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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=PHNlYXJjaD48cGFyYW1zPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJkYXRlaW4iIHZhbHVlPSJhbGwiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9InN1YmplY3Rsb2dpYyIgdmFsdWU9Im9yIiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJ0ZXJtc2xvZ2ljIiB2YWx1ZT0ib3IiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9ImxvY2F0aW9uIiB2YWx1ZT0iMTYiIC8+PC9wYXJhbXM+PGZpbHRlcnM+PGZpbHRlciBmaWVsZD0iaW5kZXh0ZXJtcyIgdmFsdWU9IiZxdW90O0FnZ3JlZ2F0ZXMmcXVvdDsiIG9yaWdpbmFsX3ZhbHVlPSImcXVvdDtBZ2dyZWdhdGVzJnF1b3Q7IiAvPjwvZmlsdGVycz48cmFuZ2VzIC8+PHNvcnRzPjxzb3J0IGZpZWxkPSJwdWJsaXNoZWQiIG9yZGVyPSJkZXNjIiAvPjwvc29ydHM+PHBlcnNpc3RzPjxwZXJzaXN0IG5hbWU9InJhbmdldHlwZSIgdmFsdWU9InB1Ymxpc2hlZGRhdGUiIC8+PC9wZXJzaXN0cz48L3NlYXJjaD4=" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
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    <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>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Use of “Plazrok” Aggregate to Produce Durable Grade 3.0 and 4.0 Concrete</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652729</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The rising demands for high-quality aggregates, alongside efforts to reduce the environmental impact of mining, have encouraged using recycled material as aggregate in concrete. Over the decades, plastic production has surged, yet only 25% of used plastics have been recycled or incinerated (US EPA 2023). Numerous studies investigating the strength development and modulus of elasticity of concrete containing plastic waste as an aggregate have reported reduced strength and stiffness with increasing replacement levels. Despite this reduction in strength compared to traditional mixes, Kansas State University developed mixtures containing Plazrok, a commercially available extruded product containing fly ash, waste plastics, and glass, that achieved sufficient strength (5264 psi) to be classified as grade 4.0 concrete.
The increasing replacement of mined aggregate with Plazrok was found to have a greater impact on the compressive strength than the modulus of rupture and tensile strength. Furthermore, structural testing of a 10-inch by 6-inch by 12-foot beam demonstrated that a beam containing Plazrok (at 30% replacement level) performed similarly to other lightly reinforced normal-weight concrete members. Moisture corrections (to account for the wash water of the concrete truck drum) were not applied during this preliminary investigation, therefore, the reported mechanical properties may be an underestimation. Another issue identified during this preliminary study was the potential for Plazrok to float to the top of the forms, but no segregation was observed in hardened concrete samples.
Building on these experiences, the primary goal of this study is to develop grade 3.0 and 4.0 concrete with maximum possible Plazrok content. Environmental Produce Declarations (EPDs) for successful mixture designs will be produced to help demonstrate the environmental impact of such concretes. Segregation will be monitored as it is a known possible issue and, if observed, will be controlled by modifying the viscosity of the paste and/or increasing the fine/coarse aggregate ratio for the concrete mixture.
Another focus area will be studying the freeze-thaw durability of Plazrok concrete. Since Plazrok particles have low absorption and stiffness, and the concrete containing Plazrok retained tensile strength (compared to the control), it could be hypothesized to have satisfactory freeze-thaw durability provided the paste is protected with adequate air content. If deemed freeze-thaw durable, concrete containing Plazrok could be suitable for outdoor applications like sidewalks, provided they meet the strength requirement for grade 4.0 concrete.
Since aggregates impact the stress-strain behavior of concrete, this project will also document elastic properties for plazrok concrete. Furthermore, impact on other mechanical, durability, and fresh properties such as modulus of rupture, shrinkage, permeability, slump, etc. will also be recorded.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:28:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652729</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Selecting Appropriate Mitigation Methods for Soil Slope Failures: A Safety and Equity-Centric Approach
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2628205</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Soil slope failures pose significant risks to both human lives and infrastructure, necessitating effective mitigation strategies. This research proposal aims to investigate the selection of appropriate mitigation methods for soil slope failures, with a dual focus on safety and equity considerations.
The proposed study will employ a multidisciplinary approach, integrating geological, climatic, geotechnical engineering, and socioeconomic perspectives. It will begin with comprehensive review of existing mitigation methods, including slope flattening, stabilization, lightweight fill, and drainage. Subsequently, a systematic evaluation framework will be developed to assess the efficacy of these methods in terms of safety enhancement and equitable distribution of benefits.
Safety considerations will encompass factors such as slope stability and resilience to extreme weather events. Equity considerations will involve analyzing the distribution of risks and benefits among different socioeconomic groups, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by soil slope failures.
