BridgeLink

PGSuper Design Guide

 BridgeLink: PGSuper Design Guide

March 2020

Table of Contents

1 Some Common Questions ..................................................................... 3

2 Basic Design with PGSuper .................................................................. 3
3 Additional Features in PGSuper .......................................................... 4
3.1 Terminology ......................................................................................................... 4
3.2 Horizontal Curves, Vertical Curves, and Cross-Slope ......................................... 5
3.3 Bridge Geometry, Beam Type, and Beam Spacing ............................................. 5
3.4 Beam Design and Modification............................................................................ 6
3.5 Project Controls .................................................................................................... 7
3.6 Loads .................................................................................................................... 8
3.6.1 User Defined Loads ...................................................................................... 8
3.6.2 Live Loads .................................................................................................... 8
3.6.3 Live Load Distribution Factors ..................................................................... 9
3.7 Modeling Inverted T’s ........................................................................................ 11
4 Haunch .................................................................................................. 12
4.1 More about Haunch in PGSuper ........................................................................ 13
5 TOGA .................................................................................................... 15
6 Additional Information and Questions .............................................. 15
Appendix A .................................................................................................. 16
Appendix B .................................................................................................. 46
Appendix C .................................................................................................. 87

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1 Some Common Questions
“Why PGSuper”
PGSuper is a Windows-based application to design beams to the current LRFD
Specifications. The program:
• Calculates Loads (Rail and Overlay).
• Calculates Live Load Distribution Factors (No More Spreadsheets).
• Designs ANY Beam in a Cross Section.
“Doesn’t PGSuper require a lot more input and take more time than PSTRS14?”
No, though the program has the ability to model very complex structures, you do
not have to use all the program features to reach a beam design. You just need to
input the span length, skew, beam spacing, number of beams, and deck width.
“Do we still need PSTRS14?”
PSTRS14 will still be needed for those rare occasions when we are designing to
the Standard Specification or to AREMA Specifications.
“Which should I use?”
PGSuper should become your primary beam design tool for AASHTO LRFD.
You can use PSTRS14 to confirm your PGSuper designs. The two programs
should result in the same beam design. If they do not, verify that input is matching
between the two programs.
“What is BridgeLink?”
BridgeLink is not a new application. It is a new name for the existing software
framework that includes PGSuper, BEToolbox, TOGA, and PGSplice.
Previously, the framework itself was called PGSuper.

2 Basic Design with PGSuper

The steps to design a beam in PGSuper can be simplified to:
1. Open a Template for the Appropriate Beam Type.
2. Input Beam Spacing and Number of Beams.
3. Input Span Length and Skew.
4. Input Deck Width.
5. Input Roadway Alignment and Haunch.
6. Input User Defined Loads.
7. Run the Preliminary Girder Designer.
8. Verify Design Meets Requirements (i.e. f ʹci < 6.0 ksi; f ʹc < 8.5 ksi).
9. Run the TxDOT Summary Report.
10. Export the Text Data for the Detail Sheet (IBND, IGND, etc.).

These steps are detailed in the design example presented in Appendix A.

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3 Additional Features in PGSuper
PGSuper can model geometrically complex bridges, such as, flared or tapered beams,
varying slab widths, and sidewalks. The following sections cover some of these features
and the TxDOT Method associated with that feature. This is not a comprehensive guide
on how to use every aspect of PGSuper, just a brief introduction to some of the features
in PGSuper.

Additional information can be found in the Help menu.

Additional tutorials can be found online at http://www.pgsuper.com/

3.1 Terminology

PGSuper conducts a time-step analysis that follows a typical construction sequence for
precast-prestressed girder bridges. The typical construction sequence comprises five
construction events (referred to as Stages in previous versions of PGSuper). Each
construction event is further divided into one or more analysis intervals. Refer to Table 1
for a summary of the construction events and analysis intervals in PGSuper.

