Home / What is PGSuper? / Comparison of Precast Bridge Girder Design Software
Comparison of Precast Bridge Girder Design Software
The Table Below Gives a Feature Comparison Between PGSuper and two other popular precast girder design programs, ConSpan and PSBeam. More information about these two programs can be found at:
ConSpan: http://www.leapsoft.com
PSBeam: http://www.lrfd.com/
All data below is based on published information from these web sites. Our objective is to make the comparison as fair as possible, so please contact us if you feel that data is missing or has been misrepresented, and we will change the table accordingly. ?'s have been posted where we are unsure about certain features in ConSpan or PSBeam.
| Features | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| System | Windows 2000/XP/Vista | Windows NT/2000/XP/? | Windows NT/2000/XP |
| Network Compatible | Y | Y | Y |
| Internet Library Sharing | Y | ? | ? |
| Run Analysis/Design from DOS Batch Mode | Y | ? | ? |
| Share Data with AASHTOWare | N | Y | N |
| Share Data With Pier Analysis Program | N | RCPier | ETPier |
| Documentation | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| Context-Sensitive Help | Y | Y | Y |
| Tutorial | Y | Y | Y |
| Theoretical Manual | Y | Y | Y |
| Online Training | Free at PGSuper.com | N | N |
| Design Specifications | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| AASHTO LRFD | 1998 thru 2008 | ? thru 2007 | 4th Ed Thru 2008 |
| AASHTO Standard Spec | N | Y | Y |
| US/SI Hot-Switchable Units | Y | Y | Y |
| Customizable Load Factors and Load Modifiers | Y | Y | Y |
| User-Defined Stress Limits | Y | Y | ? |
| Parametric Definition of Design Specification | Over 200 Parameters | ? | ? |
| Bridge Analysis | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| Simple-Span | Y | Y | Y |
| Continuous Spans | Y | Y | Y |
| Envelope of Simple/Continous | Y | ? | ? |
| Integral Pier Connections | Y | N | ? |
| Restraining Moment | Y (manual) | ? | Y (auto or manual) |
| Lifting at Casting Yard | Y | N (add-on) | N |
| Hauling | Y | N | N |
| Load Rating | N | Y | Y |
| Generation of Beam Load Tables | N | N | Y |
| Moment Capacity Using Strain Compatibility Method | Y | Y | ? |
| Moment Capacity Using Simplified AASHTO Method | N | Y | ? |
| Girder Camber | Y (all stages) | Y | ? |
| Girder Reactions | Y | Y | ? |
| Girder Deflections/End Rotations | Y | ? | Y |
| Design Checks | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| Stresses, all stages | Y | Y | Y |
| Ultimate Moment | Y | Y | Y |
| Vertical Shear | Y | Y | Y |
| Horizontal Shear | Y | Y | Y |
| Bursting in Anchorage Zones | Y | Y | Y |
| Harped Strand Hold Down Force | Y | Y | ? |
| Harped Strand Slope Check | Y | ? | ? |
| Lifting in Casting Yard | Y | N | N |
| Hauling of Girder | Y | N | N |
| Live Load Deflection | Y | Y | ? |
| Fabrication Optimization Analysis | Y | N | N |
| Automated Design | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| Straight Patterns | Y | Y | Y |
| Harped Patterns | Y | Y | Y |
| Debonded Patterns | Y | Y | Y |
| Release and Final Concrete Strength | Y | Y | Y |
| Continuity Reinforcing | N (check mode only) | Y | ? |
| Shear Stirrup Layout | Y | Y | ? |
| Temporary Strands for Lifting/Hauling | Y | N | N |
| Lift Point Locations | Y | N | N |
| Truck Support Locations | Y | N | N |
| Dead Loads | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| Beam/Deck/Haunch (auto) | Y | Y | Y |
| Overlay (auto) | Y | Y | Y |
| Interior Diaphragms (auto) | Y | Y (user input) | Y |
| Sidewalk Dead Load (auto) | Y | Y | ? |
| Interior and Exterior Traffic Barriers (auto) | Y | Y | Y |
| User-Defined Point Load | Y | Y | Y |
| User-Defined Uniform Load | Y | Y | Y |
| User-Defined Trapezoidal Load | Y | Y | Y |
| User-Defined Beam End Moments | Y | ? | ? |
| Live/Moving Load Analysis | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| Built-in AASHTO Live Loading | Y | Y | Y |
| User-Defined Truck/Lane | Y | Y | Y |
| Permit Loading | Y | Y | Y |
| Auto Computation of LRFD Distribution Factors | Y | Y | Y |
