W36×210 Steel Beam
A W36×210 is a wide flange steel beam 36.7 inches deep with 12.2-inch flanges, weighing 210 pounds per foot. In ASTM A992 steel (Fy = 50 ksi) it has a design bending strength of 3,124 kip-ft (LRFD) when its compression flange is braced, and a design shear strength of 914 kips.
Design a W36×210 beam Opens a 56 ft span in the free beam designer.
W36×210 dimensions
| Dimension | Value |
|---|---|
| Depth, d | 36.7 in |
| Flange width, bf | 12.2 in |
| Flange thickness, tf | 1.36 in |
| Web thickness, tw | 0.830 in |
| Distance to web toe of fillet, kdes | 2.11 in |
| Distance between flange centroids, ho | 35.34 in |
| Cross-sectional area, A | 61.8 in2 |
| Weight | 210 lb/ft |
Dimensions are AISC design values. Detailing dimensions are rounded to the nearest 1/16 in.
W36×210 section properties
| Property | Strong axis (x) | Weak axis (y) |
|---|---|---|
| Moment of inertia, I | 13200 in4 | 411 in4 |
| Elastic section modulus, S | 719 in3 | 67.5 in3 |
| Plastic section modulus, Z | 833 in3 | 107 in3 |
| Radius of gyration, r | 14.6 in | 2.58 in |
| Torsion and slenderness | Value |
|---|---|
| Torsional constant, J | 28.0 in4 |
| Warping constant, Cw | 128000 in6 |
| Effective radius of gyration, rts | 3.18 in |
| Flange slenderness, bf/2tf | 4.48 |
| Web slenderness, h/tw | 39.1 |
W36×210 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 = 3,124 kip-ft | Mn/Ω = 2,078 kip-ft |
| Shear | φVn = 914 kips | Vn/Ω = 609 kips |
If the compression flange isn't braced, the beam can buckle sideways before it yields. Up to Lp = 9.1 ft between braces it keeps its full strength; past Lr = 28.5 ft it buckles elastically. With uniform moment between braces (Cb = 1.0):
| Unbraced length, Lb | φMn (LRFD) | Mn/Ω (ASD) |
|---|---|---|
| Braced | 3,124 kip-ft | 2,078 kip-ft |
| 5 ft | 3,124 kip-ft | 2,078 kip-ft |
| 9.1 ft (Lp) | 3,124 kip-ft | 2,078 kip-ft |
| 10 ft | 3,067 kip-ft | 2,041 kip-ft |
| 15 ft | 2,747 kip-ft | 1,828 kip-ft |
| 20 ft | 2,428 kip-ft | 1,615 kip-ft |
| 25 ft | 2,108 kip-ft | 1,403 kip-ft |
| 28.5 ft (Lr) | 1,885 kip-ft | 1,254 kip-ft |
| 30 ft | 1,743 kip-ft | 1,159 kip-ft |
| 35 ft | 1,396 kip-ft | 929 kip-ft |
| 40 ft | 1,163 kip-ft | 774 kip-ft |
| 45 ft | 997 kip-ft | 663 kip-ft |
| 50 ft | 872 kip-ft | 580 kip-ft |
| 55 ft | 776 kip-ft | 516 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.
W36×210 load table by span
The largest uniform load a simply supported W36×210 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 0.210 kips per foot.
| Span | Factored load (LRFD) | Allowable load (ASD) | Load at span/360 | Load at span/240 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 ft | 77.1 | 51.3 | 97.2 | 145.9 |
| 20 ft | 62.5 | 41.6 | 70.9 | 106.3 |
| 22 ft | 51.6 | 34.4 | 53.3 | 79.9 |
| 24 ft | 43.4 | 28.9 | 41.0 | 61.5 |
| 26 ft | 37.0 | 24.6 | 32.3 | 48.4 |
| 28 ft | 31.9 | 21.2 | 25.8 | 38.8 |
| 30 ft | 27.8 | 18.5 | 21.0 | 31.5 |
| 32 ft | 24.4 | 16.2 | 17.3 | 26.0 |
| 34 ft | 21.6 | 14.4 | 14.4 | 21.6 |
| 36 ft | 19.3 | 12.8 | 12.2 | 18.2 |
| 38 ft | 17.3 | 11.5 | 10.3 | 15.5 |
| 40 ft | 15.6 | 10.4 | 8.86 | 13.3 |
| 42 ft | 14.2 | 9.43 | 7.65 | 11.5 |
| 44 ft | 12.9 | 8.59 | 6.66 | 9.99 |
| 46 ft | 11.8 | 7.86 | 5.83 | 8.74 |
| 48 ft | 10.8 | 7.22 | 5.13 | 7.69 |
| 50 ft | 10.00 | 6.65 | 4.54 | 6.81 |
| 52 ft | 9.24 | 6.15 | 4.03 | 6.05 |
| 54 ft | 8.57 | 5.70 | 3.60 | 5.40 |
| 56 ft | 7.97 | 5.30 | 3.23 | 4.84 |
| 58 ft | 7.43 | 4.94 | 2.91 | 4.36 |
| 60 ft | 6.94 | 4.62 | 2.63 | 3.94 |
| 62 ft | 6.50 | 4.33 | 2.38 | 3.57 |
| 64 ft | 6.10 | 4.06 | 2.16 | 3.25 |
| 66 ft | 5.74 | 3.82 | 1.97 | 2.96 |
| 68 ft | 5.40 | 3.60 | 1.80 | 2.71 |
| 70 ft | 5.10 | 3.39 | 1.65 | 2.48 |
| 72 ft | 4.82 | 3.21 | 1.52 | 2.28 |
| 74 ft | 4.56 | 3.04 | 1.40 | 2.10 |
| 76 ft | 4.33 | 2.88 | 1.29 | 1.94 |
| 78 ft | 4.11 | 2.73 | 1.20 | 1.79 |
| 80 ft | 3.90 | 2.60 | 1.11 | 1.66 |
| 82 ft | 3.72 | 2.47 | 1.03 | 1.54 |
| 84 ft | 3.54 | 2.36 | 0.96 | 1.44 |
| 86 ft | 3.38 | 2.25 | 0.89 | 1.34 |
| 88 ft | 3.23 | 2.15 | 0.83 | 1.25 |
| 90 ft | 3.09 | 2.05 | 0.78 | 1.17 |
| 92 ft | 2.95 | 1.96 | 0.73 | 1.09 |
- 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 56 ft span, a W36×210 carries a factored load of 7.97 kips per foot (LRFD) or an allowable load of 5.30 kips per foot (ASD). A live load of 3.23 kips per foot would deflect it span/360, which is 1.87 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.
W36×210 questions
What does W36×210 mean?
W means a wide flange shape. 36 is its nominal depth in inches (the actual depth is 36.7 in) and 210 is its weight in pounds per foot.
How much does a W36×210 weigh?
210 pounds per foot, so a 20 ft W36×210 weighs about 4,200 pounds.
How far can a W36×210 span?
It depends on the load. Braced along its length, it carries 77.1 kips per foot of factored load at 18 ft and 2.95 kips per foot at 92 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 W36×210 a compact section?
Yes. Its flanges (bf/2tf = 4.48) and web (h/tw = 39.1) are both compact for bending in 50 ksi steel.