What is PGSuper?

PGSuper is powerful software for design, analysis, and load rating of precast-prestressed girder bridges. This easy-to-use software models simple and continuous span structures and designs in accordance with the latest and earlier AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications.

With its advanced Bridge Information Modeling (BrIM) capabilities, your focus is always on modeling, designing, and analyzing real bridges.

PGSuper analyzes and designs precast girders for all critical stages: casting, lifting, hauling, erection, service, and ultimate conditions. The automated designer determines the prestressing, concrete strength, lifting, transportation, and slab haunch requirements.

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Screen Shots Showing PGSuper in Action

Compare PGSuper with Other Precast Girder Design Programs

PGSuper has the most extensive and detailed reports available. Every detail of every calculation can be reviewed. You'll never have to guess what the software is doing.

PGSuper is Open Source Software

Created by the Washington State Deparment of Transportation's Bridge and Structures Office, and licensed under the Alternate Route Open Source License, PGSuper is free to be used and modified by all.

Features

Just because it's free, doesn't mean it's not the most capable precast girder bridge design program out there!!

Design Specifications:
♦ AASHTO LRFD 1998-2020 9th Edition (all years)
♦ Checks All Appropriate Specifications
♦ Highly Configurable
♦ User Input Stress Limits
♦ Computed and User-Input Distribution Factors
♦ User-Input LRFD Load Modifiers
♦ Five Methods of Loss Calculations

LRFR Load Rating:
♦ AASHTO Section 6A of the AASHTO Manual for Bridge
Evaluation, 1st and 2nd Editions
♦ User-defined design, legal load, and permit rating vehicles
♦ Rates for Operating and Inventory Levels
♦ Routine Legal Live Loads
♦ Specialized Legal Hauling Vehicles
♦ Live Load Factors Can be Defined by Bridge Owner
♦ Routine and Special Permits
♦ Summary and Detailed Rating Reports

Analysis:
♦ Simple or Continuous Span Structures
♦ Highway Bridge Structures
♦ Pedestrian/Bicycle only Bridge Structures
♦ Integral Pier Connections
♦ Multiple Stages
♦ Stress Checks For All Stages/Limit States
♦ User-Input Time Parameters For Creep
♦ Moment Capacity From Strain Compatibility
♦ All LRFD Shear Capacity Methods supported
♦ Modulus of Rupture For Cracking Moment
♦ Longitudinal Reinforcement For Shear
♦ Horizontal Interface Shear
♦ Principal Web Stress
♦ LRFD Optional Live Load Deflection
♦ Strand Slope Check
♦ Strand Hold Down Check
♦ Anchorage Zone Splitting Check
♦ Lifting In Casting Yard
♦ Hauling To Bridge Site
♦ Debonding Limits
♦ Lightweight or Normal Concrete
♦ Many Geometry “Reality” Checks

Girder Sections And Reinforcement:
♦ 14 Parametric Girder Section Shapes
♦ All Popular Prestressing Strand Types
♦ Harped And Debonded Strands
♦ Pre-or-Post Tensioned Temporary Strands For Lifting and Hauling
♦ Mild Steel Rebar Used In Analysis
♦ Deck Reinforcement For Negative Moment
♦ Shear Reinforcement/Stirrup Layouts

Automated Design:
♦ Harped and Straight Strand Placement
♦ Debonding Design
♦ Comprehensive Transverse Reinforcement Design:
- Vertical Shear
- Horizontal Interface Shear
- Longitudinal Reinforcement for Shear
- Bursting
- Confinement
♦ Concrete Strength (Release And Final)
♦ Lifting And Hauling Points
♦ Required Slab Haunch

Loading:
♦ HL-93 Live Load
♦ User-Defined Live Load
♦ All Dead Loads Automatically Computed
♦ User-Defined:
-Point Loads
-Distributed Loads
-End Moments
-Load Combination Factors

Complex Bridge Geometry:
♦ Modeling Of Full Superstructure
♦ Multiple girder types in a bridge
♦ Splayed and variable girder spacing
♦ Measure girder spacing at top or bottom work point
♦ Multiple Spans
♦ Multi-Segment Horiz. & Vert. Curves
♦ Horizontal Spiral Curves
♦ Multiple Crown Breaks
♦ Superelevation Segments
♦ Crown Point Offset
♦ Slab and Haunch
♦ Screed Camber, Required Slab Haunch
♦ Skewed Piers
♦ All Common Deck and Overlay Types
♦ User defined Traffic Barriers
♦ Girders Oriented Plumb Or Normal To Deck

Reporting:
♦ Highly-Detailed Reports - Don’t Guess What the Program Did—See It!
♦ Many report types, user-configurable
♦ Html Output, Highly Graphical
♦ Capacity And Demand Graphs
♦ Navigable Table of Contents
♦ Text Searching

Extensive Library System:
♦ Define Girders, Materials, Barriers, Project Criteria, and more
♦ Internet-based update and syncronization

Units:
♦ Hot Switchable: US or SI

System:
♦ Windows 10
♦ No Copy Protection

And Much More….

PGSuper was designed by Bridge Engineers for use in high-production design environments. Come see what PGSuper can do for you!

Detailed Grider View in PGSuper
Rich graphical feedback for every step in your design

Not Just for WSDOT!

(Austin, Texas - May 2006) The Texas Department of Transportation Bridge Office officially announces their plan to adopt PGSuper as TxDOT’s primary prestressed-precast bridge girder design program, and has hired BridgeSight Software to provide custom development services. PGSuper has the power to create custom designs, and the efficiency and ease of use to support production, for two of the largest consumers of precast girders in the U.S. Oh, did we mention; it’s FREE!!!!

Need Custom Sections?

PGSuper supports a wide array of parametric section shapes with user-defined strand, reinforment and stirrup layouts. Chances are your section can be modelled in PGSuper. Here are the current section types:

Precast I Beam