W14×233 Steel Beam
A W14×233 is a wide flange steel beam 16 inches deep with 15.9-inch flanges, weighing 233 pounds per foot. In ASTM A992 steel (Fy = 50 ksi) it has a design bending strength of 1,635 kip-ft (LRFD) when its compression flange is braced, and a design shear strength of 514 kips.
Design a W14×233 beam Opens a 24 ft span in the free beam designer.
W14×233 dimensions
| Dimension | Value |
|---|---|
| Depth, d | 16.0 in |
| Flange width, bf | 15.9 in |
| Flange thickness, tf | 1.72 in |
| Web thickness, tw | 1.07 in |
| Distance to web toe of fillet, kdes | 2.32 in |
| Distance between flange centroids, ho | 14.28 in |
| Cross-sectional area, A | 68.5 in2 |
| Weight | 233 lb/ft |
Dimensions are AISC design values. Detailing dimensions are rounded to the nearest 1/16 in.
W14×233 section properties
| Property | Strong axis (x) | Weak axis (y) |
|---|---|---|
| Moment of inertia, I | 3010 in4 | 1150 in4 |
| Elastic section modulus, S | 375 in3 | 145 in3 |
| Plastic section modulus, Z | 436 in3 | 221 in3 |
| Radius of gyration, r | 6.63 in | 4.10 in |
| Torsion and slenderness | Value |
|---|---|
| Torsional constant, J | 59.5 in4 |
| Warping constant, Cw | 59000 in6 |
| Effective radius of gyration, rts | 4.69 in |
| Flange slenderness, bf/2tf | 4.62 |
| Web slenderness, h/tw | 10.7 |
W14×233 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 = 1,635 kip-ft | Mn/Ω = 1,088 kip-ft |
| Shear | φVn = 514 kips | Vn/Ω = 342 kips |
If the compression flange isn't braced, the beam can buckle sideways before it yields. Up to Lp = 14.5 ft between braces it keeps its full strength; past Lr = 95.0 ft it buckles elastically. With uniform moment between braces (Cb = 1.0):
| Unbraced length, Lb | φMn (LRFD) | Mn/Ω (ASD) |
|---|---|---|
| Braced | 1,635 kip-ft | 1,088 kip-ft |
| 10 ft | 1,635 kip-ft | 1,088 kip-ft |
| 14.5 ft (Lp) | 1,635 kip-ft | 1,088 kip-ft |
| 20 ft | 1,590 kip-ft | 1,058 kip-ft |
| 30 ft | 1,510 kip-ft | 1,004 kip-ft |
| 40 ft | 1,429 kip-ft | 951 kip-ft |
| 50 ft | 1,348 kip-ft | 897 kip-ft |
| 60 ft | 1,267 kip-ft | 843 kip-ft |
| 70 ft | 1,186 kip-ft | 789 kip-ft |
| 80 ft | 1,105 kip-ft | 736 kip-ft |
| 90 ft | 1,025 kip-ft | 682 kip-ft |
| 95.0 ft (Lr) | 984 kip-ft | 655 kip-ft |
| 100 ft | 934 kip-ft | 621 kip-ft |
| 110 ft | 848 kip-ft | 564 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.
W14×233 load table by span
The largest uniform load a simply supported W14×233 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 0.233 kips per foot.
| Span | Factored load (LRFD) | Allowable load (ASD) | Load at span/360 | Load at span/240 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 128.4* | 85.6* | 252.6 | 378.9 |
| 10 ft | 102.7* | 68.5* | 129.3 | 194.0 |
| 12 ft | 85.6* | 57.1* | 74.8 | 112.3 |
| 14 ft | 66.7 | 44.4 | 47.1 | 70.7 |
| 16 ft | 51.1 | 34.0 | 31.6 | 47.4 |
| 18 ft | 40.4 | 26.9 | 22.2 | 33.3 |
| 20 ft | 32.7 | 21.8 | 16.2 | 24.2 |
| 22 ft | 27.0 | 18.0 | 12.1 | 18.2 |
| 24 ft | 22.7 | 15.1 | 9.35 | 14.0 |
| 26 ft | 19.3 | 12.9 | 7.36 | 11.0 |
| 28 ft | 16.7 | 11.1 | 5.89 | 8.84 |
| 30 ft | 14.5 | 9.67 | 4.79 | 7.18 |
| 32 ft | 12.8 | 8.50 | 3.95 | 5.92 |
| 34 ft | 11.3 | 7.53 | 3.29 | 4.94 |
| 36 ft | 10.1 | 6.71 | 2.77 | 4.16 |
| 38 ft | 9.06 | 6.03 | 2.36 | 3.54 |
| 40 ft | 8.18 | 5.44 | 2.02 | 3.03 |
- 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 W14×233 carries a factored load of 22.7 kips per foot (LRFD) or an allowable load of 15.1 kips per foot (ASD). A live load of 9.35 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.
W14×233 questions
What does W14×233 mean?
W means a wide flange shape. 14 is its nominal depth in inches (the actual depth is 16.0 in) and 233 is its weight in pounds per foot.
How much does a W14×233 weigh?
233 pounds per foot, so a 20 ft W14×233 weighs about 4,660 pounds.
How far can a W14×233 span?
It depends on the load. Braced along its length, it carries 128.4 kips per foot of factored load at 8 ft and 8.18 kips per foot at 40 ft; the load table has the spans in between. Floor beams are often 24 to 32 ft for this depth (span-to-depth ratios of about 18 to 24), where deflection usually governs.
Is a W14×233 a compact section?
Yes. Its flanges (bf/2tf = 4.62) and web (h/tw = 10.7) are both compact for bending in 50 ksi steel.