W36×160 Steel Beam
A W36×160 is a wide flange steel beam 36 inches deep with 12-inch flanges, weighing 160 pounds per foot. In ASTM A992 steel (Fy = 50 ksi) it has a design bending strength of 2,340 kip-ft (LRFD) when its compression flange is braced, and a design shear strength of 702 kips.
Design a W36×160 beam Opens a 54 ft span in the free beam designer.
W36×160 dimensions
| Dimension | Value |
|---|---|
| Depth, d | 36.0 in |
| Flange width, bf | 12.0 in |
| Flange thickness, tf | 1.02 in |
| Web thickness, tw | 0.650 in |
| Distance to web toe of fillet, kdes | 1.77 in |
| Distance between flange centroids, ho | 34.98 in |
| Cross-sectional area, A | 47.0 in2 |
| Weight | 160 lb/ft |
Dimensions are AISC design values. Detailing dimensions are rounded to the nearest 1/16 in.
W36×160 section properties
| Property | Strong axis (x) | Weak axis (y) |
|---|---|---|
| Moment of inertia, I | 9760 in4 | 295 in4 |
| Elastic section modulus, S | 542 in3 | 49.1 in3 |
| Plastic section modulus, Z | 624 in3 | 77.3 in3 |
| Radius of gyration, r | 14.4 in | 2.50 in |
| Torsion and slenderness | Value |
|---|---|
| Torsional constant, J | 12.4 in4 |
| Warping constant, Cw | 90200 in6 |
| Effective radius of gyration, rts | 3.09 in |
| Flange slenderness, bf/2tf | 5.88 |
| Web slenderness, h/tw | 49.9 |
W36×160 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 = 2,340 kip-ft | Mn/Ω = 1,557 kip-ft |
| Shear | φVn = 702 kips | Vn/Ω = 468 kips |
If the compression flange isn't braced, the beam can buckle sideways before it yields. Up to Lp = 8.8 ft between braces it keeps its full strength; past Lr = 25.8 ft it buckles elastically. With uniform moment between braces (Cb = 1.0):
| Unbraced length, Lb | φMn (LRFD) | Mn/Ω (ASD) |
|---|---|---|
| Braced | 2,340 kip-ft | 1,557 kip-ft |
| 5 ft | 2,340 kip-ft | 1,557 kip-ft |
| 8.8 ft (Lp) | 2,340 kip-ft | 1,557 kip-ft |
| 10 ft | 2,277 kip-ft | 1,515 kip-ft |
| 15 ft | 2,007 kip-ft | 1,335 kip-ft |
| 20 ft | 1,736 kip-ft | 1,155 kip-ft |
| 25 ft | 1,466 kip-ft | 976 kip-ft |
| 25.8 ft (Lr) | 1,423 kip-ft | 947 kip-ft |
| 30 ft | 1,112 kip-ft | 740 kip-ft |
| 35 ft | 876 kip-ft | 583 kip-ft |
| 40 ft | 719 kip-ft | 478 kip-ft |
| 45 ft | 608 kip-ft | 404 kip-ft |
| 50 ft | 526 kip-ft | 350 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.
W36×160 load table by span
The largest uniform load a simply supported W36×160 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 0.160 kips per foot.
| Span | Factored load (LRFD) | Allowable load (ASD) | Load at span/360 | Load at span/240 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 ft | 57.8 | 38.4 | 71.9 | 107.8 |
| 20 ft | 46.8 | 31.1 | 52.4 | 78.6 |
| 22 ft | 38.7 | 25.7 | 39.4 | 59.1 |
| 24 ft | 32.5 | 21.6 | 30.3 | 45.5 |
| 26 ft | 27.7 | 18.4 | 23.9 | 35.8 |
| 28 ft | 23.9 | 15.9 | 19.1 | 28.7 |
| 30 ft | 20.8 | 13.8 | 15.5 | 23.3 |
| 32 ft | 18.3 | 12.2 | 12.8 | 19.2 |
| 34 ft | 16.2 | 10.8 | 10.7 | 16.0 |
| 36 ft | 14.4 | 9.61 | 8.99 | 13.5 |
| 38 ft | 13.0 | 8.63 | 7.64 | 11.5 |
| 40 ft | 11.7 | 7.78 | 6.55 | 9.83 |
| 42 ft | 10.6 | 7.06 | 5.66 | 8.49 |
| 44 ft | 9.67 | 6.43 | 4.92 | 7.38 |
| 46 ft | 8.85 | 5.89 | 4.31 | 6.46 |
| 48 ft | 8.13 | 5.41 | 3.79 | 5.69 |
| 50 ft | 7.49 | 4.98 | 3.35 | 5.03 |
| 52 ft | 6.92 | 4.61 | 2.98 | 4.47 |
| 54 ft | 6.42 | 4.27 | 2.66 | 3.99 |
| 56 ft | 5.97 | 3.97 | 2.39 | 3.58 |
| 58 ft | 5.56 | 3.70 | 2.15 | 3.22 |
| 60 ft | 5.20 | 3.46 | 1.94 | 2.91 |
| 62 ft | 4.87 | 3.24 | 1.76 | 2.64 |
| 64 ft | 4.57 | 3.04 | 1.60 | 2.40 |
| 66 ft | 4.30 | 2.86 | 1.46 | 2.19 |
| 68 ft | 4.05 | 2.69 | 1.33 | 2.00 |
| 70 ft | 3.82 | 2.54 | 1.22 | 1.83 |
| 72 ft | 3.61 | 2.40 | 1.12 | 1.69 |
| 74 ft | 3.42 | 2.27 | 1.03 | 1.55 |
| 76 ft | 3.24 | 2.16 | 0.96 | 1.43 |
| 78 ft | 3.08 | 2.05 | 0.88 | 1.33 |
| 80 ft | 2.93 | 1.95 | 0.82 | 1.23 |
| 82 ft | 2.78 | 1.85 | 0.76 | 1.14 |
| 84 ft | 2.65 | 1.77 | 0.71 | 1.06 |
| 86 ft | 2.53 | 1.68 | 0.66 | 0.99 |
| 88 ft | 2.42 | 1.61 | 0.62 | 0.92 |
| 90 ft | 2.31 | 1.54 | 0.58 | 0.86 |
- 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 54 ft span, a W36×160 carries a factored load of 6.42 kips per foot (LRFD) or an allowable load of 4.27 kips per foot (ASD). A live load of 2.66 kips per foot would deflect it span/360, which is 1.80 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.
W36×160 questions
What does W36×160 mean?
W means a wide flange shape. 36 is its nominal depth in inches (the actual depth is 36.0 in) and 160 is its weight in pounds per foot.
How much does a W36×160 weigh?
160 pounds per foot, so a 20 ft W36×160 weighs about 3,200 pounds.
How far can a W36×160 span?
It depends on the load. Braced along its length, it carries 57.8 kips per foot of factored load at 18 ft and 2.31 kips per foot at 90 ft; the load table has the spans in between. Floor beams are often 54 to 72 ft for this depth (span-to-depth ratios of about 18 to 24), where deflection usually governs.
Is a W36×160 a compact section?
Yes. Its flanges (bf/2tf = 5.88) and web (h/tw = 49.9) are both compact for bending in 50 ksi steel.