W12×252 Steel Beam
A W12×252 is a wide flange steel beam 15.4 inches deep with 13-inch flanges, weighing 252 pounds per foot. In ASTM A992 steel (Fy = 50 ksi) it has a design bending strength of 1,605 kip-ft (LRFD) when its compression flange is braced, and a design shear strength of 647 kips.
Design a W12×252 beam Opens a 24 ft span in the free beam designer.
W12×252 dimensions
| Dimension | Value |
|---|---|
| Depth, d | 15.4 in |
| Flange width, bf | 13.0 in |
| Flange thickness, tf | 2.25 in |
| Web thickness, tw | 1.40 in |
| Distance to web toe of fillet, kdes | 2.85 in |
| Distance between flange centroids, ho | 13.15 in |
| Cross-sectional area, A | 74.0 in2 |
| Weight | 252 lb/ft |
Dimensions are AISC design values. Detailing dimensions are rounded to the nearest 1/16 in.
W12×252 section properties
| Property | Strong axis (x) | Weak axis (y) |
|---|---|---|
| Moment of inertia, I | 2720 in4 | 828 in4 |
| Elastic section modulus, S | 353 in3 | 127 in3 |
| Plastic section modulus, Z | 428 in3 | 196 in3 |
| Radius of gyration, r | 6.06 in | 3.34 in |
| Torsion and slenderness | Value |
|---|---|
| Torsional constant, J | 108 in4 |
| Warping constant, Cw | 35800 in6 |
| Effective radius of gyration, rts | 3.93 in |
| Flange slenderness, bf/2tf | 2.89 |
| Web slenderness, h/tw | 6.96 |
W12×252 bending and shear strength
For ASTM A992 steel (Fy = 50 ksi, E = 29,000 ksi) per AISC 360-16. Its flanges and web are compact for bending, so with its compression flange braced it reaches its full plastic moment.
| Strength | LRFD | ASD |
|---|---|---|
| Bending, compression flange braced | φMn = 1,605 kip-ft | Mn/Ω = 1,068 kip-ft |
| Shear | φVn = 647 kips | Vn/Ω = 431 kips |
If the compression flange isn't braced, the beam can buckle sideways before it yields. Up to Lp = 11.8 ft between braces it keeps its full strength; past Lr = 114.3 ft it buckles elastically. With uniform moment between braces (Cb = 1.0):
| Unbraced length, Lb | φMn (LRFD) | Mn/Ω (ASD) |
|---|---|---|
| Braced | 1,605 kip-ft | 1,068 kip-ft |
| 10 ft | 1,605 kip-ft | 1,068 kip-ft |
| 11.8 ft (Lp) | 1,605 kip-ft | 1,068 kip-ft |
| 20 ft | 1,551 kip-ft | 1,032 kip-ft |
| 30 ft | 1,485 kip-ft | 988 kip-ft |
| 40 ft | 1,418 kip-ft | 944 kip-ft |
| 50 ft | 1,352 kip-ft | 900 kip-ft |
| 60 ft | 1,286 kip-ft | 856 kip-ft |
| 70 ft | 1,220 kip-ft | 812 kip-ft |
| 80 ft | 1,154 kip-ft | 768 kip-ft |
| 90 ft | 1,088 kip-ft | 724 kip-ft |
| 100 ft | 1,021 kip-ft | 680 kip-ft |
| 110 ft | 955 kip-ft | 636 kip-ft |
| 114.3 ft (Lr) | 927 kip-ft | 617 kip-ft |
A beam with a uniform load between braces has Cb above 1.0 (1.14 for a simple span braced only at its ends), so these values are conservative. The beam designer works out Cb for every segment between braces.
W12×252 load table by span
The largest uniform load a simply supported W12×252 can carry, in kips per foot, with its compression flange braced along its length (by a floor or roof deck, for example). The loads include the beam's own weight of 0.252 kips per foot.
| Span | Factored load (LRFD) | Allowable load (ASD) | Load at span/360 | Load at span/240 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 161.7* | 107.8* | 228.2 | 342.4 |
| 10 ft | 128.4 | 85.4 | 116.9 | 175.3 |
| 12 ft | 89.2 | 59.3 | 67.6 | 101.4 |
| 14 ft | 65.5 | 43.6 | 42.6 | 63.9 |
| 16 ft | 50.2 | 33.4 | 28.5 | 42.8 |
| 18 ft | 39.6 | 26.4 | 20.0 | 30.1 |
| 20 ft | 32.1 | 21.4 | 14.6 | 21.9 |
| 22 ft | 26.5 | 17.7 | 11.0 | 16.5 |
| 24 ft | 22.3 | 14.8 | 8.45 | 12.7 |
| 26 ft | 19.0 | 12.6 | 6.65 | 9.97 |
| 28 ft | 16.4 | 10.9 | 5.32 | 7.99 |
| 30 ft | 14.3 | 9.49 | 4.33 | 6.49 |
| 32 ft | 12.5 | 8.34 | 3.57 | 5.35 |
| 34 ft | 11.1 | 7.39 | 2.97 | 4.46 |
| 36 ft | 9.91 | 6.59 | 2.50 | 3.76 |
| 38 ft | 8.89 | 5.92 | 2.13 | 3.19 |
- Factored and allowable loads are limited by bending, or by shear where marked *.
- The deflection columns are the service loads that make the beam sag span/360 or span/240. Compare span/360 with the live load alone and span/240 with dead plus live load, the usual floor limits in IBC Table 1604.3.
Reading the table
At a 24 ft span, a W12×252 carries a factored load of 22.3 kips per foot (LRFD) or an allowable load of 14.8 kips per foot (ASD). A live load of 8.45 kips per foot would deflect it span/360, which is 0.80 in. The beam works if the factored load is under the first number and the live and total loads are under the deflection numbers. For other spans, supports or loads, open it in the beam designer, or follow the steel beam design guide to check one by hand.
W12×252 questions
What does W12×252 mean?
W means a wide flange shape. 12 is its nominal depth in inches (the actual depth is 15.4 in) and 252 is its weight in pounds per foot.
How much does a W12×252 weigh?
252 pounds per foot, so a 20 ft W12×252 weighs about 5,040 pounds.
How far can a W12×252 span?
It depends on the load. Braced along its length, it carries 161.7 kips per foot of factored load at 8 ft and 8.89 kips per foot at 38 ft; the load table has the spans in between. Floor beams are often 23 to 31 ft for this depth (span-to-depth ratios of about 18 to 24), where deflection usually governs.
Is a W12×252 a compact section?
Yes. Its flanges (bf/2tf = 2.89) and web (h/tw = 6.96) are both compact for bending in 50 ksi steel.