<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="https://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
  <channel>
    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
    <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=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" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
    <description></description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
    <image>
      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
      <url>https://rip.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle-RIP.jpg</url>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>Assessing Wicking Geotextile for Enhanced Drainage and Stability in Highway Slopes: A Field Study in Central Texas</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2509301</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Highway slope failures are a significant geo-environmental hazard, disrupting transportation networks, causing costly repairs, delays, and endangering lives. Rainfall is a key contributor to these failures, reducing soil shear strength through infiltration. As extreme weather events intensify, there is a growing need for effective drainage solutions to enhance slope stability and ensure transportation infrastructure resilience. Multifunctional wicking geotextiles, known for their moisture redistribution capabilities, have emerged as a promising solution for improving slope stability by facilitating water drainage. This study builds on the previous SPTC project, ‘Multifunctional Geosynthetic-Based Stabilization to Increase Coastal Infrastructure Resilience’, which evaluated wicking geotextiles in laboratory settings. 
The current research aims to assess the field performance of wicking geotextiles in reinforced highway slopes through full-scale tests. Test sections will be constructed in central Texas, using both conventional and wicking geotextiles. A comparative analysis will focus on drainage efficiency and slope stability, particularly under extreme weather conditions. Data on soil moisture and slope deformation will be collected using moisture sensors and remote sensing technologies, such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). 
The objectives of this study will be accomplished through 5 tasks. Task 1 involves literature review and material procurement. Task 2 involves site selection and soil sample collection. Characterization of engineering properties of soil will be pursued in Task 3. Task 4 will involve design and construction of test sections. Task 5 involves monitoring of slope and data analysis. This study will provide critical insights into the long-term performance of wicking geotextiles, contributing to the development of more resilient and sustainable transportation infrastructure capable of withstanding extreme weather events.

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Feb 2025 15:04:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2509301</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Develop NextScour: Hydraulics Design Tools</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2067984</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research involves designing improvements for bridge scour, stream stability, and scour countermeasures that incorporates probabilistic design approaches.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2022 16:26:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2067984</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Investigate Live Load Distribution and Stability of Prestressed Concrete Girders During Construction</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1879823</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The research team will focus on the stability of long-span prestressed concrete I- and U-girders during erection and construction. The research team will focus on the stability of long-span prestressed concrete I- and U-girders during erection and construction. The research team will consider the distribution of live load in the completed bridge as well the role of diaphragms in stability and live load distribution and develop methods of analysis of the girder behavior.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Sep 2021 17:40:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1879823</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Wind Turbulence-Structure Interaction and Aeroelastic Instability for Long-Span Flexible Girder Systems</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1877211</link>
      <description><![CDATA[NOTE The project is combined with NCHRP 20-07/Task 325 Updating the AASHTO LRFD Wind Loads Provisions]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Sep 2021 17:17:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1877211</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-4512: Pile Stability Analysis in Soft Soils - Guidance on Foundation Design Assumptions with Respect to Loose/Soft Soil Effects on Pile Lateral Capacity and Stability</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1727169</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To address problems resulting from insufficient lateral capacity of piles in bridge piers supported by pile groups with single-row or multiple-row configurations, advanced three-dimensional finite-element (FE) analyses will be performed to study the lateral capacity and stability of single piles and pile groups installed in soil profiles containing a weak, compliant soil layer in the soil profile. In the FE analyses, sand and clay layers will be modeled by using advanced constitutive models. Preliminary conservative guidelines for a few specific critical cases will be provided for implementation in the first year of the project. A range of design scenarios (defined by soil profiles, loading cases and pile group layouts) will be analyzed, and the results will be consolidated into design procedures and equations that can be added to the Indiana Design Manual.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2020 11:09:31 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1727169</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Monitoring of Lateral Earth Pressure and Movements of Cut Retaining Walls</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1442339</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Retaining walls constructed from top-down (‘cut’ walls) are utilized on numerous transportation projects. Design of these walls involves estimation of lateral earth pressure distribution to evaluate safety against soil failure at the strength limit state, as well as movement and stability at the service limit state. Various methods are currently used to predict the loads acting on the wall elements as well as to estimate wall movement. These methods can produce varied results. The over prediction of lateral earth pressure and wall movement results in conservative design which may correlate to unnecessarily high retaining wall cost. On the contrary, underestimation of lateral earth pressure and wall movement may result in wall failure or excessive wall deflection and/or settlement behind the wall. Furthermore, there is little documentation regarding actual versus predicted lateral earth pressures or wall movements for cut walls, particularly for those built in Wisconsin. Better estimation of earth pressures will provide calibration of commonly used design procedures and a reduction in retaining wall cost and improvement in performance.
This study will meet the following objectives: (1) Investigate the short-term and long-term performance of cut retaining walls, namely soldier pile and lagging walls since they are most commonly built by Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). (2) Measure the top-of-wall lateral deflection of cut retaining walls. (3) Measure the magnitude and distribution of lateral earth pressure along the height of the wall. (4) Measure vertical ground settlement at various points behind the wall. (5) Compare measured lateral earth pressure and retaining wall movement versus estimated wall movements generated from commonly used methods and computer programs. (6) Determine if modifications to existing design methodologies can be made based on findings of research. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jul 2017 16:19:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1442339</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-4004: Development of Subgrade Stabilization and Slab Undersealing Solutions for PCC Pavements Restoration and Repairs</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1412572</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Project deliverables will include protocols for proposed stabilization and slab undersealing techniques that will be in the form suitable for implementation in INDOT’s specifications. In addition, the proposed field trials of the proposed solutions will provide a credible set of information that will help with the implementation efforts.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2016 14:28:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1412572</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Full-Scale Shake Table Testing to Evaluate Seismic Performance of Reinforced Soil Walls</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1366537</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this project is to perform numerical studies and use the Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST) to investigate the dynamic performance of one or two full-scale (7 m) reinforced soil retaining walls constructed using realistic materials and methods.  Considering that these walls will be substantially taller than for any similar previous research (by a factor of 2), a key focus of the proposed research will be on the influence of wall height on overall system response (i.e., stability/deformation) and the distribution of dynamic tensile forces (i.e., seismic demand) in the soil reinforcement.  Other focus areas will include dynamic earth pressure on facing elements, effects of dynamic loading on soil-reinforcement stress transfer mechanisms, and permanent deformations after dynamic loading. The tests will be conducted using a unique large soil confinement box (LSCB) that is currently under construction as part of a recently funded National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. The scale of these tests will permit wall construction using realistic soil types, compaction methods, and structural elements.  The box will also have a unique design that permits different boundary conditions at the rear of the soil mass, including a water-filled bladder or geofoam layer.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2015 01:01:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1366537</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Project 2d: Calibration of Load and Resistance Factors in LRFD Foundation Design Specifications</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1232626</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The AASHTO LRFD Design Specifications for drilled shaft foundations are yet to be calibrated with test data in Missouri sites. Foundation is a critical part of a bridge system. It not only affects the stability of the overall system, but also constitutes a significant portion of the bridge construction costs. Therefore, better calibrations with field tests are imperative. Additionally, foundation design calibrations warrant the consideration of a bridge system and thus require a close collaboration between geotechnical and structural engineering. Typical bridges will be analyzed to understand the demand (load factor) on drilled shaft foundations and the required strength (resistance factor) given a certain allowable displacement. Both load and resistance factors will be calibrated with the Missouri environment and traffic condition using a reliability-based approach.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:41:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1232626</guid>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>