The Primary Differences Between a H-beams and I-beams
Beam Cross-sections
The cross-section of a H-beam has greater strength per unit area than the I-beam. This makes the H-beam an overall stronger beam with a decent strength-to-weight ratio. As H-beams have large surface areas, they're great for carrying heavy loads.
I-beams, on the other hand, have cross-sections that are higher than the width of its flanges. This makes the steel beams ideal against local buckling, where individual parts and plate elements of the beam are put under extreme pressure.
Beam Inertia
The moment of inertia is greater for H-beams, making them more resistant against bending than I-beams.
Beam Height and Weight
I-beams are lighter and thinner than H-beams, and only span between 33 to 100 feet due to their complex shape. H-beams can span to 300 feet, making them the obvious choice for very tall structures. However, due to the I-beams being relatively lightweight, they are more suited for shorter spans and projects that require less weight bearing.
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