GEOMETRY

Moment of inertia
formulas for different
shapes
By lauern_jv82jl June 13, 2022

Calculating moment of inertias for different shapes and Cross-sections is probably the
one thing in structural engineering that we use throughout our studies and also
careers later on.
While it’s very important to know how to derive and calculate the Moment of inertias,
the further we get in our studies, the more we can use formulas.

In this post we’ll show, the most important and easiest formulas for Rectangular, I/H,
Circular and hollow circular section but also formulas which involve more steps for L-,
T- and U- Shapes.

All will be shown and explained by examples.

Table of Contents

1. Moment of inertia – Rectangular shape/section (formula)

2. Moment of inertia – I/H shape/section (formula)
3. Moment of inertia – Circular shape/section (formula)
4. Moment of inertia – Hollow circular tube Section (formula)
5. Moment of inertia – Hollow rectangular tube Section (formula)
6. Moment of inertia – U profile (formula)
7. Moment of inertia – T profile (formula)

Now, before we get started, always remember that the unit of the moment of inertia is
the fourth power of a length unit [length ]. If you would like to use mm in your
4

calculation, then the unit of the moment of inertia is mm .

4

But now, let’s get started.

1. Moment of inertia – Rectangular shape/section

(formula)
Strong Axis
1 3
Iy = ⋅ h ⋅ w
12

Weak Axis
1 3
Iz = ⋅ h ⋅ w
12
 Dimensions of rectangular Cross-section.

Example calculation
h = 240 mm, w = 120 mm
Strong axis:
1 3 1 3 8 4
Iy = ⋅ h ⋅ w = ⋅ (240mm) ⋅ 120mm = 1.3824 ⋅ 10 mm
12 12

Weak axis:
1 3 1 3 7 4
Iz = ⋅ h ⋅ w = ⋅ 240mm ⋅ (120mm) = 3.456 ⋅ 10 mm
12 12

Where is the Moment of inertia of a rectangular Cross-section

used in real projects?
Structural bending stress calculation of timber beams (here)
Structural stress calculation of (steel) plates
Structural stress calculation of concrete beams

2. Moment of inertia – I/H shape/section (formula)

Strong Axis
3
3 (w−t w )⋅(h−2⋅t f )
w⋅h
Iy = –
12 12

Weak Axis
3 3
(h−2⋅t f )⋅t w 2⋅t f ⋅w
Iz = +
12 12
 Dimensions of I Cross-section (IPE, HEB, etc.).

Example calculation
h = 300mm, w = 150mm, t = 10mm, t = 7mm f w

Strong axis:
3 3 3
3 (w−t w )⋅(h−2⋅t f ) 150mm⋅(300mm) (150mm−7mm)⋅(300mm−2⋅10mm)
w⋅h 7
Iy = – = – = 7.59 ⋅ 10 mm
12 12 12 12

Weak axis:
3 3 3 3
(h−2⋅t f )⋅t 2⋅t f ⋅w (300mm−2⋅10mm)⋅(7mm) 2⋅10mm⋅(7mm)
w 6 4
Iz = + = + = 5.63 ⋅ 10 mm
12 12 12 12

Where is the Moment of inertia of a I/H Cross-section used in real

projects?
 Structural bending stress calculation of timber I-joists
Structural bending stress calculation of steel I/H beams and columns

3. Moment of inertia – Circular shape/section

(formula)

Strong Axis
4
D ⋅π
Iy =
64

Weak Axis
4
D ⋅π
Iz =
64
 Dimensions of circular Cross-section for calculation of Moment of Inertia.

Example calculation
D = 100mm

Strong axis:
4
4 (100mm) ⋅π
D ⋅π 6 4
Iy = = = 4.91 ⋅ 10 mm
64 64

Weak axis:
4
4 (100mm) ⋅π
D ⋅π 6 4
Iz = = = 4.91 ⋅ 10 mm
64 64
Where is the Moment of inertia of a circular Cross-section used in
real projects?
Structural steel wind bracing tension rods
Structural concrete column

4. Moment of inertia – Hollow circular tube Section

(formula)

Strong Axis
4 4
(D −d )⋅π
Iy =
64

Weak Axis
4 4
(D −d )⋅π
Iz =
64
 Dimensions of Hollow circular hollow tube Cross-section for calculation of Moment of Inertia.

Example calculation
D = 100mm, d = 90mm

Strong axis:
4 4 4 4
(D –d )⋅π ((100mm) –(90mm) )⋅π 6 4
Iy = = = 1.688 ⋅ 10 mm
64 64

Weak axis:
4 4 4 4
(D –d )⋅π ((100mm) –(90mm) )⋅π 6 4
Iz = = = 1.688 ⋅ 10 mm
64 64

Where is the Moment of inertia of a circular Cross-section used in

real projects?
Structural steel wind bracing tension rods
 Steel columns

5. Moment of inertia – Hollow rectangular tube

Section (formula)

Strong Axis
3 3
W ⋅H −w⋅h
Iy =
12

Weak Axis
3 3
W ⋅H −w ⋅h
Iz =
12
 Dimensions of Hollow rectangular Cross-section for the calculation of Moment of Inertia.