Taking advantage of the collected field slope data for the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) geotechnical asset management system, computational modeling techniques will be employed to quantify the performance of various mitigation strategies under different scenarios. Additionally, stakeholder consultations will be conducted to incorporate local knowledge and community perspectives into the decision-making process.
The anticipated outcomes of this research include a set of guidelines for selecting optimal mitigation methods tailored to specific soil slope failure scenarios, taking into account both safety and equity. By integrating technical expertise with social equity principles, this study seeks to contribute to the development of more resilient and equitable disaster risk reduction strategies for soil slopes. This research will contribute to the knowledge and procedure for selecting optimal mitigation methods of soil slopes to address their safety and community equity. 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 14:23:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2628205</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A Photogrammetry-based Method to Determine Chip Seal Aggregate Embedment: A Feasibility Study
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2627511</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Chip seals have been the most frequently used preventive maintenance treatment on flexible pavements in the United States and overseas. Chip seals enhance transportation safety through 1) sealing small cracks, 2) reducing further oxidation of the pavement, 3) improving surface texture and skid resistance, 4) preserving and extending pavement life, and 5) providing color contrast and noise differences. Despite the growing number of chip seal projects in the U.S., many chip seal surface distresses such as aggregate loss, bleeding, and skid resistance still need to be solved, which are strongly related to aggregate embedment depth. Proper chip seal aggregate embedment should be evaluated as a critical factor when considering the design and construction of a chip seal project. In addition, road users are rapidly becoming less tolerant of travel delays caused by road works, so the research will benefit road users substantially by reducing the time involved in measuring the texture of existing surfaces. However, currently there is no reliable method to measure chip seal aggregate embedment quickly and accurately in the field. The objective of this study is to develop a photogrammetry-based method to rapidly determine the embedment depth of a uniformly placed chip seal of known aggregate gradation, easy to use, reasonably accurate, and inexpensive. The study will start with laboratory explorations with a photogrammetry-based method to measure the emulsion/binder application rate, final cover aggregate rate, and aggregate embedment. The effect of design factors (i.e., binder type, application rate, aggregate size, shape, and gradation) will be assessed as well. 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:29:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2627511</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Enhancing the Reliability of Transportation Structures by Quantifying Strength Reduction Magnitude of Soils in Midwestern States</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2626785</link>
      <description><![CDATA[For highway structures in Nebraska and many Mid-Western states, the extreme precipitation brought the failure of slopes even though they were designed and constructed complying with relevant codes and practices. Back analyses of these failed slopes showed that the strength of soils at failure turned out to be substantially lower than the tested one at the design stage. Further studies showed that this kind of substantial strength reduction was due to the strength reduction of glacial tills during wet seasons. This reduced strength of soils is called “Wet-Drained-Fully-Softened-Strength (WDFSS)”, however, the method to evaluate this critical strength takes extremely long time (months if not years for one test) and high cost. This research team developed a new field-testing method to evaluate this critical strength by utilizing an innovative “self-wetting” CPT-based method that can evaluate this WDFSS in a rational time span, that is usually a day.
This research team, therefore, proposes to evaluate the WDFSS of various Nebraska soils with this innovative CPT method, so that WDFSS can be conveniently obtained and utilized for design work.
In addition, this study includes the Santee Reservation area – one of Native American Reservations in Nebraska as one of test sites. This area showed as high as 90% strength reduction for clayey glacial tills in the previous study (Song et al. 2019). Providing specific geotechnical information to the tribal government will greatly enhance the usage of their territory in more resilient and productive ways.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:18:13 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2626785</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of Biochar Specification Criteria as Soil Amendment for Slopes, Conveyances and Stormwater Treatment Systems, Phase 2</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2487020</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Stormwater runoff significantly contributes to pollution in roadside environments. The objective of this research will be to evaluate the stormwater treatment efficiency of biochar at different particle sizes and in combination with various mixed media, such as compost, peat, topsoil and sand. Both lab tests and field implementation will be conducted during this phase. The findings from phases 1 and 2 will be used to develop a design guide for the production, selection, and application of biochar as a biofiltration media for roadside stormwater treatment.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:11:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2487020</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Investigate the Effects of Using of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) as Aggregate in Seal Coats</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2604526</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The research team will develop recommendations and construction guidelines for using Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) as aggregate in seal coats for pavement maintenance in Texas. Incorporating RAP in seal coats offers potential benefits, including cost savings, improved moisture resistance, and prolonged oxidation resistance. The research team will establish test methods, procedures and guidelines for evaluating RAP stockpiles, materials selection, material processing, application rate design, quality control and quality assurance during construction, laying the groundwork for statewide adoption. Given the lack of national guidance, a state-specific approach is essential to maximize performance and feasibility. The findings will provide the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) with the technical basis to integrate RAP into seal coats effectively, leading to substantial cost savings and enhanced pavement sustainability.