StructureCalcs

W21X55

Wide-Flange Beam · AISC Shapes Database v15.0 · United States

W21X55 is a wide-flange beam 528.3 mm deep with a 208.8 mm flange, weighing 81.9 kg/m. The dimensions below are the published AISC Shapes Database v15.0 values; the drawing is generated from them.

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Published dimensions

PropertyMetricImperial
Depth, d528.3 mm20.80 in
Flange width, bf208.8 mm8.22 in
Flange thickness, tf13.3 mm0.522 in
Web thickness, tw9.5 mm0.375 in
Mass per metre81.9 kg/m55.0 lb/ft
Area, A10,452 mm²16.20 in²
Second moment, Ix474,503,826 mm⁴1,140.0 in⁴
Second moment, Iy20,145,601 mm⁴48.4 in⁴

Derived section properties

Integrated from the section's own outline including the root and toe radii, whose arcs are integrated analytically rather than approximated by facets. For W21X55 the computed area agrees with the published value to 0.01% and Ix to 0.30%. Where a value is also published, the published one above is the one to quote.

PropertyValue
Elastic modulus, Zx1,801,717 mm³
Elastic modulus, Zy193,110 mm³
Plastic modulus, Sx2,059,073 mm³
Plastic modulus, Sy301,425 mm³
Radius of gyration, rx213.4 mm
Radius of gyration, ry43.9 mm

Z is the elastic modulus and S the plastic modulus, following AS 4100. Under AISC 360 the letters are reversed — S is elastic and Z is plastic.

Neighbouring sizes

Where these numbers come from

Published AISC Shapes Database v15.0 values. How StructureCalcs verifies its numbers · Understanding steel section properties · Query this section over the API