Table 1 – Construction Events and Analysis Intervals in PGSuper

Previous Construction Event Analysis
Analysis Interval Description
Term. Event # Interval
Casting Construct 1 1 Prestressing strands are stressed, girder is cast.
Yard Girders 2 Prestressing force is imparted onto the girder.
Stage 3 Girders are lifted from casting bed.
4 Girders placed into storage.
5 --Time Step--
Erect Girders at 2 6 Girders are hauled to bridge site.
Bridge Site 7 Girders are erected onto bridge substructure.
8 --Time Step--
9 Temporary diaphragms are installed.
10 --Time Step--
Bridge Site Cast Deck Deck and diaphragms are installed and
11
Stage 1 3 supported by the non-composite girder section.
12 --Time Step-- (Deck is curing.)
Bridge Site Final Condition Railing system, median, and sidewalks are
4 13
Stage 2 without Live installed on composite girder section.
Load 5 14 --Time Step--
Bridge Site Final Condition
6 15 Bridge is open to traffic.
Stage 3 with Live Load

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3.2 Horizontal Curves, Vertical Curves, and Cross-Slope

Edit → Alignment or click the “Edit Roadway Alignment and Profile” icon, .

 Horizontal – Define horizontal curves under this tab.

 Profile – Define vertical curves under this tab.

 Roadway Cross Sections – Define the cross slopes and cross slope transitions under
this tab.

3.3 Bridge Geometry, Beam Type, Beam Spacing, and Beam working
point

Edit → Bridge or click the “Edit the Bridge Description” icon, .

 General – The default location for Bridge Line in PGSuper is at the center of the
beams. The default value for Alignment is along the Bridge Line (Bridge Line Offset =
0). The Locate field allows the user to specify modified girder locations relative to the
Bridge Line or the Alignment. The Location of Girder Working Points field allows the
user to select from what point the beam or girder will be rotated when the field Girder
Orientation is set to any of the Normal to Roadway options.

If at least one of the following conditions is met:

• “Use same type for all girders” is unchecked;

• “Use same number of girders in all spans” is unchecked; or
• Spacing Type is set to “Spread girders with unique spacing for each span,”

then the Girder Type and Spacing may be modified through Edit → Span... by
choosing a span and selecting the Girders tab. Note that girder spacing can also be
accessed through Edit → Abutment\Pier... under the Girder Spacing tab.

 Layout – Define span length(s), and specify the location and orientation of all
abutments interior piers.

The user may also access Abutment, Span, or Pier options by clicking the appropriate
Edit button under the Piers\Spans heading. This provides quick access for modifying
various details including span length, beam connection type, girder type, and girder
spacing. Note, however, that girder type and spacing can only be modified if the bridge’s
general settings meet one of the three aforementioned conditions.

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 Railing System – Choose railing type for both sides of the roadway. Select any of the
standard TxDOT Bridge Rails from the Exterior Barrier drop down menus.

Check the Sidewalk option to add a sidewalk to one or both sides of the roadway. The
user may edit sidewalk dimensions and material properties. Additionally, the user can
specify an Interior Barrier to separate the sidewalk from the roadway. The user is
referred to Section 3.6.2 for a discussion of modeling sidewalk live loads in PGSuper.

 Deck Geometry and Materials – Use this tab to specify dimensions and material
properties for the concrete slab and/or overlay.

A note on modeling overlays: In the past, TxDOT designed bridge components for the
gravity load of a future 2” overlay. This practice was occasionally waived to limit release
strengths of pretensioned beams and girders. The practice was discontinued all-together
in 2012. Presently, the user should only specify an overlay when it is called for in the
current design.

Gross Depth defaults to the concrete slab thickness specified in the TxDOT LRFD
Bridge Design Manual for the chosen beam type. For example, pretensioned concrete I-
girders, gross depth is equal to the standard slab thickness of 8.5 inches. For
pretensioned concrete box girders, on the other hand, the minimum slab thickness is 5.0
inches.

Slab Offset is the slab thickness plus haunch thickness. The user is referred to Section 4
for a discussion of how haunch can be modeled in PGSuper.

 Deck Reinforcement – Disregard this tab. Deck reinforcement does not affect
computations in PGSuper.

3.4 Beam Design and Modification

As discussed previously, a preliminary beam design may be conducted using the Girder
Designer. Access the Girder Designer via Project → Design Girder... or click on the
“Design Girder” icon, .

Girders may also be designed or modified manually. Access the manual design tool via
Edit → Girder or click the “Edit girder” icon, . Then, select a girder to edit.

