Wide Flange vs. HSS Beam Comparison

This tool allows the user to determine potential HSS alternatives to a wide flange section used in a bending application (i.e., beam). It assumes the beam is simply supported and is loaded with a uniformly distributed factored gravity load. Flexural capacities of wide flange sections
and HSS are determined in accordance with Chapter F of the AISC 360-22, using the LRFD
method. It does not calculate beam deflection or other serviceability criteria.

View Tool Instructions

WF util.

—

Span

— ft

Load

— lb/ft

φMn (flexural capacity)

— kip-ft

Max moment (Mu)

— kip-ft

HSS alternatives

Top ten options: lightest HSS that meet each criterion (WF φMn vs max moment Mu).

Matching Wide Flange Capacity

Lightest sections that meet or exceed the flexural capacity of the specified wide flange beam.

#	HSS Size	HSS Wt/Ft (lbs)	HSS φMn (kip-ft)	HSS Utilization

Optimized for specified uniform load

Lightest sections with φMn ≥ max moment Mu from the inputs.

#	HSS Size	HSS Wt/Ft (lbs)	HSS φMn (kip-ft)	HSS Utilization

How to Use Tool:

Select the wide flange (WF) section you’d like to replace with HSS from the drop-down menu
Enter the span length in feet. This is the distance between support points of the beam
Select the amount of bracing of the top flange. If the beam is continuously braced (i.e., supports a floor slab), then use 100% If the beam does not support any floor and has no members framing into it, use 0%. If you do not know how the beam is braced, then use 100% as this is the most typical situation for a building.
- 100% = top flange is braced over its entire length
- 50% = Top flange is braced at mid span
- 33% = top flange is braced at 1/3 points
- 25% = top flange is braced at 1/4 points
- 0% = top flange is not braced
Select the yield strength of the steel. Typically, wide flange sections are produced to ASTM A992 with a yield strength of 50 ksi. Only use something other than 50 ksi if you know the steel has a different yield strength.
Enter the factored uniformly distributed gravity load on the beam in pounds per ft. If you do not know the load, use 0. When 0 is entered for the load, the tool will only return HSS sections that match the wide flange sections flexural capacity. No sections optimized for the load will be returned.