FEATURE

ADOSS v7.01

pcaSlab v1.11

pcaSlab v1.51

pcaSlab v2.0x

pcaSlab v2.5x

spSlab v3.1x

General

Operating System

Microsoft Windows 3.1 or above

Microsoft Windows 98 or above

Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7

Evaluation Version

No

Yes

Electronic documentation

WinHelp (.HLP)

WinHelp (.HLP)
HtmlHelp (.CHM)
Not Context Sensitive

Manual (.PDF)

WinHelp (.HLP)
Context Sensitive


Manual (.PDF)

WinHelp (.HLP) - XP (Context Sensitive)
HtmlHelp (.CHM) – Vista (Not Context Sensitive)
Manual (.PDF)

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

ADOSS (.ADS)

pcaSlab(.SLB)
ADOSS (.ADS) File Import Filter

PCA-Beam v1.x (.BMS) File Import Filter

Input Data Examples

6

Over 30

Over 90

Long File Names

No

Yes

Recent Files Menu

No

Yes

Modeling and Calculation

Concrete Design Code ACI 318

1995

2002
1999
 

Concrete Design Code CSA A23.3

1994

1994

2004
1994

Metric Units

Yes

Yes

US customary units

Yes

Yes

Investigation mode

No

Yes. Allows input of longitudinal and transverse bars

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

2-Way Structural system

A selected predetermined slab system:
- Flat Plate
- Flat Slab
- Beam Supported Slab
- Waffle Slab

Any combination of slab systems:
- Flat Plate
- Flat Slab
- Beam Supported Slab
- Two-way Joist System (Waffle Slab)

Any combination of slab systems:
- Flat Plate
- Flat Slab
- Beam Supported Slab
- Two-way Joist System (Waffle Slab)
or
Longitudinal Slab Band System (CSA A23.3-04 only)
or
Transverse Slab Band System (CSA A23.3-04 only)

1-Way structural system

A selected predetermined slab system:
- One-way slab
- Beam

No

- One-way Slab
- One-way Joist System
- Beam

Changing of structural system type between spans

No (for complete model only)

Yes (but within one-way only or two-way only systems, not mixed)

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

Load Combinations

3

Up to 20

Self-weight Automatically Computed

Yes

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.

Compression Reinforcement

No

Yes

Torsion Analysis and Design

Transverse beams only.

Not applicable

Yes. Applies to beams only.

Beams in Two-way System Include Flanges

No

No
 

Beams Contribute to Transfer of Negative Moments over Supports in Two-way Systems

No

No
 

Drop Panel Contributes to One-way Shear Capacity

Yes

No
 

Punching Shear Check for One-sided Drop Panels

Yes

No
 

Adjustment of g_f factor for punching shear calculations

No

No
 

Proportioning of Longitudinal Reinforcement for Combined Flexure, Shear, and Torsion

No

Moment Redistribution

No

Not applicable

Yes. Applies to beams and one way slabs only.

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.

Yes. For beams both original and redistributed moments can be displayed.

Longitudinal Reinforcement Capacity Graph for Combined Flexure, Shear, and Torsion

No

Shear Force Graph

Yes. Selectable for single span.

Yes. Selectable for whole structure or single span.

Yes. For beams both original and redistributed shear forces can be displayed.

Torsional Moment Graph

No

Not applicable

Yes. For beams only.

Shear Capacity Graph

No

Yes. Combined with Shear Force Graph.

Yes. For beams combined shear and torsion capacity can be displayed.

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.

Yes. Page layout customizable after executing calculations.

Yes. Page layout customizable after executing calculations.

Font selection.

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.

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