 General – Specify concrete properties, including the release strength (f ′ci) and
compressive strength (f ′c).

 Strands – Specify strand type and pattern.

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 Long. Reinforcement and  Trans. Reinforcement – Use these tabs to specify
secondary reinforcement. Default values correspond to the secondary reinforcement
shown on TxDOT Standard Drawings. If value(s) in these tables are changed for any
reason, the Standard Drawing will also need to be modified to match the design. The
user is urged to NOT change these values unless it is absolutely necessary in order to
meet shear requirements.

What are your options when your release strength exceeds the limit? Use a deeper
beam section (e.g., use Tx46 beams instead of Tx40 beams).

What if the vertical clearance prohibits the use of a deeper beam section? Reduce
the span length.

What if the span length can’t be reduced? Reduce Beam Spacing. If the beam
spacing is less than 6 feet, we recommend reducing the overhang width to S/2 or less. As
a general guideline, the overhang should not be less than 2 feet.

What if my beam spacing is less than 4 feet and my release strength is still high?
Use a non-standard strand pattern. The Edit → Girder... feature in PGSuper allows you
to manually change the strand pattern to reach a lower release strength. This procedure is
shown in Appendix B.

3.5 Project Controls

In the Project menu of the main toolbar, the following items have been set to default
TxDOT values:

Units... – Customary U.S. Units

Structural Analysis Method... – Simple Span Analysis

Project Criteria... – TxDOT *YEAR*

*YEAR* indicates the latest AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specification (or interim
updates) that TxDOT has adopted. For example: TxDOT 2015 refers to the AASHTO
LRFD Bridge Design Specification, Seventh Edition, 2014 with 2015 interim revisions
and modifications for TxDOT policy as outlined in the TxDOT LRFD Bridge Design
Manual.

The user can bypass TxDOT modifications by changing this selection to LRFD *YEAR*.

TxDOT 2010 and later project criteria default to a release factor of 0.65 per the
memorandum titled “Design Release Strengths for Prestressed Concrete Beams,” dated
August 26, 2010.

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Properties... – This field brings up the same Project Properties screen that first appears
upon opening a template in PGSuper. Use these fields to identify the structure, the
designer, and any other relevant information.

3.6 Loads
3.6.1 User Defined Loads

Loads → Add a Point Load...

Loads → Add a Distributed load...
Loads → Add Moment load...

The user can model additional loads (e.g., light poles, medians, or signs) with user
defined loads.

When defining a load, the available load cases are DC (dead load, component), DW
(dead load, wearing surface), and LL+IM (live load plus impact). DC and DW load cases
may be applied during Event 4 or Event 5. The LL+IM load case can only be applied
during Event 6.

Discrete objects such as light poles or signs should be modeled using the “Add New
Point Load” feature. The user would choose the DC load case for these objects and apply
the loads during Event 5.

PGSuper assumes the rail and sidewalk are located at the edge of the slab and models this
scenario by distributing the rail, sidewalk, and pedestrian live loads equally among the
exterior 3 beams. However, when modeling U beams, 2/3 of the rail weight is applied to
the exterior beam and 1/3 to the first interior beam. If you want to distribute the load
differently, you can set the rail to “none” and instead add the rail load in “User Defined
Loads” with the “Add Distributed Load” feature.

3.6.2 Live Loads

The program allows you to select which truck you would like to use for Service and
Strength Limit States, Fatigue Limit State, and Permit Limit States. Default settings are
HL-93, the Fatigue truck, and no truck, respectively.

If you model a sidewalk, PGSuper will automatically turn on the Pedestrian on Sidewalk
load. By default, PGSuper will envelope the sidewalk live load and the vehicular live
load. The pedestrian live load can be turned off by unchecking the box beside the load
case.

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Engineering judgment and experience should be used to decide which loading is most
appropriate for the design: vehicular and pedestrian live load, vehicular only, or
pedestrian only.

PGSuper distributes the pedestrian live load over the three exterior beams, as specified in
the TxDOT LRFD Bridge Design Manual.

The following three steps may be used to model the sidewalk and pedestrian loads
differently than the PGSuper default:

1. Do not define a sidewalk. The program will apply the vehicular load to all the
beams.
2. Add a User Defined Distributed Load to distribute the sidewalk dead load. (DC,
Bridge Site Stage 2).
3. Add a User Defined Distributed Load to distribute pedestrian live load (LL+IM,
Bridge Site Stage 3).

