W14×455 Steel Beam
A W14×455 is a wide flange steel beam 19 inches deep with 16.8-inch flanges, weighing 455 pounds per foot. In ASTM A992 steel (Fy = 50 ksi) it has a design bending strength of 3,510 kip-ft (LRFD) when its compression flange is braced, and a design shear strength of 1,151 kips.
Design a W14×455 beam Opens a 30 ft span in the free beam designer.
W14×455 dimensions
| Dimension | Value |
|---|---|
| Depth, d | 19.0 in |
| Flange width, bf | 16.8 in |
| Flange thickness, tf | 3.21 in |
| Web thickness, tw | 2.02 in |
| Distance to web toe of fillet, kdes | 3.81 in |
| Distance between flange centroids, ho | 15.79 in |
| Cross-sectional area, A | 134 in2 |
| Weight | 455 lb/ft |
Dimensions are AISC design values. Detailing dimensions are rounded to the nearest 1/16 in.
W14×455 section properties
| Property | Strong axis (x) | Weak axis (y) |
|---|---|---|
| Moment of inertia, I | 7190 in4 | 2560 in4 |
| Elastic section modulus, S | 756 in3 | 304 in3 |
| Plastic section modulus, Z | 936 in3 | 468 in3 |
| Radius of gyration, r | 7.33 in | 4.38 in |
| Torsion and slenderness | Value |
|---|---|
| Torsional constant, J | 395 in4 |
| Warping constant, Cw | 160000 in6 |
| Effective radius of gyration, rts | 5.17 in |
| Flange slenderness, bf/2tf | 2.62 |
| Web slenderness, h/tw | 5.66 |
W14×455 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 = 3,510 kip-ft | Mn/Ω = 2,335 kip-ft |
| Shear | φVn = 1,151 kips | Vn/Ω = 768 kips |
If the compression flange isn't braced, the beam can buckle sideways before it yields. Up to Lp = 15.5 ft between braces it keeps its full strength; past Lr = 179.4 ft it buckles elastically. With uniform moment between braces (Cb = 1.0):
| Unbraced length, Lb | φMn (LRFD) | Mn/Ω (ASD) |
|---|---|---|
| Braced | 3,510 kip-ft | 2,335 kip-ft |
| 10 ft | 3,510 kip-ft | 2,335 kip-ft |
| 15.5 ft (Lp) | 3,510 kip-ft | 2,335 kip-ft |
| 20 ft | 3,468 kip-ft | 2,307 kip-ft |
| 30 ft | 3,375 kip-ft | 2,245 kip-ft |
| 40 ft | 3,282 kip-ft | 2,183 kip-ft |
| 50 ft | 3,189 kip-ft | 2,122 kip-ft |
| 60 ft | 3,096 kip-ft | 2,060 kip-ft |
| 70 ft | 3,003 kip-ft | 1,998 kip-ft |
| 80 ft | 2,910 kip-ft | 1,936 kip-ft |
| 90 ft | 2,817 kip-ft | 1,874 kip-ft |
| 100 ft | 2,723 kip-ft | 1,812 kip-ft |
| 110 ft | 2,630 kip-ft | 1,750 kip-ft |
| 179.4 ft (Lr) | 1,984 kip-ft | 1,320 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.
W14×455 load table by span
The largest uniform load a simply supported W14×455 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 0.455 kips per foot.
| Span | Factored load (LRFD) | Allowable load (ASD) | Load at span/360 | Load at span/240 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 ft | 230.3* | 153.5* | 308.9 | 463.4 |
| 12 ft | 191.9* | 127.9* | 178.8 | 268.1 |
| 14 ft | 143.3 | 95.3 | 112.6 | 168.9 |
| 16 ft | 109.7 | 73.0 | 75.4 | 113.1 |
| 18 ft | 86.7 | 57.7 | 53.0 | 79.5 |
| 20 ft | 70.2 | 46.7 | 38.6 | 57.9 |
| 22 ft | 58.0 | 38.6 | 29.0 | 43.5 |
| 24 ft | 48.8 | 32.4 | 22.3 | 33.5 |
| 26 ft | 41.5 | 27.6 | 17.6 | 26.4 |
| 28 ft | 35.8 | 23.8 | 14.1 | 21.1 |
| 30 ft | 31.2 | 20.8 | 11.4 | 17.2 |
| 32 ft | 27.4 | 18.2 | 9.43 | 14.1 |
| 34 ft | 24.3 | 16.2 | 7.86 | 11.8 |
| 36 ft | 21.7 | 14.4 | 6.62 | 9.93 |
| 38 ft | 19.4 | 12.9 | 5.63 | 8.44 |
| 40 ft | 17.5 | 11.7 | 4.83 | 7.24 |
| 42 ft | 15.9 | 10.6 | 4.17 | 6.25 |
| 44 ft | 14.5 | 9.65 | 3.63 | 5.44 |
| 46 ft | 13.3 | 8.83 | 3.17 | 4.76 |
| 48 ft | 12.2 | 8.11 | 2.79 | 4.19 |
- 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 30 ft span, a W14×455 carries a factored load of 31.2 kips per foot (LRFD) or an allowable load of 20.8 kips per foot (ASD). A live load of 11.4 kips per foot would deflect it span/360, which is 1.00 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.
W14×455 questions
What does W14×455 mean?
W means a wide flange shape. 14 is its nominal depth in inches (the actual depth is 19.0 in) and 455 is its weight in pounds per foot.
How much does a W14×455 weigh?
455 pounds per foot, so a 20 ft W14×455 weighs about 9,100 pounds.
How far can a W14×455 span?
It depends on the load. Braced along its length, it carries 230.3 kips per foot of factored load at 10 ft and 12.2 kips per foot at 48 ft; the load table has the spans in between. Floor beams are often 29 to 38 ft for this depth (span-to-depth ratios of about 18 to 24), where deflection usually governs.
Is a W14×455 a compact section?
Yes. Its flanges (bf/2tf = 2.62) and web (h/tw = 5.66) are both compact for bending in 50 ksi steel.