Example calculation
W = 120mm, H = 240mm, w = 100mm, h = 220mm

Strong axis:
3 3 3 3
W ⋅H –w⋅h 120mm⋅(240mm) –100mm⋅(220mm) 7 4
Iy = = = 4.95 ⋅ 10 mm
12 12

Weak axis:
3 3 3 3
W ⋅H –w ⋅h (120mm) ⋅240mm–(100mm) ⋅220mm 7 4
Iz = = = 1.62 ⋅ 10 mm
12 12
Where is the Moment of inertia of a circular Cross-section used in
real projects?
Columns

6. Moment of inertia – U profile (formula)

Strong Axis
3 3
w⋅h −(w−t w )⋅(h−2t f )
Iy =
12
 Dimensions of Hollow rectangular Cross-section for the calculation of Moment of Inertia.

Distance point a to centroid:

1 tw w
yc = ⋅ ((h − 2t f ) ⋅ t w ⋅ + 2 ⋅ w ⋅ tf ⋅ )
(h−2t f )⋅t w +2⋅w⋅t f 2 2

Moment of Inertia – weak axis:

 3 3
(h−2⋅t f )⋅t tw 2⋅t f ⋅w w
w 2 2
Iz = + (h − 2 ⋅ t f ) ⋅ t w ⋅ (y c – ) + + 2 ⋅ w ⋅ tf ⋅ ( –y c )
12 2 12 2

Example calculation
w = 100mm, h = 80mm, t = 5mm, t = 5mm f w

Strong axis:
3 3 3 3
w⋅h –(w–t w )⋅(h–2t f ) 100mm⋅(80mm) –(100mm–5mm)⋅(80mm–2⋅5mm) 6 4
Iy = = = 1.55 ⋅ 10 mm
12 12

Distance point a to centroid:

1 tw w
yc = ⋅ ((h − 2t f ) ⋅ t w ⋅ + 2 ⋅ w ⋅ tf ⋅ )
(h−2t f )⋅t w +2⋅w⋅t f 2 2

1 5mm
yc = ⋅ ((80mm − 2 ⋅ 5mm) ⋅ 5mm ⋅
(80mm−2⋅5mm)⋅5mm+2⋅100mm⋅5mm 2

100mm
+2 ⋅ 100mm ⋅ 5mm ⋅ )
2

y c = 37.69mm

Weak axis:
3 3
(h−2⋅t f )⋅t w tw 2 2⋅t f ⋅w w 2
Iz = + (h − 2 ⋅ t f ) ⋅ t w ⋅ (y c – ) + + 2 ⋅ w ⋅ tf ⋅ ( –y c )
12 2 12 2
3
(80mm−2⋅5mm)⋅(5mm) 5mm 2
Iz = + (80mm − 2 ⋅ 5mm) ⋅ 5mm ⋅ (37.69mm– )
12 2
3
2⋅5mm⋅(100mm) 100mm 2
+ + 2 ⋅ 100mm ⋅ 5mm ⋅ ( –37.69mm)
12 2

6 4
I z = 1.42 ⋅ 10 mm

Where is the Moment of inertia of a U Cross-section used in real

projects?
Wind bracing of steel or timber structures

7. Moment of inertia – T profile (formula)

 Weak Axis
3 3
t f ⋅w h⋅t w
Iz = +
12 12

Dimensions of T Cross-section/Profile for the calculation of Moment of Inertia.

Distance point z to centroid:

c
 1 h tf
zc = ⋅ (h ⋅ t w ⋅ + w ⋅ t f ⋅ (h + )
h⋅t w +w⋅t f 2 2

Moment of inertia – Weak axis:

3 3
h ⋅t w h 2 t f ⋅w tf 2
Iy = + h ⋅ tw ⋅ ( –z c ) + + w ⋅ t f ⋅ (h + –z c )
12 2 12 2

Example calculation
w = 100mm, h = 100mm, t = 5mm, t = 5mm f w

Distance z to centroid:
c

1 h tf
zc = ⋅ (h ⋅ t w ⋅ + w ⋅ t f ⋅ (h + )
h⋅t w +w⋅t f 2 2

1 100mm 5mm
zc = ⋅ (100mm ⋅ 5mm ⋅ + 100mm ⋅ 5mm ⋅ (100mm +
100mm⋅5mm+100mm⋅5mm 2 2

z c = 76.25mm

Strong axis:
3 3
h ⋅t w h t f ⋅w tf
2 2
Iy = + h ⋅ tw ⋅ ( –z c ) + + w ⋅ t f ⋅ (h + –z c )
12 2 12 2
3 3
(100mm) ⋅5mm 100mm 2 5mm⋅(100mm)
Iy = + 100mm ⋅ 5mm ⋅ ( –76.25mm) +
12 2 12

5mm 2
+100mm ⋅ 5mm ⋅ (100mm + –76.25mm)
2

6 4
I y = 1.107 ⋅ 10 mm

Weak axis:
3 3
t f ⋅w h⋅t w
Iz = +
12 12
3 3
5mm⋅(100mm) 100mm⋅(5mm)
Iz = +
12 12

5 4
I z = 4.177 ⋅ 10 mm

If you are new to structural design, then check out our design tutorials where you can
learn how to use the moment of inertia to design structural elements such as
 Design of timber roof beams
Buckling design of timber columns
Buckling design of the collar beam

Do you miss any Moment of inertia formulas for any shape or Cross-section that we
forgot in this article? Let us know in the comments

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