3.6.3 Live Load Distribution Factors

The program defaults to calculating the live load distribution factors using the AASHTO
LRFD Bridge Design Specification with modifications for TxDOT policy as outlined in
the LRFD Bridge Design Manual.
Occasionally, a bridge will fall outside the Ranges of Applicability (ROA) of the various
methods in the ASSHTO Specifications. In such cases, the Preliminary Girder Designer
in PGSuper will warn the user:

Live Load Distribution Factors could not be calculated for the following reason
xxxxx. See Table 4.6.2.2.2b-1. A refined method of analysis is required for this
bridge. See Status Center for Details.

The status center can be accesses by clicking on the red “X” or the yellow “!”. Open the
Refined Analysis Options dialogue shown in Figure 1 by clicking on the error message in
the status center.

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Figure 1 – Live Load Distribution Factor Refined Analysis Options

The Ranges of Applicability (ROA), found in Section 4.6.2.2 of the AASHTO LRFD
Bridge Design Specifications, reflect the limits of the research that was conducted to
investigate distribution factors. The ROA do not necessarily indicate the range for which
the formulas are valid; rather, they reflect the limits of what was studied in the
development of the formulas.

When a design falls outside the ROA, it is left up to the engineer's judgment to decide
whether to apply the formulas or determine the live load distribution factor by some other
method. To aide this decision, an engineer might first determine the sensitivity of the
formula in question to the variable in question. Such a study would be conducted over a
range that comprises the ROA and the design value(s).

How do you decide which option you should select? This issue comes down to
engineering judgment and experience. Some guidelines are as follows:

• If all the parameters are within the ROA, use the value as calculated by PGSuper.

• If the ROA are violated by a great amount, use the lever rule. An example of this
would be S = 20 feet, when the range is 3.5 to 16 feet.

• Within a small violation of the ROA, it would probably be acceptable to ignore

the ROA. An example of this would be t = 4", when the range of applicability for
t is 4.5 to 12 inches.

Live Load Distribution factors can be modified at any time through Loads  Live Load
Distribution Factors. The dialogue that appears offers the same options as shown above.

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3.7 Modeling Inverted T’s
An inverted T can be modeled in PGSuper by modifying Connection details:

1.) Edit → Bridge....

2.) Select the Layout tab.

3.) Click the Edit button for the appropriate Pier # in the Piers\Spans column:

4.) Select the Connections tab.

Note: Steps 3 & 4 may also be accomplished as follows:

5.) Increase the Bearing Offset and End Distance values by an amount equal to
half of the Inverted T stem width. Bearing Offset is the distance from the
centerline of the bent to the centerline of the bearing. End Distance is the
distance from the centerline of the bearing to the end of the girder. The
difference in these two numbers is the value typically shown on our plans
(e.g., 3"). The diagram on the right side illustrates these values and how they
are measured.

6.) End Distance and Bearing Offset are always measured Normal to
Abutment/Pier Line for an Inverted T. Select this option in both drop-down
menus:

Bearing Offset:
End Distance:

7.) Click OK to exit the dialog.

8.) Repeat for each inverted T pier.

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3.8 Bearing Seat Elevations in PGSuper

The Bearing Seat information can be found in the Geometry Report of the Bridge.

4 Haunch
PGSuper is capable of computing haunch geometry and applying haunch loads.

TxDOT users have traditionally accounted for haunch with a user-defined distributed
load that approximates the actual haunch load. Users who wish to continue using this
“manual” approach may do so, but must first disable haunch in PGSuper.

Conversely, the user may utilize PGSuper to compute and apply the haunch load. This
approach is recommended for any girder design, especially when the superstructure
geometry is complicated. The haunch algorithm accounts for all aspects of roadway and
girder geometry. Users who wish to use this “automated” approach must enable haunch
in PGSuper.

