HE 500 A vs H-500x300x13x21
HE 500 A is an HE section from the European (Continental) range; H-500x300x13x21 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. HE 500 A carries more bending: 3950 cm³ of plastic modulus against 3792 cm³, 4.2% more. H-500x300x13x21 is the lighter of the two at 150 kg/m against 155 kg/m, a saving of 3.3% on steel weight. Both are about 492 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | HE 500 A HE | H-500x300x13x21 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 155 kg/m | 150 kg/m | +3.3% |
| Depth | 490 mm | 494 mm | -0.8% |
| Width | 300 mm | 302 mm | -0.7% |
| Web thickness | 12 mm | 13 mm | -7.7% |
| Flange thickness | 23 mm | 21 mm | +9.5% |
| Area | 198 cm² | 191 cm² | +3.7% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 87,000 cm⁴ | 83,810 cm⁴ | +3.8% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 3,950 cm³ | 3,792 cm³ | +4.2% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 3,550 cm³ | 3,393 cm³ | +4.6% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 10,400 cm⁴ | 9,663 cm⁴ | +7.6% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,060 cm³ | 984 cm³ | +7.7% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 7.24 cm | 7.11 cm | +1.8% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 318 cm⁴ | 265 cm⁴ | +20.0% |
HE 500 A to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; H-500x300x13x21 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-500x300x13x21.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HE 500 A has the larger second moment of area: 87,000 cm⁴ against 83,810 cm⁴, a difference of 3.8%. 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 (25.5 against 25.3 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, HE 500 A is the stronger section and H-500x300x13x21 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.