W36×529 Steel Beam
A W36×529 is a wide flange steel beam 39.8 inches deep with 17.2-inch flanges, weighing 529 pounds per foot. In ASTM A992 steel (Fy = 50 ksi) it has a design bending strength of 8,738 kip-ft (LRFD) when its compression flange is braced, and a design shear strength of 1,922 kips.
Design a W36×529 beam Opens a 60 ft span in the free beam designer.
W36×529 dimensions
| Dimension | Value |
|---|---|
| Depth, d | 39.8 in |
| Flange width, bf | 17.2 in |
| Flange thickness, tf | 2.91 in |
| Web thickness, tw | 1.61 in |
| Distance to web toe of fillet, kdes | 3.86 in |
| Distance between flange centroids, ho | 36.89 in |
| Cross-sectional area, A | 156 in2 |
| Weight | 529 lb/ft |
Dimensions are AISC design values. Detailing dimensions are rounded to the nearest 1/16 in.
W36×529 section properties
| Property | Strong axis (x) | Weak axis (y) |
|---|---|---|
| Moment of inertia, I | 39600 in4 | 2490 in4 |
| Elastic section modulus, S | 1990 in3 | 289 in3 |
| Plastic section modulus, Z | 2330 in3 | 454 in3 |
| Radius of gyration, r | 16.0 in | 4.00 in |
| Torsion and slenderness | Value |
|---|---|
| Torsional constant, J | 327 in4 |
| Warping constant, Cw | 846000 in6 |
| Effective radius of gyration, rts | 4.80 in |
| Flange slenderness, bf/2tf | 2.96 |
| Web slenderness, h/tw | 19.9 |
W36×529 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 = 8,738 kip-ft | Mn/Ω = 5,813 kip-ft |
| Shear | φVn = 1,922 kips | Vn/Ω = 1,282 kips |
If the compression flange isn't braced, the beam can buckle sideways before it yields. Up to Lp = 14.1 ft between braces it keeps its full strength; past Lr = 64.3 ft it buckles elastically. With uniform moment between braces (Cb = 1.0):
| Unbraced length, Lb | φMn (LRFD) | Mn/Ω (ASD) |
|---|---|---|
| Braced | 8,738 kip-ft | 5,813 kip-ft |
| 10 ft | 8,738 kip-ft | 5,813 kip-ft |
| 14.1 ft (Lp) | 8,737 kip-ft | 5,813 kip-ft |
| 20 ft | 8,327 kip-ft | 5,540 kip-ft |
| 30 ft | 7,627 kip-ft | 5,075 kip-ft |
| 40 ft | 6,927 kip-ft | 4,609 kip-ft |
| 50 ft | 6,228 kip-ft | 4,143 kip-ft |
| 60 ft | 5,528 kip-ft | 3,678 kip-ft |
| 64.4 ft (Lr) | 5,220 kip-ft | 3,473 kip-ft |
| 70 ft | 4,762 kip-ft | 3,168 kip-ft |
| 80 ft | 4,124 kip-ft | 2,744 kip-ft |
| 90 ft | 3,640 kip-ft | 2,422 kip-ft |
| 100 ft | 3,259 kip-ft | 2,169 kip-ft |
| 110 ft | 2,952 kip-ft | 1,964 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.
W36×529 load table by span
The largest uniform load a simply supported W36×529 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 0.529 kips per foot.
