x11x18.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HE 400 B has the larger second moment of area: 57,700 cm⁴ against 56,150 cm⁴, a difference of 2.8%. 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 (20.8 against 21.2 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: H-400x400x11x18 has 1441 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 1100 cm³, 23.7% 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, HE 400 B is the stronger section and H-400x400x11x18 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.