The following table lists free TxDOT and FHWA engineering software to assist in highway design. It provides an overview and minimum system requirements for each application.
BGS-TxDOT Bridge Geometry System
The TxDOT Bridge Geometry System(BSG) is used for bridge geometric design. The initial release of BGS, Version 8.1, was developed from the TxDOT Roadway Design System (RDS) Version 8.0 application by removing all non-bridge related RDS commands. The user may define, and display graphically, geometry points and curves, bridge alignments with templates, superelevation and widening, and bridge framing, with or without contours. The result of these changes to RDS is BGS, a "scaled down" implementation of TxDOT RDS that focuses on bridge geometric design.
An experienced RDS user will be able to begin using BGS immediately as BGS is used in the same way as RDS. The BGS and CAD plots are the same as RDS when applied to bridge geometric design.
BMCOL51- Beam-column analysis
Generalized beam-column discrete element model to analyze simple and continuous beam subjected to concentrated, uniform, uniformly varying, and non-uniformly varying static and movable traverse loads. The program considers the effect of axial load on stiffness. It models spring supports, rotational spring restraints, and concentrated applied torques, It analyzes a beam-column of up to 999 discrete increments of user defined length. Flexural stiffness may be prismatic, uniformly varying, or non-uniformly varing.
C2C Tools- Center to Center (C2C) Development Toolkit
Contains the Interface Control Document, XML Schemas and WSDL files needed to develop plugin software compatible with the Center to Center Infrastructure. This download also contains the Center to Center Test Suite application, used to validate the plugin against the defined interface, and the Status Logger application needed for the Test Suite application.
CAP18 - Bent Cap Analysis Program
A specialized structural analysis program using a discrete element model that produces envelopes of maximum bending and shear forces acting on bridge bent caps. Analytical results are for working stress and/or load factor design in accordance with the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications or the AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges. Users input live loads are automatically placed within users defined lanes to generate maximum forces at users specified points.
ConcreteWorks
ConcreteWorks was developed at the Concrete Durability Center at the University of Texas as part of research funded by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The system improves the constructability and durability of mass concrete bridge members and other structural members. Features include concrete mixture proportioning, thermal analysis, crack prediction, and chloride diffusion service life. It contains design modules for several mass concrete shapes, bridge decks types, precast concrete beams, and concrete pavements.
COSB1
Analyzes cantilever overhead sign bridge typically built in Texas. Structure geometry and analysis are based on the assumptions and limitations described in the help document.
CULV5 - Concrete Box Culvert Analysis
CULV5 was developed and is maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
CULV5 is an analysis tool for concrete box culverts. The program determines the forces acting on each of the different members of the culvert using the direct stiffness method. The user provides input data for loading conditions, structure geometry, and member sizes. The program outputs the member forces for use in either a working stress design or a load factor design in accordance with the AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges, 17th Ed. for highway loadings, and AREMA 2006 in the case of E72 and E80 loadings.
ESS Tools
Environmental Sensor Station (ESS) software development toolkit containing the Protocol Document, XML Schemas, and XML Tester Application with Schema Panels needed to develop software capable of interfacing with TxDOT's Environmental Sensor Station software.
FM Tools
Flow Manager (FM) software development toolkit containing the Protocol Document, XML Schemas, and XML Tester Application with Schema Panels needed to develop FM compatible software.
HY-8
HY-8 is a computerized implementation of FHWA culvert hydraulic approaches and protocols. The HY-8 program is available at no charge to the hydraulic and transportation communities. The FHWA has been producing computerized culvert hydraulic software since the early 1960's (with the HY-1 program). The FHWA released the initial version of the HY-8 program in the early 1980's. FHWA released the original Windows version (7.0) in March 2007 and the second phase update (7.1) in July 2008. The HY-8 program has successfully operated on all current "flavors" of the Windows operating system. HY-8 7.2 represents a "maintenance phase "of the FHWA's multi-phase culvert hydraulic software upgrade plan. In the future, the plan calls for using a pooled fund effort1 to fund and support incremental upgrades and additions of features, based on available time, budget, and adoption of new hydraulic practices and techniques.
