W36×194 Steel Beam
A W36×194 is a wide flange steel beam 36.5 inches deep with 12.1-inch flanges, weighing 194 pounds per foot. In ASTM A992 steel (Fy = 50 ksi) it has a design bending strength of 2,876 kip-ft (LRFD) when its compression flange is braced, and a design shear strength of 838 kips.
Design a W36×194 beam Opens a 54 ft span in the free beam designer.
W36×194 dimensions
| Dimension | Value |
|---|---|
| Depth, d | 36.5 in |
| Flange width, bf | 12.1 in |
| Flange thickness, tf | 1.26 in |
| Web thickness, tw | 0.765 in |
| Distance to web toe of fillet, kdes | 2.01 in |
| Distance between flange centroids, ho | 35.24 in |
| Cross-sectional area, A | 57.0 in2 |
| Weight | 194 lb/ft |
Dimensions are AISC design values. Detailing dimensions are rounded to the nearest 1/16 in.
W36×194 section properties
| Property | Strong axis (x) | Weak axis (y) |
|---|---|---|
| Moment of inertia, I | 12100 in4 | 375 in4 |
| Elastic section modulus, S | 664 in3 | 61.9 in3 |
| Plastic section modulus, Z | 767 in3 | 97.7 in3 |
| Radius of gyration, r | 14.6 in | 2.56 in |
| Torsion and slenderness | Value |
|---|---|
| Torsional constant, J | 22.2 in4 |
| Warping constant, Cw | 116000 in6 |
| Effective radius of gyration, rts | 3.15 in |
| Flange slenderness, bf/2tf | 4.81 |
| Web slenderness, h/tw | 42.4 |
W36×194 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 = 2,876 kip-ft | Mn/Ω = 1,914 kip-ft |
| Shear | φVn = 838 kips | Vn/Ω = 558 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 = 27.6 ft it buckles elastically. With uniform moment between braces (Cb = 1.0):
| Unbraced length, Lb | φMn (LRFD) | Mn/Ω (ASD) |
|---|---|---|
| Braced | 2,876 kip-ft | 1,914 kip-ft |
| 5 ft | 2,876 kip-ft | 1,914 kip-ft |
| 9.0 ft (Lp) | 2,876 kip-ft | 1,914 kip-ft |
| 10 ft | 2,818 kip-ft | 1,875 kip-ft |
| 15 ft | 2,512 kip-ft | 1,671 kip-ft |
| 20 ft | 2,207 kip-ft | 1,468 kip-ft |
| 25 ft | 1,901 kip-ft | 1,265 kip-ft |
| 27.6 ft (Lr) | 1,741 kip-ft | 1,158 kip-ft |
| 30 ft | 1,532 kip-ft | 1,019 kip-ft |
| 35 ft | 1,221 kip-ft | 812 kip-ft |
| 40 ft | 1,013 kip-ft | 674 kip-ft |
| 45 ft | 865 kip-ft | 575 kip-ft |
| 50 ft | 755 kip-ft | 502 kip-ft |
| 55 ft | 670 kip-ft | 446 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.
W36×194 load table by span
The largest uniform load a simply supported W36×194 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 0.194 kips per foot.
| Span | Factored load (LRFD) | Allowable load (ASD) | Load at span/360 | Load at span/240 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 ft | 71.0 | 47.3 | 89.1 | 133.7 |
| 20 ft | 57.5 | 38.3 | 65.0 | 97.5 |
| 22 ft | 47.5 | 31.6 | 48.8 | 73.2 |
| 24 ft | 39.9 | 26.6 | 37.6 | 56.4 |
| 26 ft | 34.0 | 22.6 | 29.6 | 44.4 |
| 28 ft | 29.3 | 19.5 | 23.7 | 35.5 |
| 30 ft | 25.6 | 17.0 | 19.3 | 28.9 |
| 32 ft | 22.5 | 15.0 | 15.9 | 23.8 |
| 34 ft | 19.9 | 13.2 | 13.2 | 19.8 |
| 36 ft | 17.8 | 11.8 | 11.1 | 16.7 |
| 38 ft | 15.9 | 10.6 | 9.47 | 14.2 |
| 40 ft | 14.4 | 9.57 | 8.12 | 12.2 |
| 42 ft | 13.0 | 8.68 | 7.02 | 10.5 |
| 44 ft | 11.9 | 7.91 | 6.10 | 9.15 |
| 46 ft | 10.9 | 7.24 | 5.34 | 8.01 |
| 48 ft | 9.99 | 6.64 | 4.70 | 7.05 |
| 50 ft | 9.20 | 6.12 | 4.16 | 6.24 |
| 52 ft | 8.51 | 5.66 | 3.70 | 5.55 |
| 54 ft | 7.89 | 5.25 | 3.30 | 4.95 |
| 56 ft | 7.34 | 4.88 | 2.96 | 4.44 |
| 58 ft | 6.84 | 4.55 | 2.66 | 4.00 |
| 60 ft | 6.39 | 4.25 | 2.41 | 3.61 |
| 62 ft | 5.99 | 3.98 | 2.18 | 3.27 |
| 64 ft | 5.62 | 3.74 | 1.98 | 2.97 |
| 66 ft | 5.28 | 3.51 | 1.81 | 2.71 |
| 68 ft | 4.98 | 3.31 | 1.65 | 2.48 |
| 70 ft | 4.70 | 3.12 | 1.52 | 2.27 |
| 72 ft | 4.44 | 2.95 | 1.39 | 2.09 |
| 74 ft | 4.20 | 2.80 | 1.28 | 1.92 |
| 76 ft | 3.98 | 2.65 | 1.18 | 1.78 |
| 78 ft | 3.78 | 2.52 | 1.10 | 1.64 |
| 80 ft | 3.60 | 2.39 | 1.02 | 1.52 |
| 82 ft | 3.42 | 2.28 | 0.94 | 1.41 |
| 84 ft | 3.26 | 2.17 | 0.88 | 1.32 |
| 86 ft | 3.11 | 2.07 | 0.82 | 1.23 |
| 88 ft | 2.97 | 1.98 | 0.76 | 1.14 |
| 90 ft | 2.84 | 1.89 | 0.71 | 1.07 |
- 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 W36×194 carries a factored load of 7.89 kips per foot (LRFD) or an allowable load of 5.25 kips per foot (ASD). A live load of 3.30 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.
W36×194 questions
What does W36×194 mean?
W means a wide flange shape. 36 is its nominal depth in inches (the actual depth is 36.5 in) and 194 is its weight in pounds per foot.
How much does a W36×194 weigh?
194 pounds per foot, so a 20 ft W36×194 weighs about 3,880 pounds.
How far can a W36×194 span?
It depends on the load. Braced along its length, it carries 71.0 kips per foot of factored load at 18 ft and 2.84 kips per foot at 90 ft; the load table has the spans in between. Floor beams are often 55 to 73 ft for this depth (span-to-depth ratios of about 18 to 24), where deflection usually governs.
Is a W36×194 a compact section?
Yes. Its flanges (bf/2tf = 4.81) and web (h/tw = 42.4) are both compact for bending in 50 ksi steel.