| Distribution Factors from Grillage Analysis | N | Y | N |
| Direct User-Input of Distribution Factors | Y | Y | Y |
| User-Defined Pedestrian Loads | Y | Y | ? |
| Prestress Losses | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| Refined Estimate Per LRFD | Y | Y | Y |
| Approximate Lump Sum | Y | Y | ? |
| General Lump Sum (multi-stage) | Y | Y | Y |
| Shear | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| General Procedure 5.8.3.4.2 (Beta - Theta) | Y | Y | Y |
| Simplified Procedure 5.8.3.4.3 (Vci, Vcw) | Y | Y | ? |
| General Procedure with Tables Appendix B5 | Y | Y | ? |
| Bridge Geometry | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| Integrated Roadway and Bridge Geometry Modeling | Y | N (see GeoMath) | N |
| Multi-Segment Horizontal Alignment | Y | single? | single |
| Spiral Curves | Y | N | ? |
| Multi-Segment Vertical Curves | Y | N | ? |
| Non-Uniform (linear or spline) Deck Width | Y | N | N |
| Non-Parallel (Splayed) Girders | Y | Y | ? |
| Alignment offset From Roadway | Y | N | ? |
| Pier Skew | Y | Y | Y |
| Different Girder Types in Span | Y | Y | Y |
| Multi-Segmented Girders | N (see PGSplice) | N (see ConSplice) | Y |
| Reporting of Alignment/Deck/Pier/Girder Geometry | Y | N | N |
| Prestressing | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| All Popular Strand Types | Y | ? | Y |
| Stress Relieved and Low Relaxation | Y | Y | Y |
| Pretensioning | Y | Y | Y |
| Post-tensioning | N (see PGSplice) | N (see ConSplice) | Y |
| Straight Strands | Y | Y | Y |
| Harped (Draped) Strands | Y | Y | Y |
| Debonding | Y | Y | Y |
| Temporary Strands (liting and hauling) | Y | N | N |
| Longitudinal Rebar | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| Include Rebar for Tension At Release | Y | ? | Y |
| Supplement Moment Capacity | Y (pos and neg moment) | ? | Y |
| Bottom Tension Tie for Shear | Y | ? | ? |
| Deck Reinforcement for Negative Moment | Y | ? | ? |
| Parametric Girder Shapes | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| I Beam | Y | Y | Y |
| Deck BulB Tee | Y | Y | Y |
| Box Beam | Y | Y | Y |
| U Beam | Y (two types) | Y | Y |
| Nebraska NU | Y | Y | ? |
| Voided Slab | Y | Y | Y |
| Solid Slab | Y | Y | Y |
| Double Tee | Y (three types) | Y | Y |
| Triple Tee | Y | ? | Y |
| Generic Section | N | Y | Y |
| Ability to Store Beams in Sharable Library | Y | Y | Y |
| Reporting/Results Verfication | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| Output of all final and intermediate values used in equations showing equations and code refrences | Y | N | N |
| Number of Output Report Types | 13 | ? | ? |
| One-Page Design Summary | 2 | Y | Y |
| Navigable Table of Contents | Y | N | ? |
| Text Searching Within Reports | Y | N | ? |
| Analysis Results Exportable to Spreadsheets | N | Y | ? |
| Moment/Shear/Stress/Deflection Graphs | Y | Y | Y |
| Compare Demand to Capacity in Graphs | Y | ? | ? |
| Export Images to DXF | N | Y | ? |
| Source Code Available | Y | N | N |
| Shareable Libraries | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| Shared over LAN/WAN | Y | Y | Y |
| Shared over Internet | Y | N | ? |
| Automatic Synchronization of Library Data over Internet | Y | N | N |
| Girder Shapes | Y | Y | Y |
| Pre-Defined Shear Stirrup Layouts | Y | N | Y |
| Barriers | Y | N | N |
| Design Criteria and Standards | Y | N | N |
| Girder Connections | Y | N | N |
| Concrete Materials | Y | N | N |
| User-Defined Live Loads | Y | N | Y |
| Prestressing Strands | N | N | Y |
| User Interface | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| Modern Windows UI | Y | Y | Y |
| Bridge Elevation and Section Views | Y | Y | Y |
| Girder Elevation and Section Views Showing Strand Layouts | Y | Y | Y |
| Highly Interactive Views Supporting Mouse Exploration | Y | ? | ? |
| 3D View of Bridge Geometry | N | Y | Y |
| Pricing | PGSuper Vers 2.1 | ConSpan Vers 7.1 | PSBeam V3 |
| Single, or Multiple License | Free | Must call for pricing | Must call for pricing |
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