How to Disable Haunch (See Appendix C)

1. In Bridge View, go to Library → Edit Libraries.

2. Select the Project Criteria folder and right-click on the appropriate Project
Criteria icon (the version being used in the active file is indicated with a red
check-mark). Click Duplicate, and then open the new file.
3. Navigate to the Spec. Checking and Design tab. In the Final Check/Design
Options section, un-check the “Check” and “Design” boxes next to Haunch
Geometry. Press the Enter key to save changes.
4. Navigate to the Dead Loads tab. In the Compute Haunch Dead Load Assuming
section, select “natural excess camber is zero” from the drop-down menu.
5. Return to Bridge View, and go to Edit → Haunch Geometry. Set Fillet equal to
zero. Set Slab Offset (“A” Dimension) equal to the Gross Depth of the deck.
Click “OK”.
6. If haunch is disabled, do NOT model vertical curvature or cross slope. In the
alignment dialog, delete any vertical curves from the Profile tab and ensure that
the Left Slope and the Right Slope entries on the Superelevations tab are equal to
zero. Otherwise, the program will add haunch load without adjusting for camber
or dead load deflection.

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How to Enable Haunch (See Appendix B)
Note: this is the default setting in all TxDOT libraries.

1. In Bridge View, go to Library → Edit Libraries.

2. Select the Project Criteria folder and right-click on the appropriate Project
Criteria icon (the version being used in the active file is indicated with a red
check-mark). Click Duplicate, and then open the new file.
3. Navigate to the Spec. Checking and Design tab. In the Final Check/Design
Options section, check the “Check” and “Design” boxes next to Haunch
Geometry. Press the Enter key to save changes.
4. Navigate to the Dead Loads tab. In the Compute Haunch Dead Load Assuming
section, select “excess camber is defined by a parabola filling the Slab Offset and
assumed excess camber dimensions” from the drop-down menu.
5. Return to Bridge View, and go to Edit → Haunch Geometry. Enter a value for
Fillet. Enter value(s) for Slab Offset (“A” Dimension). Enter value(s) for
Assumed Excess Camber1. Click “OK”.
6. In the Girder Designer dialog, select “Design Haunch Geometry” from the drop-
down menu in the Design Options section.
1
PGSuper computes excess camber during the haunch design, but geometric properties
(including haunch weight) are based on the assumed excess camber. PGSuper will warn
the user if the difference between computed and assumed excess camber exceeds a
certain threshold (the default is 0.5 in., but users may specify a different threshold in
Libraries → Project Criteria → Loads). In any case, the user must manually update the
assumed excess camber and repeat the girder design until the computed and assumed
excess camber values match within an acceptable tolerance.

4.1 More about Haunch in PGSuper

The haunch algorithm, when enabled, computes the space between the bottom of a bridge
deck and the top of a girder. Horizontal curvature, vertical curvature, crown points, and
superelevation are based on user inputs in the Edit → Alignment dialog. Deck thickness,
span lengths, and skew are based on user inputs in the Edit → Bridge dialog. If haunch
is enabled, the top of the beam is modeled as a parabola defined by the control points
shown in Figure 2.

Haunch geometry relies on three variables: fillet, slab offset, and excess camber. Users
can edit these values in Edit → Haunch. They are defined as follows:

fillet – minimum haunch depth. This serves as a buffer that prevents the girder from
intruding into the deck. In most cases, haunch depth is equal to fillet depth at mid-span,
on the least-haunch edge of the girder. The appropriate value (i.e., the required buffer)
depends on which type of prestressed concrete girder is being used:

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Figure 2 – Haunch Algorithm Definitions

Table 2 – Minimum Fillet Depths for Standard TxDOT Girder Shapes

Girder Type Minimum Fillet

I-Girders
A, B, C, IV, VI
0.5 in.
X-Beams
U-Beams
Box Beams
Slab Beams 0 in.
Decked Slab Beams

slab offset – distance from top of girder to top of deck at the intersections of girder
centerline and bearing centerline; usually called out as “X” dimension on TxDOT plan
sheets. Users may define a single value for the entire bridge, one value for each bent, or
a unique value for each point of bearing.

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excess camber – amount of camber that remains after erection and deflection under the
weight of the slab dead load. Users provide the assumed excess camber in the Edit →
Haunch dialog. PGSuper computes the excess camber during the design process, using
TxDOT method: [Factored Design Camber] – (0.8) [Deflection (Deck and Diaphragms)].