| Span | Factored load (LRFD) | Allowable load (ASD) | Load at span/360 | Load at span/240 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ft | 174.8 | 116.3 | 212.7 | 319.0 |
| 22 ft | 144.4 | 96.1 | 159.8 | 239.7 |
| 24 ft | 121.4 | 80.7 | 123.1 | 184.6 |
| 26 ft | 103.4 | 68.8 | 96.8 | 145.2 |
| 28 ft | 89.2 | 59.3 | 77.5 | 116.3 |
| 30 ft | 77.7 | 51.7 | 63.0 | 94.5 |
| 32 ft | 68.3 | 45.4 | 51.9 | 77.9 |
| 34 ft | 60.5 | 40.2 | 43.3 | 64.9 |
| 36 ft | 53.9 | 35.9 | 36.5 | 54.7 |
| 38 ft | 48.4 | 32.2 | 31.0 | 46.5 |
| 40 ft | 43.7 | 29.1 | 26.6 | 39.9 |
| 42 ft | 39.6 | 26.4 | 23.0 | 34.4 |
| 44 ft | 36.1 | 24.0 | 20.0 | 30.0 |
| 46 ft | 33.0 | 22.0 | 17.5 | 26.2 |
| 48 ft | 30.3 | 20.2 | 15.4 | 23.1 |
| 50 ft | 28.0 | 18.6 | 13.6 | 20.4 |
| 52 ft | 25.9 | 17.2 | 12.1 | 18.1 |
| 54 ft | 24.0 | 15.9 | 10.8 | 16.2 |
| 56 ft | 22.3 | 14.8 | 9.69 | 14.5 |
| 58 ft | 20.8 | 13.8 | 8.72 | 13.1 |
| 60 ft | 19.4 | 12.9 | 7.88 | 11.8 |
| 62 ft | 18.2 | 12.1 | 7.14 | 10.7 |
| 64 ft | 17.1 | 11.4 | 6.49 | 9.74 |
| 66 ft | 16.0 | 10.7 | 5.92 | 8.88 |
| 68 ft | 15.1 | 10.1 | 5.41 | 8.12 |
| 70 ft | 14.3 | 9.49 | 4.96 | 7.44 |
| 72 ft | 13.5 | 8.97 | 4.56 | 6.84 |
| 74 ft | 12.8 | 8.49 | 4.20 | 6.30 |
| 76 ft | 12.1 | 8.05 | 3.88 | 5.81 |
| 78 ft | 11.5 | 7.64 | 3.59 | 5.38 |
| 80 ft | 10.9 | 7.27 | 3.32 | 4.98 |
| 82 ft | 10.4 | 6.92 | 3.09 | 4.63 |
| 84 ft | 9.91 | 6.59 | 2.87 | 4.31 |
| 86 ft | 9.45 | 6.29 | 2.67 | 4.01 |
| 88 ft | 9.03 | 6.01 | 2.50 | 3.74 |
| 90 ft | 8.63 | 5.74 | 2.33 | 3.50 |
| 92 ft | 8.26 | 5.49 | 2.18 | 3.28 |
| 94 ft | 7.91 | 5.26 | 2.05 | 3.07 |
| 96 ft | 7.58 | 5.05 | 1.92 | 2.88 |
| 98 ft | 7.28 | 4.84 | 1.81 | 2.71 |
| 100 ft | 6.99 | 4.65 | 1.70 | 2.55 |
- 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 60 ft span, a W36×529 carries a factored load of 19.4 kips per foot (LRFD) or an allowable load of 12.9 kips per foot (ASD). A live load of 7.88 kips per foot would deflect it span/360, which is 2.00 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.
W36×529 questions
What does W36×529 mean?
W means a wide flange shape. 36 is its nominal depth in inches (the actual depth is 39.8 in) and 529 is its weight in pounds per foot.
How much does a W36×529 weigh?
529 pounds per foot, so a 20 ft W36×529 weighs about 10,580 pounds.
How far can a W36×529 span?
It depends on the load. Braced along its length, it carries 174.8 kips per foot of factored load at 20 ft and 6.99 kips per foot at 100 ft; the load table has the spans in between. Floor beams are often 60 to 80 ft for this depth (span-to-depth ratios of about 18 to 24), where deflection usually governs.
Is a W36×529 a compact section?
Yes. Its flanges (bf/2tf = 2.96) and web (h/tw = 19.9) are both compact for bending in 50 ksi steel.