W6X8.5 Steel Beam — Section Properties
Dimensions
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Depth (d) | 5.83 | in (148.1 mm) |
| Flange Width (bf) | 3.94 | in (100.1 mm) |
| Flange Thickness (tf) | 0.20 | in |
| Web Thickness (tw) | 0.17 | in |
| Area (A) | 2.52 | in² (16.3 cm²) |
| Weight | 8.50 | lb/ft (13 kg/m) |
Elastic Section Properties
| Property | Strong Axis (X-X) | Weak Axis (Y-Y) | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moment of Inertia (I) | 14.90 | 1.99 | in⁴ |
| Elastic Section Modulus (S) | 5.10 | 1.01 | in³ |
| Plastic Section Modulus (Z) | 5.73 | 1.56 | in³ |
| Radius of Gyration (r) | 2.43 | 0.89 | in |
Torsional Properties
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Torsional Constant (J) | 0.03 | in⁴ |
| Warping Constant (Cw) | 15.80 | in⁶ |
| Distance Between Flange Centroids (ho) | 5.64 | in |
| Effective Radius (rts) | 1.05 | in |
Section Profile Summary
A wide flange with parallel flange faces — makes bolted and welded connections straightforward to detail. At Ix = 14.9 in⁴, the strong-axis stiffness places it in the light beam category for preliminary sizing.
At 5.83" deep — one of the smallest standard sections available. Used for light-duty lintels, bracing, handrail posts, and miscellaneous structural iron.
Key Design Checks (AISC 360)
| Check | Formula | This Section |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic moment | Mp = Zx × Fy | 286.5 kip-in |
| Deflection | Δ = 5wL⁴/(384EIx) | Use Ix = 14.9 in⁴ |
| Torsion | St. Venant = GJ/L | J = 0.03 in⁴ |
| Column buckling | KL/r → Fcr | r_x = 2.43 in |
Design Notes
- Compactness: Most W-shapes in ASTM A992 satisfy the compact limits in AISC 360 Table B4.1b for flexure (λ ≤ λp). This allows full plastic moment Mp development before local buckling occurs.
- Flange local buckling (FLB): The flange slenderness ratio bf/2tf is compared against λpf = 0.38√(E/Fy) ≈ 9.15 for compact sections.
- Web local buckling (WLB): h/tw is checked against λpw = 3.76√(E/Fy) ≈ 90.5 for flexure, and a more restrictive limit for uniform compression.
- Lateral-torsional buckling (LTB): Lp ≈ 37.7 in (plastic limit). For unbraced lengths ≤ Lp, the full plastic moment is available. Between Lp and Lr, linear interpolation per AISC 360 Eq. F2-2 applies.
Verification (AISC 360): All designs using this section must be verified by a licensed Professional Engineer. Before finalizing member selection, check beam-column interaction (P-M), lateral-torsional buckling, serviceability deflections, and all connection limit states. See Engineering Disclaimer.
Worked Example: Warehouse mezzanine beam — w6x8.5
Scenario: Mezzanine beam in a warehouse — storage live load governs design. Simply supported wide flange, 12 ft span, 5 ft tributary width. Service loads: 30 psf dead + 125 psf live (775 plf total).
Given:
- Span L = 12 ft (144 in)
- Total service load w = 775 plf
- Live load portion w_L = 625 plf
- Section w6x8.5: Ix = 14.9 in⁴, Sx = 5.1 in³, Zx = 5.73 in³
- Steel: ASTM A992, Fy = 50 ksi, E = 29,000 ksi
- Design moment strength: φMn = 0.9 × Zx × Fy = 21 kip-ft
Step 1 — Live load deflection check:
Δ_LL = 5 w_L L⁴ / (384 E Ix)
Δ_LL = 5 × (625/12) × (144)⁴ / (384 × 29,000,000 × 14.9)
Δ_LL = 0.67 in
Step 2 — Allowable deflection (IBC Table 1604.3, L/240):
Δ_allow = L / 240 = 144 / 240 = 0.60 in
Step 3 — Dead + live deflection:
Δ_total = 0.84 in
Step 4 — Design check:
⚠ Live load deflection exceeds L/240 — consider a deeper section, reduce tributary width, or shorten the span.
The required flexural strength at ultimate is approximately w_u L²/8. With factored loads 1.2D + 1.6L, verify φMn = 21 kip-ft is adequate per AISC 360 Chapter F. Also check shear capacity (φVn = 0.6 Fy Aw × 0.9) and bearing at supports.
Related Resources
- Steel Beam Capacity Calculator
- Column Capacity Calculator
- Beam Deflection Calculator
- Section Properties Calculator
- Steel Grades Reference
- Section Comparison Tool
Design Resources
- Section Properties Lookup — Compare with similar sections
- Steel Beam Sizes Reference — Standard beam dimensions
Educational reference only. Verify all section properties against the current AISC 360 Manual and mill certificates before design. Results are PRELIMINARY — NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION.