American Steel Angles (L-Shapes)
Dimensions and properties for structural angles in Imperial units, including weight, moment of inertia, and section modulus
American Steel Angles Dimensions and Properties Chart
| Designation | Legs (in) | Thickness (in) | Weight (lb/ft) | Area (in²) | Ix (in⁴) | Iy (in⁴) | Zx (in³) | Zy (in³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L2 × 2 × 1/4 | 2 × 2 | 0.25 | 2.5 | 0.73 | 0.18 | 0.18 | 0.18 | 0.18 |
| L3 × 3 × 1/4 | 3 × 3 | 0.25 | 3.9 | 1.14 | 0.56 | 0.56 | 0.37 | 0.37 |
| L4 × 3 × 1/4 | 4 × 3 | 0.25 | 5.0 | 1.46 | 1.12 | 0.56 | 0.56 | 0.37 |
| L5 × 3 × 3/8 | 5 × 3 | 0.375 | 7.2 | 2.10 | 2.30 | 1.02 | 0.92 | 0.68 |
| L6 × 4 × 1/2 | 6 × 4 | 0.5 | 11.0 | 3.20 | 4.80 | 2.50 | 1.60 | 1.25 |
About American Steel Angles (L-Shapes)
American steel angles (L-shapes) are essential structural members used extensively in construction, machinery, and fabrication. Their distinctive L-shaped geometry provides strength and rigidity along two perpendicular axes, making them ideal for bracing, framing, reinforcement, and connection elements in structural systems.
This reference chart provides detailed dimensions and section properties of American L-shapes in Imperial units. It includes geometric and mechanical parameters such as leg lengths, thickness, weight per foot, cross-sectional area, moments of inertia (Ix, Iy), and section modulus (Zx, Zy). These properties are crucial for structural analysis, stress evaluation, and load-bearing design according to AISC Steel Construction Manual standards.
Key L-Angle Property Definitions
- Designation – Standard name of the angle section, typically shown as leg lengths × thickness (e.g., L4 × 3 × 1/4).
- Legs – The two perpendicular sides of the angle, which may be equal or unequal in length; define the section geometry.
- Thickness – The thickness of the legs, affecting local buckling resistance and load capacity.
- Weight (lb/ft) – The linear weight of the section, used for material quantity and dead load calculations.
- Area (in²) – Cross-sectional area, used to determine axial strength and stress distribution.
- Moments of Inertia (Ix, Iy) – Measure the stiffness of the section about the principal axes; critical for deflection and bending analysis.
- Section Modulus (Zx, Zy) – Ratio of moment of inertia to the extreme fiber distance; used for calculating bending stresses.
Applications and Design Use
L-shaped steel angles are commonly used in frames, trusses, platforms, towers, supports, and bracing systems due to their efficient load-carrying behavior and versatility. Engineers use these properties to analyze bending, shear, and buckling behavior, ensuring designs meet strength and serviceability requirements in compliance with AISC and ASTM standards.
This reference table enables structural engineers, architects, and fabricators to compare and select appropriate L-sections for their projects, optimizing performance and material usage in a wide range of industrial, commercial, and infrastructure applications.