Which steel beam has the shortest deflection W10 x 60 W12 x

Which steel beam has the shortest deflection?

W10 x 60

W12 x 50

W14 x 40

W16 x 30

Solution

W16X30 beam has shortest deflection because deflection depends on the L/d ratio ( length/depth). If depth is more, deflection is less and viceversa. So, for the above beams, W16X30 has more depth with 16 number. Hence, this has lowest deflection.