5 TOGA
TxDOT has developed an Optional Girder Analysis plug-in for PGSuper. This plug-in,
called TxDOT Optional Girder Analysis (TOGA), may be accessed as follows:

File → New

Then choose a girder type as shown in Figure 3, select a template, and click OK. For
additional instructions in using TOGA, open a TOGA template and select Help → Help
Topics. The Help Topics comprise a very comprehensive guide to TOGA.

[Templates appear in this window

after a girder type is selected.]

TOGA Girder Types

Figure 3 – Creating a New TOGA File

6 Additional Information and Questions

Additional information can be found in the PGSuper and TOGA Help menus. Additional
tutorials are available online at http://www.pgsuper.com/. Contact TxDOT Bridge
Division ([email protected]) with questions or for technical
support. Please include relevant .pgs and/or .toga files with such requests.

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Appendix A
Example Girder Design with Known Haunch

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2. Define
Number of
Beams 1. Define
Working
point

3. Define
Girder
Spacing

4. Define
Girder
Orientation

The Working point for TxGirders and I-Beams should be set to Top Centerline of
Girders and the Girder Orientation should be set to Plumb. The Working point for Box
Beams, X-Beams, U Girders, Slab Beams, and Decked Slab beams should be set to
Bottom Centerline of Girders and the Girder Orientation should be set to one of the
Normal to Roadway options.

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If haunch is disabled, delete any vertical curves from the Profile tab. Otherwise, the
program will add haunch load without adjusting for camber or dead load deflection.

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2. Select the Roadway

Cross Sections Tab

3. Select the number of Slope

Segments and the
1. Define transition Controlling ridge point.
stations, cross slopes
and segment lengths.

The total width of the segments should add up to

the total width of the bridge. The 2 exterior
segments will be automatically sized with the
remainder of the width once the 2 interior segments
have been defined.

If haunch is disabled, ensure that all segment slope entries are set equal to zero. Otherwise, the
program will add haunch load without adjusting for camber or dead load deflection.

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Check this box to accept the current haunch design parameters (i.e., Slab Offset and
Assumed Excess Camber). The user can apply these parameters to the current girder only,
to all girders in the span, or to all girders in the bridge (as shown).

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Refer to the Bridge Geometry

Report to find the Bearing Seat
Elevations and the Edge of Beam
Seat Elevations

Refer to the Details Report for a

full description of camber and
haunch computations.

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3. Select which Girder

Properties to Export

2. Select the Type of file to

export.

1. Click OK

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Select a location to
save the file

2. Provide a name
for the Export file

1. Click Save

The Excel spreadsheet is formatted so that it can be directly

used with Axiom without any additional manipulation.

Non-Standard patterns are stored in a separate sheet

of the spreadsheet and can also be used with Axiom.
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BridgeLink confirms that the

Excel file has been exported.

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Appendix B
Method for Developing a Non-Standard Strand Pattern
with the Haunch Algorithm Enabled

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Check this box to

accept the current
haunch design
parameters (i.e., Slab
Offset and Assumed
Excess Camber). The
user can apply these
parameters to the
current girder only, to
all girders in the span,
or to all girders in the
bridge (as shown).

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Shown to 10-psi precision for illustrative

purposes only. TxDOT typically rounds
f ′c values up in 0.1-ksi increments.

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4. Select a location to
save the Excel file

1. Click OK
2. Name the file

3. Click Save This is the contents of the Excel

file, Non-Standard patterns are
stored in a separate tab.

Using Axiom, the contents of

the Excel file are pasted into
the IGND

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2. Select Bridge
Geometry Report
The Contents of the
report will have all data
selected, scroll down to
locate the Bearing Seat
Elevations information.
The following section in
the report will display the
Bearing Seat Elevations
at Girder Bottom Edges
these are the ones used
when using Box Beams,
1. Select the data to X-Beams, U-Beams, Slab
be included in the Beams, or Decked Slab
report.

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Appendix C
Procedure to Disable Haunch Algorithm

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If haunch is disabled, do NOT model vertical curvature or cross slope. In the alignment dialog, delete any vertical
curves from the Profile tab and ensure that the segment slope entries on the Roadway Cross Sections tab are equal to
zero. Otherwise, the program will add haunch load without adjusting for camber or dead load deflection.

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