Free section properties library
How to use the free section properties database
- 1
Choose your region and material
Select from AU steel (InfraBuild/OneSteel), AU timber (MGP grades), AU cold-formed steel (Stratco), US steel (AISC 2016), US timber (NDS 2018), US cold-formed steel (SFIA), or EU/Eurocode steel and timber databases.
- 2
Search or browse sections
Filter by section type (I-section, channel, angle, hollow section, CFS) or type a designation directly - for example "310UB40", "W12x50", or "IPE 300".
- 3
Read the full property set
The cross-section diagram and property table appear instantly - area, moments of inertia, section moduli, J, I_w, shear areas, centroid, shear centre, and material strengths.
- 4
Use in your calculations
Copy values into the free beam analysis calculator or your own hand calculations. A Calcs.com trial links sections directly to steel, timber, and CFS design calculators.
About this calculator
Look up cross-section and material properties for standard sections from Australian, US, and European manufacturer databases. For each section, the library returns weight, area, moment of inertia (I_x, I_y), elastic and plastic section moduli, radius of gyration, torsion constant J, warping constant I_w, shear areas, centroid location, and shear centre - plus material strength properties (F_y, characteristic timber strengths, E, G). Cold-formed steel sections also include DSM buckling factors.
Standard: AISC · AWC · SFIA · InfraBuild · Eurocode
How to use the section properties library
The Section Properties Library covers thousands of standard sections from AU, US, and EU/Eurocode manufacturer databases. Select your region and material type, then search or browse to get the full property set instantly.
Available databases
Australia: InfraBuild/OneSteel steel sections (UB, UC, PFC, equal/unequal angles, SHS, RHS, CHS), MGP and F-grade timber sizes, and Stratco cold-formed steel sections.
United States: AISC Steel Construction Manual (2016) - W, S, C, MC, L, HSS, and pipe sections. NDS sawn lumber (2018) - nominal and dressed sizes. SFIA cold-formed steel (2015).
Europe: EN 10365 steel sections - universal beams (UB), IPE, HEA/HEB/HEM, and hollow sections. EN 338/384 timber grades.
Properties beyond geometry
Each section includes the full property set needed for design checks: area (A), moments of inertia (I_x, I_y), elastic section moduli (S_x, S_y), plastic section moduli (Z_x, Z_y), radii of gyration (r_x, r_y), torsion constant (J), warping constant (I_w), shear areas, centroid location, and shear centre. Material properties - yield strength F_y, elastic modulus E, shear modulus G, and characteristic timber strengths - are also included. Cold-formed steel sections additionally include Direct Strength Method (DSM) buckling factors.
How to use in an engineering design
Copy section properties directly into the free beam analysis calculator or into your own hand calculations. For a custom or built-up section, use the free moment of inertia calculator. Sign up for a free Calcs.com trial to link sections directly to steel, timber, and CFS design calculators.
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Frequently asked questions
Which section databases does this library cover?
What properties are included for each section?
Does this library support Eurocode sections?
Can I calculate properties for a custom section not in the library?
What does a Calcs.com trial add over the free library?
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