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:22:29 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2604526</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Correlation of Laboratory Three-Wheel Polisher Revolutions with Roadway Accumulated-Traffic to Evaluate Laboratory Polishing of Pavements</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593938</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Prior to conducting laboratory dynamic friction tests (DFTs), a three-wheel polisher is used to simulate the polishing effect of traffic on asphalt pavements. Limited research has looked at how the number of revolutions completed by a three-wheel polisher correlates with real-world cumulative traffic volume. Establishing correlations between the number of three-wheel polisher revolutions and real-world traffic volume will clarify how aggregate polishing affects pavement friction.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:32:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593938</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Requirements of Aggregate Materials as Subbase, Base, Surface, and Shoulder Courses</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593918</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will determine how the type and amount of fine aggregate in subbase, base, surface or shoulder coarse materials impacts aggregate performance under traffic loads. Researchers will evaluate field performance of lab findings from ICT-IDOT project R27-157 using an accelerated pavement testing device to simulate traffic loads on aggregate layers. They aim to determine which material properties improve strength and durability and what dust ratio has the best performance. Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will use the results to update their road construction policies, allowing them to build higher performing roadways that will extend the life of pavement as well as reduce costs.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:46:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593918</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Conduct a Friction Testing Program, Data Analysis and Effectiveness of the NMDOT Open Grade Friction Course Program</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2582895</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The conducts friction testing year-round on all state-owned roads and collected data are stored in database. There is a lack of guidance on what new roads should test at for open-graded friction course (OGFC), concrete, or chip seal, or any correlation with traffic safety, smoothness, or resurfacing criteria. Findings from this friction data focused research will be applied to pre- and post- OGFC, to determine if the friction courses are effective.
There is a need to study the influence of friction values (skid number) and limits on traffic crash rate potential, which is proposed herein. In addition, it is important to understand how friction affects paving material selection (say, a good quality high micro-texture aggregate), as well as pavement ME distress functions (modify IRI equation).

This study investigates the relationship between Mean Texture Depth (MTD) and skid resistance, as measured by the Locked Wheel Skid Tester (LWST) under wet conditions, through correlation and regression analyses. Results indicate a strong positive association, with Spearman’s (0.8970), Pearson’s (0.8693), and Kendall’s (0.7349) correlations confirming statistical significance. Among various regression models, polynomial regression best captures the relationship, highlighting a non-linear interaction between pavement texture and skid resistance. Additionally, the study examines the correlation between skid number (SN) and crash data across multiple years. The low R² values for most years suggest a weak correlation, except for 2016 (R²=0.4617), indicating a moderate association. These findings emphasize the necessity of filtering data to identify crash-prone road segments where low SN values significantly contribute to crashes. Proper segment selection and supervised crash data collection are critical.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 05 Aug 2025 10:54:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2582895</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Design Guidance and Best Practices for the Use of Light Fill</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2487315</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Solid waste products have been successfully used in road construction as light weight fill (LWF), diverting them from ending up in landfills and recycling the waste material for beneficial use. There have been several past and ongoing studies. One specific product, Tire Derived Aggregates (TDAs), has been the target of the study, "Updating MnDOT Guidance for Using Shredded Tires in Roadway Construction." This research will update and expand upon the work conducted in this study. The focus of this project will be to review and synthesize all past and existing research, identify success stories and best practices of using LWF.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:36:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2487315</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Identification of Alternative Coarse and Fine Aggregates and Specifications for Evaluation</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2550944</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The main objectives of this research are as follows: 1) Provide an extensive critical review of the literature pertaining to alternative aggregates that have been used in concrete and the resultant quality of the concrete. Any additional aggregate types that could possibly be used should be identified for future evaluation. 2) Interview senior management from aggregate suppliers and integrate their suggestions into the testing program. 3) Determine if there are any coarse aggregates from approved sources that do not meet the grading requirements given in ASTM C33 (including limestone screenings). These become usable when combining aggregate gradations since the total aggregate gradation is what is important. Also, any distributions of non-reactive fillers could be used if they improve the packing density and enable the reduction of paste content. 4) Obtain supplies of all the available alternative aggregates and determine the mineralogy, strength, durability, and reactivity, particularly the alkali silica reaction potential. 5) Identify and/or develop performance-related testing and specifications without affecting currently approved sources.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 08 May 2025 11:15:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2550944</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of Crushed Quarry Aggregate Surfacing Specifications </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2533742</link>
