W30×292 Steel Beam
A W30×292 is a wide flange steel beam 32 inches deep with 15.3-inch flanges, weighing 292 pounds per foot. In ASTM A992 steel (Fy = 50 ksi) it has a design bending strength of 3,975 kip-ft (LRFD) when its compression flange is braced, and a design shear strength of 979 kips.
Design a W30×292 beam Opens a 48 ft span in the free beam designer.
W30×292 dimensions
| Dimension | Value |
|---|---|
| Depth, d | 32.0 in |
| Flange width, bf | 15.3 in |
| Flange thickness, tf | 1.85 in |
| Web thickness, tw | 1.02 in |
| Distance to web toe of fillet, kdes | 2.64 in |
| Distance between flange centroids, ho | 30.15 in |
| Cross-sectional area, A | 85.9 in2 |
| Weight | 292 lb/ft |
Dimensions are AISC design values. Detailing dimensions are rounded to the nearest 1/16 in.
W30×292 section properties
| Property | Strong axis (x) | Weak axis (y) |
|---|---|---|
| Moment of inertia, I | 14900 in4 | 1100 in4 |
| Elastic section modulus, S | 930 in3 | 144 in3 |
| Plastic section modulus, Z | 1060 in3 | 223 in3 |
| Radius of gyration, r | 13.2 in | 3.58 in |
| Torsion and slenderness | Value |
|---|---|
| Torsional constant, J | 75.2 in4 |
| Warping constant, Cw | 250000 in6 |
| Effective radius of gyration, rts | 4.22 in |
| Flange slenderness, bf/2tf | 4.12 |
| Web slenderness, h/tw | 26.2 |
W30×292 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 = 3,975 kip-ft | Mn/Ω = 2,645 kip-ft |
| Shear | φVn = 979 kips | Vn/Ω = 653 kips |
If the compression flange isn't braced, the beam can buckle sideways before it yields. Up to Lp = 12.6 ft between braces it keeps its full strength; past Lr = 46.9 ft it buckles elastically. With uniform moment between braces (Cb = 1.0):
| Unbraced length, Lb | φMn (LRFD) | Mn/Ω (ASD) |
|---|---|---|
| Braced | 3,975 kip-ft | 2,645 kip-ft |
| 10 ft | 3,975 kip-ft | 2,645 kip-ft |
| 12.7 ft (Lp) | 3,975 kip-ft | 2,645 kip-ft |
| 20 ft | 3,646 kip-ft | 2,426 kip-ft |
| 30 ft | 3,198 kip-ft | 2,128 kip-ft |
| 40 ft | 2,751 kip-ft | 1,830 kip-ft |
| 46.9 ft (Lr) | 2,439 kip-ft | 1,623 kip-ft |
| 50 ft | 2,260 kip-ft | 1,504 kip-ft |
| 60 ft | 1,827 kip-ft | 1,216 kip-ft |
| 70 ft | 1,537 kip-ft | 1,022 kip-ft |
| 80 ft | 1,328 kip-ft | 883 kip-ft |
| 90 ft | 1,169 kip-ft | 778 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.
W30×292 load table by span
The largest uniform load a simply supported W30×292 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 0.292 kips per foot.
| Span | Factored load (LRFD) | Allowable load (ASD) | Load at span/360 | Load at span/240 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 ft | 122.4* | 81.6* | 156.3 | 234.4 |
| 18 ft | 98.1 | 65.3 | 109.8 | 164.6 |
| 20 ft | 79.5 | 52.9 | 80.0 | 120.0 |
| 22 ft | 65.7 | 43.7 | 60.1 | 90.2 |
| 24 ft | 55.2 | 36.7 | 46.3 | 69.5 |
| 26 ft | 47.0 | 31.3 | 36.4 | 54.6 |
| 28 ft | 40.6 | 27.0 | 29.2 | 43.7 |
| 30 ft | 35.3 | 23.5 | 23.7 | 35.6 |
| 32 ft | 31.1 | 20.7 | 19.5 | 29.3 |
| 34 ft | 27.5 | 18.3 | 16.3 | 24.4 |
| 36 ft | 24.5 | 16.3 | 13.7 | 20.6 |
| 38 ft | 22.0 | 14.7 | 11.7 | 17.5 |
| 40 ft | 19.9 | 13.2 | 10.0 | 15.0 |
| 42 ft | 18.0 | 12.0 | 8.64 | 13.0 |
| 44 ft | 16.4 | 10.9 | 7.51 | 11.3 |
| 46 ft | 15.0 | 10.00 | 6.58 | 9.87 |
| 48 ft | 13.8 | 9.18 | 5.79 | 8.68 |
| 50 ft | 12.7 | 8.46 | 5.12 | 7.68 |
| 52 ft | 11.8 | 7.82 | 4.55 | 6.83 |
| 54 ft | 10.9 | 7.26 | 4.07 | 6.10 |
| 56 ft | 10.1 | 6.75 | 3.65 | 5.47 |
| 58 ft | 9.45 | 6.29 | 3.28 | 4.92 |
| 60 ft | 8.83 | 5.88 | 2.96 | 4.45 |
| 62 ft | 8.27 | 5.50 | 2.69 | 4.03 |
| 64 ft | 7.76 | 5.17 | 2.44 | 3.66 |
| 66 ft | 7.30 | 4.86 | 2.23 | 3.34 |
| 68 ft | 6.88 | 4.58 | 2.04 | 3.05 |
| 70 ft | 6.49 | 4.32 | 1.87 | 2.80 |
| 72 ft | 6.13 | 4.08 | 1.72 | 2.57 |
| 74 ft | 5.81 | 3.86 | 1.58 | 2.37 |
| 76 ft | 5.51 | 3.66 | 1.46 | 2.19 |
| 78 ft | 5.23 | 3.48 | 1.35 | 2.02 |
| 80 ft | 4.97 | 3.31 | 1.25 | 1.88 |
- 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 48 ft span, a W30×292 carries a factored load of 13.8 kips per foot (LRFD) or an allowable load of 9.18 kips per foot (ASD). A live load of 5.79 kips per foot would deflect it span/360, which is 1.60 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.
W30×292 questions
What does W30×292 mean?
W means a wide flange shape. 30 is its nominal depth in inches (the actual depth is 32.0 in) and 292 is its weight in pounds per foot.
How much does a W30×292 weigh?
292 pounds per foot, so a 20 ft W30×292 weighs about 5,840 pounds.
How far can a W30×292 span?
It depends on the load. Braced along its length, it carries 122.4 kips per foot of factored load at 16 ft and 4.97 kips per foot at 80 ft; the load table has the spans in between. Floor beams are often 48 to 64 ft for this depth (span-to-depth ratios of about 18 to 24), where deflection usually governs.
Is a W30×292 a compact section?
Yes. Its flanges (bf/2tf = 4.12) and web (h/tw = 26.2) are both compact for bending in 50 ksi steel.