W10x26 Section Properties
The W10x26 is a wide-flange steel section weighing 26 lb/ft (38.7 kg/m) with a nominal depth of 10 inches. It is a popular light beam section for short to moderate spans in commercial, industrial, and residential construction. The W10x26 provides 40% more Ix than the W8x24 at the cost of only 2 inches of additional depth, making it a strong choice when floor depth can accommodate 10 inches.
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Complete Section Properties (Imperial)
| Property | Symbol | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | d | 10.3 | in |
| Flange Width | bf | 5.770 | in |
| Flange Thickness | tf | 0.440 | in |
| Web Thickness | tw | 0.260 | in |
| Cross-Sectional Area | A | 7.61 | in² |
| Weight per Foot | wt | 26 | lb/ft |
| Moment of Inertia (strong axis) | Ix | 144 | in⁴ |
| Elastic Section Modulus (strong axis) | Sx | 27.9 | in³ |
| Plastic Section Modulus (strong axis) | Zx | 31.3 | in³ |
| Radius of Gyration (strong axis) | rx | 4.35 | in |
| Moment of Inertia (weak axis) | Iy | 14.1 | in⁴ |
| Elastic Section Modulus (weak axis) | Sy | 4.89 | in³ |
| Plastic Section Modulus (weak axis) | Zy | 7.50 | in³ |
| Radius of Gyration (weak axis) | ry | 1.36 | in |
| Torsional Constant | J | 0.402 | in⁴ |
| Warping Constant | Cw | 534 | in⁶ |
Metric Equivalents
| Property | Symbol | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | d | 262 | mm |
| Flange Width | bf | 147 | mm |
| Flange Thickness | tf | 11.2 | mm |
| Web Thickness | tw | 6.60 | mm |
| Cross-Sectional Area | A | 4,910 | mm² |
| Weight per Metre | wt | 38.7 | kg/m |
| Moment of Inertia (strong axis) | Ix | 59.9 x 10⁶ | mm⁴ |
| Elastic Section Modulus (strong axis) | Sx | 457 x 10³ | mm³ |
| Plastic Section Modulus (strong axis) | Zx | 513 x 10³ | mm³ |
AISC 360 Compactness Classification
For A992 steel (Fy = 50 ksi, E = 29,000 ksi):
Flange: bf/(2tf) = 5.770 / (2 x 0.440) = 6.56. Compact limit = 9.15. Since 6.56 < 9.15, the flange is compact.
Web: h/tw. For W10x26 with k = 0.990 in: h/tw = (10.3 - 2 x 0.990) / 0.260 = 8.32 / 0.260 = 32.0. Compact limit = 90.6. Since 32.0 < 90.6, the web is compact.
Classification: Compact section -- full plastic moment Mp = Fy x Zx = 50 x 31.3 = 1,565 in-kips = 130 ft-kips (nominal).
Design Capacity Summary (AISC 360 LRFD, A992 Fy = 50 ksi)
Flexural Capacity (phi = 0.90)
| Unbraced Length Lb | phi x Mn | Governing Limit State |
|---|---|---|
| 0 ft (full bracing) | 117 ft-kips | Yielding (Mp) |
| 4 ft | 117 ft-kips | Yielding (Lb < Lp) |
| 8 ft | 93.9 ft-kips | Inelastic LTB |
| 12 ft | 64.3 ft-kips | Inelastic LTB |
| 16 ft | 39.2 ft-kips | Elastic LTB |
Lateral bracing limits: Lp = 4.20 ft (based on ry = 1.36 in). Lr = 12.6 ft. The W10x26 has a relatively narrow flange (bf = 5.77 in) and correspondingly low ry, which means it is sensitive to lateral-torsional buckling. In composite floor construction with metal deck, the top flange is continuously braced and this is not an issue.
Shear Capacity (phi = 1.00)
phi x Vn = 1.00 x 0.6 x 50 x (10.3 x 0.260) = 80.3 kips
Deflection Screening
For a simply supported W10x26 under uniform load (Ix = 144 in⁴):
| Span | Max Service Load for L/360 | Max Service Load for L/240 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 ft | 2.16 kip/ft | 3.24 kip/ft |
| 15 ft | 1.13 kip/ft | 1.69 kip/ft |
| 18 ft | 0.64 kip/ft | 0.97 kip/ft |
| 20 ft | 0.45 kip/ft | 0.67 kip/ft |
Common Applications for W10x26
- Short-span floor beams (12-20 ft) in light commercial and residential construction with typical 40-50 psf live loads.
- Roof purlins and secondary framing in metal building systems and industrial structures.
- Light industrial mezzanine beams where floor depth is constrained but span is moderate.
- Infill beams between primary girders at close spacing (6-8 ft on center).
- Header beams over door and window openings in steel-framed buildings.
The W10x26 competes directly with the W12x22 (Ix = 156 in⁴, Zx = 29.3 in³) and the W8x31 (Ix = 110 in⁴, Zx = 30.4 in³). The W12x22 provides 8% more Ix at 15% less weight but has ry = 1.04 in -- extremely susceptible to LTB when the compression flange is not continuously braced. The W8x31 provides less Ix but much better ry (2.02 in), making it superior when lateral bracing is sparse. In composite floor construction where the top flange is continuously braced, the W12x22 is usually the most economical choice.
Available Steel Grades
| Grade | Specification | Fy (ksi) | Fu (ksi) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A992 | ASTM A992/A992M | 50 | 65 | Current standard for W-shapes |
| A572 Gr 50 | ASTM A572/A572M | 50 | 65 | Acceptable alternate |
| A36 | ASTM A36/A36M | 36 | 58 | Legacy; rarely produced for W-shapes |
Comparison with Adjacent Sections
| Property | W10x22 | W10x26 | W10x30 | W12x22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (lb/ft) | 22 | 26 | 30 | 22 |
| d (in) | 10.2 | 10.3 | 10.5 | 12.3 |
| Ix (in⁴) | 118 | 144 | 170 | 156 |
| Sx (in³) | 23.2 | 27.9 | 32.4 | 25.4 |
| Zx (in³) | 26.0 | 31.3 | 36.6 | 29.3 |
| ry (in) | 1.33 | 1.36 | 1.37 | 1.04 |
The W10x26 provides an 18% improvement in Zx over the W10x22 for an 18% weight increase -- an almost exactly proportional trade-off. Moving up to the W10x30 gives another 17% more Zx for 15% more weight, a slightly better return.
Run This Calculation
Beam Capacity Calculator -- check W10x26 bending, shear, and LTB capacity per AISC 360, AS 4100, EN 1993, or CSA S16.
Beam Deflection Calculator -- calculate deflection for W10x26 under point loads, UDL, or combined loading.
Beam Span Screener -- find the lightest W-shape for your span and load.
Related Pages
- Section Properties Database
- W-Shape Beam Sizes -- Complete Table
- Steel Beam Load Tables
- Steel Grades Reference
- Beam Formulas Reference
- Column capacity calculator
- Steel grades reference
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