      <description><![CDATA[South Dakota’s transportation system includes over 83,000 miles of roads of which about ten percent are state-controlled, and three percent are federal routes. The remaining 72,000 miles are mostly low-volume roads (LVR).  A LVR is defined as a road that carries less than 400 vehicles per day. Typically, these roads fall under the jurisdiction of counties, townships, and municipalities. LVRs play an important role in the State’s economy by providing essential links not only between rural areas but also between rural and urban areas. A significant portion of LVRs in South Dakota are gravel. While South Dakota local governments are not bound by the State’s gravel surfacing specification, survey results from the SD2009-08 study entitled Gravel Surfacing Guidelines for South Dakota, revealed the majority of local government respondents use the State Gravel Surfacing specification. For some areas of the state, there is a shortage of “natural” gravel that will meet the Gravel Surfacing specification as per the 2015 SDDOT Standard Specifications for Roads and Bridges.  This is due to the drying up of the state's “natural” gravel pits, which will only get worse over time. In addition to gravel supply concerns, rising costs and tightening budgets have encouraged local governments to consider and construct roads with alternate aggregate materials under a range of specifications. These include SDDOT Base Course specifications, local specifications, or no specifications at all. Local governments, in areas having nearby quarries, have installed aggregate surfacing using crushed quarry aggregate, which is defined as crushed limestone, quartzite, or granite. According to the local owners and SD Local Transportation Assistance Program (LTAP) personnel, several of these surfaces perform similarly to “natural” gravel surfacing. The fines in the material appear to have a binding quality that creates a firm roadway surface. Unfortunately, the criteria for defining a well-performing crushed quarry aggregate surfacing and the specifications associated with that performance have never been established.  Currently, the only way to duplicate a well-performing crushed quarry aggregate surfacing is through trial and error. Through the development of criteria defining a well-performing aggregate surface and the establishment of the associated specific requirements for crushed quarry material, owners would be provided an alternative option to “natural” gravel surfacing that is readily duplicated and available.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 01 Apr 2025 08:39:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2533742</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>NEXTGEN Concrete - Tests of the Future: Shrinkage Phase II</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2529970</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This is the restart of BED96. This research project is to determine the factors that influence the cracking potential of Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) concrete mixes using the most advantageous test apparatus while considering the AASHTO 334 with concrete that utilized #57 stone as coarse aggregate. The newly created test method will have defined dimensions and specifications to create a Florida Method of Test, which will be used to approve FDOT mixture designs compared to a baseline mix.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 28 Mar 2025 13:26:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2529970</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Gravel Road Performance Enhancements – Phase II</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2507250</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The quality of gravel road materials (e.g., abrasion resistance, freeze/thaw durability) is very important, since common surface deteriorations such as material loss, gradation change, loss of crown, surface erosion, rutting, washboarding and potholes can be directly related to the quality of the materials used in these roadways. In particular, the aforementioned deteriorations following the use of low-quality aggregates and improper gravel surface gradation can cause severe rutting and washboarding problems for gravel roadways. The importance of the index properties of gravel road surface materials such as maximum aggregate size, gradation, plasticity, and quality has long been recognized. However, most state department of transportation (DOT) specifications for gradation and plasticity of gravel road-surface materials are neither performance-based nor strictly executed. Consequently, considerable variation exists in the performance and durability of gravel roads, and substantial amounts of the freshly placed material for maintenance and repair rapidly degrades to smaller particles and dust. To address these challenges, the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) initiated the first phase of the proposed project “Gravel Road Performance Enhancements-Phase I”. The first phase of the project has conducted a comprehensive laboratory study to evaluate the efficiency of mixing gravel road surface materials with different size aggregates and subgrade soils on improving the performance of granular roads. Approximately, 13 gravel road surface materials and 4 subgrade soils were collected from four different counties (Douglas, Cherry, Scotts Bluff, and Harlan) in Nebraska that experienced significant road distresses.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 10 Feb 2025 14:11:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2507250</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Design of Surface Treatments with Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement Aggregates in Nevada (NDOT 778-24-803)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2502110</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Surface treatments (STs), including chip seals and slurry and microsurfacing, are effective methods for maintaining asphalt concrete (AC) pavements. Using reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) as aggregates for STs conserves natural resources and promotes the design and construction of sustainable pavements. However, related changes in mix design and construction must be addressed for effective implementation. Although some national research has been conducted on the use of RAP as ST aggregates, the unique characteristics of Nevada’s asphalt mixtures, such as lime treatment and polymer-modified asphalt binders, limits the applicability of existing findings from the literature. The overall objective of this research is to develop test methods and procedures for the implementation of RAP materials from Nevada as aggregates for STs. The methods and procedures shall cover all aspects of materials selection, mix design, and quality assurance during construction. This research will include developing  and conducting  laboratory and field tests/methods for the evaluation of RAP materials as aggregates for ST, using locally available sources from each of the three Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)  districts. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 03 Feb 2025 12:42:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2502110</guid>
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