HSS24X12X1/4 Steel Rectangular HSS — Section Properties

Dimensions

Property Value Unit
Height (h) 24 609.6 mm
Width (w) 12 304.8 mm
Wall Thickness (t) 0.25 6.3 mm
Area (A) 16.4 in² 105.8 cm²
Weight 59.85 lb/ft 89.1 kg/m

Elastic Section Properties

Property Strong Axis (X-X) Weak Axis (Y-Y) Unit
Moment of Inertia (I) 1280 442 in⁴
Elastic Section Modulus (S) 106 73.6 in³
Plastic Section Modulus (Z) 129 80.5 in³
Radius of Gyration (r) 8.82 5.19 in

Torsional Properties

Property Value Unit
Torsional Constant (J) 1030 in⁴
Warping Constant (Cw) 0 in⁶

Section Profile Summary

Closed tubular section with J = 1,030 in⁴ — torsional stiffness is significantly higher than an open section of equivalent weight. The flat faces accept welded gusset and end-plate connections without stiffeners.

Key Design Checks (AISC 360)

Check Formula This Section
Plastic moment Mp = Zx × Fy 6,450 kip-in
Deflection Δ = 5wL⁴/(384EIx) Use Ix = 1,280 in⁴
Torsion St. Venant = GJ/L J = 1,030 in⁴
Column buckling KL/r → Fcr r_x = 8.82 in

Design Notes

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: Column Capacity — hss24x12x1-4

Scenario: Braced frame diagonal in an industrial building Unbraced length L = 15 ft.

Given:

Step 1 — Slenderness ratio:

KL/r = 180 / 8.82 = 20

Step 2 — Determine critical stress Fcr (AISC 360 Chapter E):

Elastic buckling stress: Fe = π²E / (KL/r)² = π² × 29,000 / (20)² = 716 ksi

For HSS with KL/r ≤ 4.71√(E/Fy) = 4.71√(29,000/50) = 113.4:

If KL/r ≤ 113.4: Fcr = 0.658^(Fy/Fe) × Fy (inelastic buckling) If KL/r > 113.4: Fcr = 0.877Fe (elastic buckling)

Step 3 — Design compressive strength:

φPn = φ × Fcr × Ag = 0.9 × Fcr × 16.4 ≈ 738 kips (preliminary)

For a precise capacity accounting for local buckling and the exact KL/r value, use the Column Capacity Calculator with this section's properties.

Related Resources

Design Resources


Educational reference only. Verify all section properties against the current AISC 360 Manual and mill certificates before design. Results are PRELIMINARY — NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION.