W-beam steel, whether standard or light, due to its relatively high and narrow cross-sectional dimensions, has significantly different moment of inertia along its two principal axes. Therefore, it is only suitable for components that bend within the plane of the web or for components forming a truss-like structure under load. It is not advisable for components under axial compression or for 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.

Common I-beams and light I-beams, due to their relatively high and narrow cross-sectional dimensions, have significantly different moment of inertia for the two principal axes, which limits their application scope greatly. 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 the appropriate I-beams for use.