W36×182 Steel Beam
A W36×182 is a wide flange steel beam 36.3 inches deep with 12.1-inch flanges, weighing 182 pounds per foot. In ASTM A992 steel (Fy = 50 ksi) it has a design bending strength of 2,693 kip-ft (LRFD) when its compression flange is braced, and a design shear strength of 790 kips.
Design a W36×182 beam Opens a 54 ft span in the free beam designer.
W36×182 dimensions
| Dimension | Value |
|---|---|
| Depth, d | 36.3 in |
| Flange width, bf | 12.1 in |
| Flange thickness, tf | 1.18 in |
| Web thickness, tw | 0.725 in |
| Distance to web toe of fillet, kdes | 1.93 in |
| Distance between flange centroids, ho | 35.12 in |
| Cross-sectional area, A | 53.6 in2 |
| Weight | 182 lb/ft |
Dimensions are AISC design values. Detailing dimensions are rounded to the nearest 1/16 in.
W36×182 section properties
| Property | Strong axis (x) | Weak axis (y) |
|---|---|---|
| Moment of inertia, I | 11300 in4 | 347 in4 |
| Elastic section modulus, S | 623 in3 | 57.6 in3 |
| Plastic section modulus, Z | 718 in3 | 90.7 in3 |
| Radius of gyration, r | 14.5 in | 2.55 in |
| Torsion and slenderness | Value |
|---|---|
| Torsional constant, J | 18.5 in4 |
| Warping constant, Cw | 107000 in6 |
| Effective radius of gyration, rts | 3.13 in |
| Flange slenderness, bf/2tf | 5.12 |
| Web slenderness, h/tw | 44.8 |
W36×182 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 = 2,693 kip-ft | Mn/Ω = 1,791 kip-ft |
| Shear | φVn = 790 kips | Vn/Ω = 526 kips |
If the compression flange isn't braced, the beam can buckle sideways before it yields. Up to Lp = 9.0 ft between braces it keeps its full strength; past Lr = 26.9 ft it buckles elastically. With uniform moment between braces (Cb = 1.0):
| Unbraced length, Lb | φMn (LRFD) | Mn/Ω (ASD) |
|---|---|---|
| Braced | 2,693 kip-ft | 1,791 kip-ft |
| 5 ft | 2,693 kip-ft | 1,791 kip-ft |
| 9.0 ft (Lp) | 2,692 kip-ft | 1,791 kip-ft |
| 10 ft | 2,634 kip-ft | 1,752 kip-ft |
| 15 ft | 2,339 kip-ft | 1,556 kip-ft |
| 20 ft | 2,045 kip-ft | 1,360 kip-ft |
| 25 ft | 1,750 kip-ft | 1,164 kip-ft |
| 27.0 ft (Lr) | 1,633 kip-ft | 1,087 kip-ft |
| 30 ft | 1,382 kip-ft | 919 kip-ft |
| 35 ft | 1,097 kip-ft | 730 kip-ft |
| 40 ft | 907 kip-ft | 604 kip-ft |
| 45 ft | 773 kip-ft | 514 kip-ft |
| 50 ft | 673 kip-ft | 448 kip-ft |
| 55 ft | 596 kip-ft | 396 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.
W36×182 load table by span
The largest uniform load a simply supported W36×182 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 0.182 kips per foot.
| Span | Factored load (LRFD) | Allowable load (ASD) | Load at span/360 | Load at span/240 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 ft | 66.5 | 44.2 | 83.2 | 124.9 |
| 20 ft | 53.8 | 35.8 | 60.7 | 91.0 |
| 22 ft | 44.5 | 29.6 | 45.6 | 68.4 |
| 24 ft | 37.4 | 24.9 | 35.1 | 52.7 |
| 26 ft | 31.9 | 21.2 | 27.6 | 41.4 |
| 28 ft | 27.5 | 18.3 | 22.1 | 33.2 |
| 30 ft | 23.9 | 15.9 | 18.0 | 27.0 |
| 32 ft | 21.0 | 14.0 | 14.8 | 22.2 |
| 34 ft | 18.6 | 12.4 | 12.4 | 18.5 |
| 36 ft | 16.6 | 11.1 | 10.4 | 15.6 |
| 38 ft | 14.9 | 9.92 | 8.85 | 13.3 |
| 40 ft | 13.5 | 8.96 | 7.59 | 11.4 |
| 42 ft | 12.2 | 8.12 | 6.55 | 9.83 |
| 44 ft | 11.1 | 7.40 | 5.70 | 8.55 |
| 46 ft | 10.2 | 6.77 | 4.99 | 7.48 |
| 48 ft | 9.35 | 6.22 | 4.39 | 6.58 |
| 50 ft | 8.62 | 5.73 | 3.88 | 5.83 |
| 52 ft | 7.97 | 5.30 | 3.45 | 5.18 |
| 54 ft | 7.39 | 4.91 | 3.08 | 4.62 |
| 56 ft | 6.87 | 4.57 | 2.76 | 4.15 |
| 58 ft | 6.40 | 4.26 | 2.49 | 3.73 |
| 60 ft | 5.98 | 3.98 | 2.25 | 3.37 |
| 62 ft | 5.60 | 3.73 | 2.04 | 3.06 |
| 64 ft | 5.26 | 3.50 | 1.85 | 2.78 |
| 66 ft | 4.94 | 3.29 | 1.69 | 2.53 |
| 68 ft | 4.66 | 3.10 | 1.54 | 2.32 |
| 70 ft | 4.40 | 2.92 | 1.42 | 2.12 |
| 72 ft | 4.16 | 2.76 | 1.30 | 1.95 |
| 74 ft | 3.93 | 2.62 | 1.20 | 1.80 |
| 76 ft | 3.73 | 2.48 | 1.11 | 1.66 |
| 78 ft | 3.54 | 2.36 | 1.02 | 1.53 |
| 80 ft | 3.37 | 2.24 | 0.95 | 1.42 |
| 82 ft | 3.20 | 2.13 | 0.88 | 1.32 |
| 84 ft | 3.05 | 2.03 | 0.82 | 1.23 |
| 86 ft | 2.91 | 1.94 | 0.76 | 1.14 |
| 88 ft | 2.78 | 1.85 | 0.71 | 1.07 |
| 90 ft | 2.66 | 1.77 | 0.67 | 1.00 |
- 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 W36×182 carries a factored load of 7.39 kips per foot (LRFD) or an allowable load of 4.91 kips per foot (ASD). A live load of 3.08 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.
W36×182 questions
What does W36×182 mean?
W means a wide flange shape. 36 is its nominal depth in inches (the actual depth is 36.3 in) and 182 is its weight in pounds per foot.
How much does a W36×182 weigh?
182 pounds per foot, so a 20 ft W36×182 weighs about 3,640 pounds.
How far can a W36×182 span?
It depends on the load. Braced along its length, it carries 66.5 kips per foot of factored load at 18 ft and 2.66 kips per foot at 90 ft; the load table has the spans in between. Floor beams are often 54 to 73 ft for this depth (span-to-depth ratios of about 18 to 24), where deflection usually governs.
Is a W36×182 a compact section?
Yes. Its flanges (bf/2tf = 5.12) and web (h/tw = 44.8) are both compact for bending in 50 ksi steel.