W40X278 Steel Beam — Section Properties
Dimensions
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Depth (d) | 40.20 | in (1021.1 mm) |
| Flange Width (bf) | 12 | in (304.8 mm) |
| Flange Thickness (tf) | 1.81 | in |
| Web Thickness (tw) | 1.03 | in |
| Area (A) | 82.30 | in² (531.0 cm²) |
| Weight | 278 | lb/ft (414 kg/m) |
Elastic Section Properties
| Property | Strong Axis (X-X) | Weak Axis (Y-Y) | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moment of Inertia (I) | 20,500 | 521 | in⁴ |
| Elastic Section Modulus (S) | 1,020 | 87.10 | in³ |
| Plastic Section Modulus (Z) | 1,190 | 140 | in³ |
| Radius of Gyration (r) | 15.80 | 2.52 | in |
Torsional Properties
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Torsional Constant (J) | 65 | in⁴ |
| Warping Constant (Cw) | 192,000 | in⁶ |
| Distance Between Flange Centroids (ho) | 38.40 | in |
| Effective Radius (rts) | 3.13 | in |
Design Resources
- Beam Capacity Calculator — Check W40X278 for your span and loads
- Column Capacity Calculator — Check W40X278 as a column
- Section Properties Database — Compare with other sections
- Steel Beam Sizes Reference — Full W-shape dimension table
- Steel Grades Reference — A992/A572 material properties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the weight of a W40X278 beam? 278 lb/ft (414 kg/m). A 40-ft length weighs approximately 11,120 lbs.
What is the section modulus of W40X278? Sx = 1020 in³ (strong axis) and Sy = 87.1 in³ (weak axis). The plastic section modulus Zx = 1190 in³ and Zy = 140 in³.
What steel grade is standard for W40X278? Typically ASTM A992 (Fy = 50 ksi, Fu = 65 ksi) for W-shapes. Also available in A572 Grade 50 or A36. Verify with mill certificate.
What is the moment of inertia of W40X278? Ix = 20500 in⁴ about the strong axis and Iy = 521 in⁴ about the weak axis. The radius of gyration is rx = 15.80 in and ry = 2.52 in.
Related Pages
- Steel Beam Sizes Reference
- Beam Capacity Calculator
- Column Capacity Calculator
- Section Properties Database
Educational reference only. Verify all section properties against the current AISC Manual and mill certificates before design. Results are PRELIMINARY — NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION.