HE 450 A vs H-450x300x13x21
HE 450 A is an HE section from the European (Continental) range; H-450x300x13x21 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. H-450x300x13x21 carries more bending: 3323 cm³ of plastic modulus against 3220 cm³, 3.1% more. HE 450 A is the lighter of the two at 140 kg/m against 145 kg/m, a saving of 3.4% on steel weight. Both are about 443 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | HE 450 A HE | H-450x300x13x21 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 140 kg/m | 145 kg/m | -3.4% |
| Depth | 440 mm | 446 mm | -1.3% |
| Width | 300 mm | 302 mm | -0.7% |
| Web thickness | 11.5 mm | 13 mm | -11.5% |
| Flange thickness | 21 mm | 21 mm | same |
| Area | 178 cm² | 184 cm² | -3.3% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 63,700 cm⁴ | 66,380 cm⁴ | -4.0% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 3,220 cm³ | 3,323 cm³ | -3.1% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 2,900 cm³ | 2,977 cm³ | -2.6% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 9,460 cm⁴ | 9,658 cm⁴ | -2.1% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 966 cm³ | 981 cm³ | -1.5% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 7.29 cm | 7.24 cm | +0.7% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 250 cm⁴ | 253 cm⁴ | -1.2% |
HE 450 A to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; H-450x300x13x21 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-450x300x13x21.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, H-450x300x13x21 has the larger second moment of area: 66,380 cm⁴ against 63,700 cm⁴, a difference of 4.0%. 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, the two are equally efficient (23.0 against 22.9 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.
In short, H-450x300x13x21 is the stronger section and HE 450 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.