Sources, method and licences

This site is a prototype. No data was copied from another reference site: dimensions come from the standards and open databases below, and properties are either taken from the primary source or recalculated.

Calculation method

For libraries marked “calculated”, the section is built from its standard geometry (depth, width, thicknesses, root radii, flange slope) with exact arcs. Area, moments of inertia, elastic and plastic moduli and radii of gyration are integrated over that outline. Torsional and warping constants use the usual formulas for rolled sections; for cold-formed sections, J = Σ L·t³/3 along the centerline.

Check: on the 169 BS 4-1 sections (UB, UC, PFC), calculated area, Ix, Iy and Zx differ from published values by less than 0.5%; J differs by less than 5% (different calculation conventions).

Axes: x–x is the strong axis and y–y the weak axis (North American convention). In EN notation, x–x is y–y and y–y is z–z.

Sources

• AISC Shapes Database v16.0: published values, in US customary and SI (official Excel file, 2,299 shapes).
• ASTM A6 shapes in Canada and Mexico: SI values from the same AISC database. Canadian HSS are recalculated with the nominal thickness (CSA G40.20).
• European sections (EN 10365, EN 10210-2, EN 10219-2, EN 10056-1): geometry and calculation engine from the Steel Section Database project (MIT licence).
• British (BS 4-1) and European HD, HL, HP sections: primary geometry only (h, b, tw, tf, r), properties recalculated.
• Indian sections: dimensions from IS 808:2021 (Bureau of Indian Standards), properties recalculated.
• Australia and New Zealand: full dimensions from the InfraBuild catalogue (Hot Rolled & Structural Steel Products, ed. 9), properties recalculated and checked against the published area.
• Cold-formed (AISI / SFIA): geometry derived from the standard designation (e.g. 600S162-54).
• Timber: actual sizes from DOC PS 20, CSA O141, EN 336 and common sizes; materials from NDS, CSA O86, EN 338, EN 14080, AS 1720.1.
• Aluminum (Aluminum Association): AA standard shape dimensions (as listed by Engineers Edge), properties recalculated. Cross-check with the Aluminum Design Manual.

Coverage

Disclaimer

Values are provided for reference. Before any design use, check them against the standard or manufacturer's catalogue that applies to your project.