Question: what is the difference between a wide-flange beam and an m-beam?
Answer: The flanges resist bending while the web takes on the shear force. An I-beam has tapered flanges with a narrower flange than most wide flange beams, making it a lighter building material. A wide flange beam, with wider flanges and web than the I-beam, can handle more weight, but this makes it heavier overall.