W-beam steel, whether standard or light, due to its relatively high and narrow cross-sectional dimensions, has significantly different moments of inertia for the two main axes. Therefore, it can only be used directly for components that bend within the web plane or as part of truss-like structural elements. It is not suitable for axially compressed components or those with bending perpendicular to the web plane, which greatly limits its application range. W-beams are widely used in construction and other metal structures.

Standard I-beams and light I-beams have a relatively high and narrow cross-sectional size, resulting in a significant difference in the moment of inertia of the two main axes. This greatly limits their application range. The selection of I-beams should be based on the requirements of the design drawings.

When selecting I-beams for structural design, consider their mechanical properties, chemical properties, weldability, and structural dimensions to choose a suitable I-beam for use.