Quick Start Quide (.pdf, 14 pages, 1 mb)
OSB6
Use approximate analysis method for overhead sign bridge customarily built in Texas. Structure geometry and analysis are based on the assumptions and limitations described in the help document.
PGSUPER - Prestressed Girder Superstructure Design and Analysis
This software has been collaboratively developed and maintained by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and TxDOT as part of the Alternate Route Project (http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/eesc/bridge/alternateroute/licenses.htm)
This TxDOT-customized version of PGSuper is a powerful, yet easy-to-use Windows-based program for design, analysis, and load rating of multi-span precast-prestressed bridge beams/girders in accordance with the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications (1994-2012) and TxDOT design guidelines. Properties of TxDOT standard I girders (Tx Girders), U beams, Slab beams, Decked Slab beams, Box beams and X-Beams and TxDOT design criteria are included in templates and libraries published by TxDOT.
The templates and libraries are managed and maintained by TxDOT and the software has the capability of dynamically and periodically updating the installed templates and libraries with the most current versions via the users Internet connection. Custom defined beam shapes that fit within each family of girder types supported by PGSuper can also be added to a users copy of the templates, thereby extending the girder shapes that the user can design and analyze with the program.
The flexural design feature computes the number and configuration of prestressing strands and the minimum required release and final concrete strengths. Specification checking evaluates girders for compliance with strength, service, and detailing criteria.
A variety of results reporting is provided, including exhaustive and comprehensive reports, reports tailored to specific design or analysis features, fabricator optional design evaluation reports and a TxDOT Girder Schedule Report ("TxDOT CAD Output").
To report bugs and for questions or technical support, please send an email to:TxDOT_PGSuperHelp@txdot.gov
Attention TxDOT Employee PGSuper Users: It is TxDOT policy that deployment of PGSuper to TxDOT systems is to be administered by TxDOT IT using a LANDesk deployment package. If the current production release is not installed on your TxDOT workstation, please request it from IT staff rather than downloading it from the TxDOT Engineering Software website and installing it manually.
PIER - Non-Linear Analysis of Concrete Piers
Specialized program which performs non-linear analysis of slender, non-prismatic, and hollow core concrete
Reference Guide[zip, 4 file,22mb]
PSTRS14-TxDOT Prestressed Concrete Beam Design/Analysis Program
PSTRS14 has been developed and is maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The program is used to design/analyze standard and user defined non-standard simple span prestressed concrete beams with fully bonded draped, fully bonded straight, or partially debonded straight strands in accordance with the AASHTO Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Specifications (3rd Edition, 2004-2006, 4th Edition, 2007-2009, and 5th Edition, 2010), AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges (15th Edition, 1994 Interim thru 17th Edition, 2002), or American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (4th Edition, 2008-2009).
Properties of standard I beams, Dbl-T beams, U beams, Slab beams, Box beams, TxGirder beams, and Decked Slab beams are included in the program's beam section library. User defined beam shapes can be designed/analyzed using the non-standard beam option.
Ride Quality
Used when Special Specification 5880 or Item 585 applies to construction projects. Prior to invoking these Ride Quality Specifications the user should read the Guidance Document [pdf, 3 pages, 25kb]from the Construction Division to determine the proper pay schedule for the type of construction work to be done. The user should also read the specification and the associated Test Method Tex-1001-S
Signal
Analyzes traffic signal or strain pole assemblies. Analysis is based on the assumptions and limitations described in the help document.
SignsPC
SignsPC - TxDOT Traffic Sign Detailing Program
The SignsPC application is used in conjunction with the MicroStation computer-aided drafting application. SignsPC extends MicroStation by providing the user with a toolkit for generating and labeling traffic signs. The toolkit also includes a lettering feature to accurately place lettering cells spaced according to standard specifications.
