H-beam section can withstand direct loads and tensile loads. But they cannot withstand twisting loads due to their smaller cross-sections.

I-beams withstand direct and tensile loads. I-beams are lightweight compared to H-beams. H-beams are used for spans of up to 330 feet that can be built up to any size and height. I-beams are used for spans from 33 to 100 feet. Hence, they have better bending resistance than I-beams. The wider flanges of H-beams gain a greater moment of inertia and high lateral stiffness. The moment of inertia of I-beams is less than H-beams, making them less efficient in resisting bending. They possess a greater surface area on the cross-section, hence high strength. The cross-section of H-beams is more optimized than I-beams, giving it a reasonable strength-to-weight ratio, i.e., more strength per unit area. The cross-section of I-beams is typically deeper in height than its width, which gives them resistance against local buckling. They are longer, wider, and heavier than I-beams. The flanges of H-beams have equal thickness and are parallel to each other. Their thickness is less than that of H-beam flanges. The flanges of I-beams are tapered with an inclination of 1:10 for better load-bearing capacity. This increased thickness gives strength to H-beams. H-beams have greater web thickness compared to I-beams. The web of I-beams is thinner than H-beams. H-beams are also called wide flange beams. The flanges are welded to the web to form the H-section. H-Beams are steel beams made of rolled steel in the shape of the alphabet “H.” They are fabricated as built-up units.

It is made of a single piece of metal or aluminum throughout the unit. I-Beams are steel beams fabricated by milling or rolling steel in an I-shape. I-Beam and H-Beam Difference Between I-Beams and H-Beams I-Beams This article discusses the significant differences between steel H-beams and I-beams used in the construction industry. Both have a common horizontal part called the “flange,” and a vertical part called the “web.” The web resists the shear stresses, and the flanges are made to withstand most of the bending moment coming over the steel beam. H-beams and I-beams primarily differ in their cross-sections. They are commonly used in building homes, bridges, large trailers, etc., due to the high strength imparted by them and the ease of construction. H-beams and I-beams are beams made of structural steel extensively used in construction applications.

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