Strength of materials · beam selection
Size a steel beam profile
Compare suitable verified profiles for a defined beam, load and acceptance criteria.
Created v1.0
By Thibaut Grzelak, Mechanical Analysis Engineer
The comparison uses 15 verified steel profiles with traceable properties.
Strength of materials · beam selection
Inputs
Selected profile
IPE 160Lowest mass passing profile
15 Profiles tested12 Profiles passing
Stress
69.061 %
110.497 MPa / 160 MPa
Deflection
65.742 %
8.766 mm / 13.333 mm
Beam diagram
δmax = F L³ / (48 E I)Profiles tested: 15 · Profiles passing: 12
Profiles close to the selection
8.1 kg/m
- Stress
- 219.298 %
- Deflection
- 334.169 %
- Governing check
- 334.169 %
15.8 kg/m
- Stress
- 69.061 %
- Deflection
- 65.742 %
- Governing check
- 69.061 %
16.7 kg/m
- Stress
- 103.093 %
- Deflection
- 163.639 %
- Governing check
- 163.639 %
20.4 kg/m
- Stress
- 83.426 %
- Deflection
- 127.125 %
- Governing check
- 127.125 %
22.4 kg/m
- Stress
- 38.6 %
- Deflection
- 29.41 %
- Governing check
- 38.6 %
30.4 kg/m
- Stress
- 34.075 %
- Deflection
- 34.176 %
- Governing check
- 34.176 %
30.7 kg/m
- Stress
- 23.127 %
- Deflection
- 14.686 %
- Governing check
- 23.127 %
42.2 kg/m
- Stress
- 13.465 %
- Deflection
- 6.839 %
- Governing check
- 13.465 %
42.3 kg/m
- Stress
- 19.3 %
- Deflection
- 15.477 %
- Governing check
- 19.3 %
42.6 kg/m
- Stress
- 24.085 %
- Deflection
- 22.94 %
- Governing check
- 24.085 %
50.5 kg/m
- Stress
- 14.557 %
- Deflection
- 10.564 %
- Governing check
- 14.557 %
60.3 kg/m
- Stress
- 11.111 %
- Deflection
- 7.361 %
- Governing check
- 11.111 %
61.3 kg/m
- Stress
- 13.167 %
- Deflection
- 10.032 %
- Governing check
- 13.167 %
71.5 kg/m
- Stress
- 10.197 %
- Deflection
- 7.063 %
- Governing check
- 10.197 %
83.2 kg/m
- Stress
- 7.994 %
- Deflection
- 5.079 %
- Governing check
- 7.994 %
Show tested profiles (15)
| Profile | Family | Mass | Bending stress / Stress utilization | Deflection / Deflection utilization | Governing check | Status | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPE 100 | IPE | 8.1 | 350.877 MPa219.298 % | 44.556 mm334.169 % | Deflection | Stress and deflection limits exceeded | View profileCheck beam deflectionCheck bending stress |
| IPE 160 | IPE | 15.8 | 110.497 MPa69.061 % | 8.766 mm65.742 % | Stress | Pass | View profileCheck beam deflectionCheck bending stress |
| HEA 100 | HEA | 16.7 | 164.948 MPa103.093 % | 21.819 mm163.639 % | Deflection | Stress and deflection limits exceeded | View profileCheck beam deflectionCheck bending stress |
| HEB 100 | HEB | 20.4 | 133.482 MPa83.426 % | 16.95 mm127.125 % | Deflection | Deflection limit exceeded | View profileCheck beam deflectionCheck bending stress |
| IPE 200 | IPE | 22.4 | 61.76 MPa38.6 % | 3.921 mm29.41 % | Stress | Pass | View profileCheck beam deflectionCheck bending stress |
| HEA 160 | HEA | 30.4 | 54.521 MPa34.075 % | 4.557 mm34.176 % | Deflection | Pass | View profileCheck beam deflectionCheck bending stress |
| IPE 240 | IPE | 30.7 | 37.003 MPa23.127 % | 1.958 mm14.686 % | Stress | Pass | View profileCheck beam deflectionCheck bending stress |
| IPE 300 | IPE | 42.2 | 21.544 MPa13.465 % | 0.912 mm6.839 % | Stress | Pass | View profileCheck beam deflectionCheck bending stress |
| HEA 200 | HEA | 42.3 | 30.88 MPa19.3 % | 2.064 mm15.477 % | Stress | Pass | View profileCheck beam deflectionCheck bending stress |
| HEB 160 | HEB | 42.6 | 38.536 MPa24.085 % | 3.059 mm22.94 % | Stress | Pass | View profileCheck beam deflectionCheck bending stress |
| HEA 220 | HEA | 50.5 | 23.292 MPa14.557 % | 1.409 mm10.564 % | Stress | Pass | View profileCheck beam deflectionCheck bending stress |
| HEA 240 | HEA | 60.3 | 17.778 MPa11.111 % | 0.981 mm7.361 % | Stress | Pass | View profileCheck beam deflectionCheck bending stress |
| HEB 200 | HEB | 61.3 | 21.067 MPa13.167 % | 1.338 mm10.032 % | Stress | Pass | View profileCheck beam deflectionCheck bending stress |
| HEB 220 | HEB | 71.5 | 16.315 MPa10.197 % | 0.942 mm7.063 % | Stress | Pass | View profileCheck beam deflectionCheck bending stress |
| HEB 240 | HEB | 83.2 | 12.79 MPa7.994 % | 0.677 mm5.079 % | Stress | Pass | View profileCheck beam deflectionCheck bending stress |
Strength of materials · beam selection
Understand the sizing
Compare suitable verified profiles for a defined beam, load and acceptance criteria. The comparison uses 15 verified steel profiles with traceable properties.
- Inputs
Beam case · Span length · Young’s modulus · Point load/Distributed load · Allowable bending stress · Deflection limit
- Profile families
Bending axis · Acceptance criteria · Bending stress · Deflection
- Profile comparison
Lowest mass passing profile · Governing criterion · Mass · Stress · Deflection
The lightest profile that passes the selected stress and deflection criteria is highlighted.
02
Calculation assumptions and limits
- The calculation uses linear-elastic beam theory.
- Loads and support conditions match the selected idealized beam case.
- The selected profile properties and material modulus are applicable.
- This pre-sizing tool does not replace a code-based structural verification.
Properties are traceable, but final design remains the responsibility of the qualified engineer.
03 · FAQ
FAQ
Which profile is selected?
The lightest profile that passes the selected stress and deflection criteria is highlighted.
Why can the weak axis govern?
A profile has much less bending stiffness about its weak axis.
Can this result be used for construction?
Use it for preliminary selection, then complete the required design checks.