SPRT - Shop Plan Review Tools for Acrobat Pro 7-9
For use only by Engineering Consultants under contract to TxDOT to perform shop plan review. The Shop Plan Review Tools add-in for Adobe Acrobat Professional provides functions to expedite approval stamp placement, hiding/showing reviewer markups, and document flattening. Prior installation of Adobe Acrobat Professional 7.0, 8.0, or 9.0 is a prerequisite.
This add-in has been tested for compatibility with Adobe Acrobat Pro versions 7 through 9. It is advisable to ensure that critical markups are retained on plan sets when using different versions of Adobe Acrobat Pro.
(This product remains unchanged from its previous listing as simply "ShopPlanTools" prior to the posting of "SPRT - Shop Plan Review Tools for Acrobat Pro 10". This version of Shop Plan Review Tools will NOT work with Adobe Acrobat Pro 10.)
For questions or comments, contact Jeff Cotham at Jeff.Cotham@txdot.gov.
SPRT - Shop Plan Review Tools for Acrobat Pro 10
For use only by Engineering Consultants under contract to TxDOT to perform shop plan review. The Shop Plan Review Tools add-in for Adobe Acrobat Professional provides functions to expedite approval stamp placement, hiding/showing reviewer markups, and document flattening. Prior installation of Adobe Acrobat Professional 10.0 is a pre-requisite.
This add-in has been tested for compatibility with Adobe Acrobat Pro version 10. It is advisable to ensure that critical markups are retained on plan sets when using different versions of Adobe Acrobat Pro.
(The older Shop Plan Review Tools for Acrobat Pro 7 will not work with Acrobat Pro 10.)
TBLRP
TBLRP - Texas Bridge Load Rating Program
The Texas Bridge Load Rating Program (TBLRP) uses a working stress (WS) analysis method which produces an allowable stress load rating. This load rating methodology is in accordance with the AASHTO Manual for Condition Evaluation of Bridges, 1993, and the AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges, 14th Ed., 1989. This program simplifies the load rating of nonstandard bridges that are commonly found on rural roads off the state and federal highway systems. The program emphasizes standardized and efficient load rating with a goal of minimizing clerical and computational errors inherent in manual methods.
TxDOT NTCIP Tester(TNT)
The TxDOT NTCIP Tester (TNT) is a tool used to test Dynamic Message Signs against the NTCIP standard.
TSS Tools
Transportation Sensor Subsystem (TSS) software development toolkit containing the Protocol Document, XML Schemas, and XML Tester Application with Schema Panels needed to develop TSS compatible software.
TxBridge - TxDOT Bridge Toolbox
The TxDOT Bridge Toolbox (TxBridge) software is used in conjunction with the Bentley(R) Systems MicroStation(R) computer-aided drafting application. TxBridge extends MicroStation by providing the user with various utilities that implement CAD standards adopted by the TxDOT Bridge Division. These utilities automate the selection of drawing scales and the placement of text and terminator elements.
UTCGAT - UT Curved Girder Analysis Tools (UTCGAT)
This software product was developed and is maintained by the University of Texas at Austin. UTCGAT is a suite of software tools for the analysis of curved girders. The suite consists of UT Bridge and UT Lift.
UT Bridge is a 3-dimensional finite element program for the analysis of curved steel I-girders. Computations include linear elastic analysis and eigenvalue buckling analysis for both girder erection and concrete deck placement.
UT Lift is an easy to use, macro-programmed Excel spreadsheet for determining the safety of lifting a horizontally curved steel I-girder with one crane and two lift clamps.
VCS Tools
Vehicle Compliance Subsystem (VCS) software development toolkit containing the Protocol Document, XML Schemas, and XML Tester Application with Schema Panels needed to develop VCS compatible software.
WINCORE
Analyzes and reports soil borings in accordance with TxDOT Standards. Accompanying MicroStation macros allow WinCore files to be accessed from inside MicroStation for automated drawing of core logs in design files. Macros compatible with MicroStation Versions J and V8.
WinStorm
Storm Drain Analysis/Design (Metric/English)
User's Manual [pdf, 1 file, 0.43mb]