A structural drawing shows a beam marked as 'W12x26'. What does the '26' represent?
Correct Answer
B) The weight per linear foot in pounds
In structural steel nomenclature, W12x26 indicates a wide flange beam that is 12 inches deep and weighs 26 pounds per linear foot. This is the standard designation system for structural steel members.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The standard AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction) designation system for wide flange beams follows the format WDxW, where 'W' indicates wide flange, 'D' is the nominal depth in inches, and 'W' is the weight per linear foot in pounds. Therefore, W12x26 means a wide flange beam that is nominally 12 inches deep and weighs 26 pounds per linear foot. This standardized nomenclature is universally used in structural engineering and construction drawings throughout the United States.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: The moment capacity in kip-ft
The '26' is not the depth in inches. The '12' in W12x26 represents the nominal depth of 12 inches. The depth is always the first number after the 'W' designation, while the second number after the 'x' is always the weight per linear foot.
Option C: The depth of the beam in inches
The '26' does not represent moment capacity in kip-ft. Moment capacity is a calculated structural property that depends on the beam's geometry and material properties, not a direct designation number. Moment capacities are found in steel design tables or calculated separately.
Option D: The length of the beam in feet
The '26' does not represent length in feet. Beam lengths are specified separately on drawings and are not part of the standard steel designation system. The W12x26 designation is a size/weight classification that applies regardless of the beam's actual length.
Memory Technique
Think 'Weight comes last' - in W12x26, the weight (26 lbs/ft) always comes after the 'x', while depth (12 inches) comes first after the 'W'.
Reference Hint
AISC Steel Construction Manual - Section 1 (Dimensions and Properties) or any structural steel reference section in building codes
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