W14x48 Section Properties
The W14x48 is a wide-flange steel section weighing 48 lb/ft (71.4 kg/m) with a nominal depth of 14 inches. It is one of the most versatile medium-weight sections in the AISC inventory, widely used as both a beam and a column section. Its relatively square proportions (d/bf ratio close to 1.7) give it good weak-axis stiffness compared to deeper, lighter beams, making it an excellent choice for beam-columns and unbraced frames.
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Complete Section Properties (Imperial)
| Property | Symbol | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | d | 13.8 | in |
| Flange Width | bf | 8.030 | in |
| Flange Thickness | tf | 0.595 | in |
| Web Thickness | tw | 0.340 | in |
| Cross-Sectional Area | A | 14.1 | in² |
| Weight per Foot | wt | 48 | lb/ft |
| Moment of Inertia (strong axis) | Ix | 485 | in⁴ |
| Elastic Section Modulus (strong axis) | Sx | 70.3 | in³ |
| Plastic Section Modulus (strong axis) | Zx | 78.4 | in³ |
| Radius of Gyration (strong axis) | rx | 5.85 | in |
| Moment of Inertia (weak axis) | Iy | 51.4 | in⁴ |
| Elastic Section Modulus (weak axis) | Sy | 12.8 | in³ |
| Plastic Section Modulus (weak axis) | Zy | 19.6 | in³ |
| Radius of Gyration (weak axis) | ry | 1.91 | in |
| Torsional Constant | J | 1.45 | in⁴ |
| Warping Constant | Cw | 2240 | in⁶ |
Metric Equivalents
| Property | Symbol | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | d | 351 | mm |
| Flange Width | bf | 204 | mm |
| Flange Thickness | tf | 15.1 | mm |
| Web Thickness | tw | 8.64 | mm |
| Cross-Sectional Area | A | 9,097 | mm² |
| Weight per Metre | wt | 71.4 | kg/m |
| Moment of Inertia (strong axis) | Ix | 202 x 10⁶ | mm⁴ |
| Elastic Section Modulus (strong axis) | Sx | 1,152 x 10³ | mm³ |
| Plastic Section Modulus (strong axis) | Zx | 1,285 x 10³ | mm³ |
AISC 360 Compactness Classification
For A992 steel (Fy = 50 ksi, E = 29,000 ksi):
Flange: bf/(2tf) = 8.030 / (2 x 0.595) = 6.75. Compact limit = 0.38 x sqrt(29,000/50) = 9.15. Since 6.75 < 9.15, the flange is compact.
Web: h/tw. For W14x48 with k = 1.19 in: h/tw = (13.8 - 2 x 1.19) / 0.340 = 11.42 / 0.340 = 33.6. Compact limit = 3.76 x sqrt(29,000/50) = 90.6. Since 33.6 < 90.6, the web is compact.
Classification: Compact section -- full plastic moment Mp can be developed.
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) | 294 ft-kips | Yielding (Mp) |
| 6 ft | 294 ft-kips | Yielding (Lb < Lp) |
| 10 ft | 272 ft-kips | Inelastic LTB |
| 15 ft | 216 ft-kips | Inelastic LTB |
| 20 ft | 160 ft-kips | Elastic LTB |
| 25 ft | 110 ft-kips | Elastic LTB |
Lateral bracing limits: Lp = 5.90 ft (based on ry = 1.91 in). Lr = 17.5 ft. The W14x48 has significantly better unbraced performance than lighter W14 sections due to its wider flange and higher ry.
Shear Capacity (phi = 1.00)
phi x Vn = 1.00 x 0.6 x 50 x (13.8 x 0.340) = 141 kips
Axial Compression Capacity (phi = 0.90, K = 1.0)
| Effective Length KL | KL/ry | phi x Pn (kips) | Fcr (ksi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 ft | 62.8 | 493 | 38.9 |
| 12 ft | 75.4 | 455 | 35.9 |
| 14 ft | 88.0 | 410 | 32.3 |
| 16 ft | 100.5 | 360 | 28.4 |
| 18 ft | 113.1 | 308 | 24.3 |
Weak-axis buckling governs (ry = 1.91 in < rx = 5.85 in). For strong-axis buckling, effective lengths up to 36 ft remain below KL/rx = 75.
Common Applications for W14x48
The W14x48 is a dual-purpose section that performs well as both a beam and a column:
- Columns in multi-story frames (3-8 stories) where it carries both axial load and bending moment. Its relatively wide flange (bf = 8.03 in) provides good weak-axis column stability and accommodates standard bolted connections.
- Medium-span floor beams spanning 20-30 ft with moderate to heavy loads (offices, hospital corridors, retail).
- Transfer beams in low-rise construction carrying concentrated column loads from above.
- Crane runway beams for light-duty overhead cranes (up to 5-ton capacity) at moderate spans.
- Moment frame beams in ordinary moment frames (OMF) and intermediate moment frames (IMF) where moderate ductility is required.
The W14x48 competes with the W16x40 (Ix = 518 in⁴, Zx = 73.0 in³) for beam applications and with the W12x58 (A = 17.0 in², ry = 2.51 in) for column applications. As a beam, the W16x40 provides more Ix at less weight but has a smaller ry (1.57 in), meaning it needs closer lateral bracing. As a column, the W12x58 has better ry but costs more per foot.
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 |
| A913 Gr 50 | ASTM A913/A913M | 50 | 65 | QST process; enhanced toughness for seismic |
| A913 Gr 65 | ASTM A913/A913M | 65 | 80 | High-strength for heavy column applications |
Comparison with Adjacent Sections
| Property | W14x43 | W14x48 | W14x53 | W16x40 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (lb/ft) | 43 | 48 | 53 | 40 |
| d (in) | 13.7 | 13.8 | 13.9 | 16.0 |
| Ix (in⁴) | 428 | 485 | 541 | 518 |
| Zx (in³) | 69.6 | 78.4 | 87.1 | 73.0 |
| ry (in) | 1.89 | 1.91 | 1.92 | 1.57 |
| A (in²) | 12.6 | 14.1 | 15.6 | 11.8 |
Run This Calculation
Beam Capacity Calculator -- check W14x48 bending, shear, and LTB capacity per AISC 360, AS 4100, EN 1993, or CSA S16.
Column Capacity Calculator -- check W14x48 axial compression capacity with KL/r slenderness.
Beam Deflection Calculator -- calculate deflection for W14x48 under any loading pattern.
Related Pages
- Section Properties Database
- W-Shape Beam Sizes -- Complete Table
- Steel Beam Load Tables
- Steel Grades Reference
- Column K-Factor Guide
- steel grade reference
- W10x26 section properties
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