Software Comparison
Comparison
The following table compares the features of spBeam 5.xx and its predecessors pcaBeam and PCA-Beam.
| FEATURE |
PCA-Beam v1.01 |
pcaBeam v1.51 |
pcaBeam v2.0x |
pcaBeam v2.5x |
spBeam v3.xx |
spBeam v5.00 |
spBeam v5.50 |
| General | |||||||
| Operating System | Microsoft Windows 3.1 or above. Compatibility issues with 32 bit platform. | Microsoft Windows 98 or above. Fully compatible with 32 bit platform | Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 (32/64 bit) | Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, and Windows 7/8/10 (32/64 bit) | |||
| Evaluation Version | No | Yes | |||||
| Electronic documentation | WinHelp (.HLP) |
WinHelp (.HLP) Context Sensitive Manual (.PDF) |
WinHelp (.HLP) - XP (Context Sensitive) HtmlHelp (.CHM) – Vista (Not Context Sensitive) Manual (.PDF) |
HtmlHelp (.CHM) (Context Sensitive) Manual (.PDF) |
Web-based resources and online help options in the help menu | ||
| Printed Documentation | Printed Manual | On demand | |||||
| Floating Toolbar | No | Yes | |||||
| Status bar | No | Yes | |||||
| Auto Input (Wizard) | Yes. Forward functionality only | Yes. Works in both directions | |||||
| Input Data File Format | PCA-Beam (.BMS) |
spSlab/pcaSlab (.SLB) PCA-Beam v1.x (.BMS) File Import Filter |
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| Input Data Examples | 2 | Over 40 | |||||
| Long File Names | No | Yes | |||||
| Recent Files Menu | No | Yes | |||||
| Modeling and Calculation | |||||||
| Concrete Design Code ACI 318 | 1989 |
2002 1999 |
2005 2002 1999 |
2011* 2008 2005 2002 1999 *spBeam v3.5 |
2014 2011 2008 2005 2002 1999 |
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| Concrete Design Code CSA A23.3 | 1994 | 1994 | 1994 2004 |
2014 2004 1994 |
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| Metric Units | Yes | Yes | |||||
| US customary units | Yes | Yes | |||||
| Investigation mode | Yes | Yes | |||||
| Reinforcing Bar Tables |
ASTM A615 U.S. Bar Sizes ASTM A615 Metric Bar Sizes CSA G30.18 Metric Bar Sizes |
ASTM A615 - U.S. Bar Sizes ASTM A615 - Metric Bar Sizes CSA G30.18 - Metric Bar Sizes prEN 10080 - Eurocode Metric User Defined |
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| Torsion Analysis and Design | No | Yes | |||||
| Moment Redistribution | Yes | Yes | |||||
| Maximum Number of Spans | 14 | 20 | |||||
| Cantilevers | Yes. Always present in a model. | Yes. Selectable. | |||||
| Load Cases | 3, Fixed: Dead, Live, Lateral | Up to 6, Default: Self, Dead, Live, Wind, EQ |
Up to 6, Default: Self, Dead, Live, Snow, Wind, EQ |
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| Load Combinations | 3 | Up to 20 | Up to 50 | ||||
| Self-weight Automatically Computed | Yes | Yes | Yes (Optional) |
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| Lateral Load Cases |
Yes. One lateral load case only. |
Yes. Multiple lateral load cases possible | |||||
| Loads per load case (DL or LL) | Up to 100 partial loads. | Up to 100 partial loads. | |||||
| Pattern live loading | Yes | Yes | |||||
| Number of segments per span | 20 |
Up to 100. Variable segment lengths depending on span geometry. |
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| Proportioning of Longitudinal Reinforcement for Combined Flexure, Shear, and Torsion | No | No | Yes (CSA A23.3-04/14 only with M-V-T Design option) |
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| Compression Reinforcement | No | Yes | |||||
| Displacements | Instantaneous | Instantaneous | Instantaneous Long-term |
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| Visualization and Reporting | |||||||
| Geometry View - Isometric | Yes | Yes | |||||
| Geometry View - Plan | Yes | Yes | |||||
| Geometry View - Elevation | Yes | Yes | |||||
| Geometry View - Side | No | Yes | |||||
| Bending Moment Graph | Yes. Selectable for single span. | Yes. Selectable for whole structure or single span. | |||||
| Moment Capacity Graph | No | Yes. Selectable for whole structure or single span. Each strip shown individually. | |||||
| Longitudinal Reinforcement Capacity Graph for Combined Flexure, Shear, and Torsion | No | No | Yes (CSA A23.3-04 only with M-V-T Design option) |
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| Shear Force Graph | Yes. Selectable for single span. | Yes. Selectable for whole structure or single span. | |||||
| Shear Capacity Graph | No | Yes. Combined with Shear Force Graph. | |||||
| Reactions | Envelope values of column moments at joints | Column reactions at joints and far ends for all load cases (including patterns) | Column reactions at joints and far ends and spring reactions for all load cases (including patterns) and all load combinations (including patterns) | ||||
| Cracked section properties | Yes | No | Yes (extensive info) | ||||
| Deflection Graph | Yes. Selectable for single span. | Yes. Selectable for whole structure or single span. | |||||
|
Longitudinal and transverse reinforcement graph |
No | Yes. Selectable for whole structure or single span. | |||||
| Surface Loads Graph | Yes. Fixed for whole structure. | Yes. Selectable for whole structure or single span. | |||||
| Dead Loads Graph | Yes. Fixed for whole structure | Yes. Selectable for whole structure or single span. | |||||
| Live Loads Graph | Yes. Fixed for whole structure | Yes. Selectable for whole structure or single span. | Yes. Selectable for a load pattern and whole structure or single span. | ||||
| Units Shown on Load Graph | No | No | Yes | ||||
| Graphical Screen Copy | No | Yes. Can be saved as bitmap (.BMP) or metafile (.EMF). | |||||
| Graph Customization (popup menu) | No | Yes | |||||
| Print Preview | No | Yes. Available for graphical windows. | |||||
| Zoom Window | Yes. Only geometry view windows. | Yes | |||||
| Zoom In / Zoom Out | No | Yes | |||||
| Panning | No | Yes | |||||
| Selectable angles for isometric view | Yes | Yes | |||||
|
Rotating and panning using key strokes |
No | Yes | |||||
| Selective view of structural members | Yes | Yes | |||||
| Text Report |
Yes. Page layout customizable before executing calculations. No font selection. |
Yes. Page layout customizable after executing calculations. Font can be selected. | |||||
| Segmental Output for Internal Forces and Deflections | Yes | Yes | |||||
| Segmental Output for Longitudinal Reinforcement | No | No | Yes | ||||
| Text Screen Copy | No | Yes | |||||
| Text Report File |
Yes. ASCII text file (.OUT) Generated during execution of calculations. |
Yes. ASCII text file (.OUT) Generated on viewing the results report window. |
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| spResults for viewing and exporting input and output data | No | No | Yes | ||||
| spReporter for generating, viewing, exporting, and printing reports | No | No | Yes | ||||
| Customization | |||||||
| User-controlled color settings | Yes | Yes | |||||
| User-controlled default data directory | Yes | Yes | |||||
| User-controlled default design code | Yes | Yes | |||||
| User-controlled default rebar table | No | Yes | |||||