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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>
      <url>https://rip.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle-RIP.jpg</url>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Anchorage Design and Detailing for Fabric-Reinforced Cementitious Matrix Retrofits of Transportation Concrete Structures</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2691724</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The repair and rehabilitation of transportation structures is urgently needed to restore structural capacity, slow deterioration caused by aging, overloading, and environmental stressors, and minimize disruptions associated with large-scale replacement projects. State DOTs and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have implemented several advanced rehabilitation techniques, including fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, ultra-high-performance concrete, and fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) systems. FRCM consists of an open-grid textile made of FRP or steel strands embedded within an inorganic cementitious matrix. The system offers multiple advantages over traditional FRP, including mechanical compatibility with concrete and masonry substrates, improved fire and elevated-temperature performance, vapor permeability, durability in moist or cold environments, and ease of application in field conditions.

As an externally bonded strengthening system, the performance of FRCM is governed by the ability of the FRCM–substrate interface to maintain composite action and to transfer forces effectively. Premature interfacial slip, end debonding, or localized interface damage are commonly reported for unanchored FRCM systems. These brittle failure modes often occur at loads far below the tensile capacity of the textile, limiting the effectiveness of the strengthening system to 30–60% of its potential and undermining both safety and return on investment. Introducing anchorage mechanisms into FRCM systems provides an engineered means to restrain interfacial slip, delay debonding, promote more favorable failure modes, and enable the textile to mobilize higher tensile strains. However, the existing literature on FRCM anchorage is sparse, fragmented, and lacking in unified, design-oriented guidance. Quantitative provisions addressing anchor geometry, capacity, and interaction with the primary FRCM reinforcement remain absent from current codes and standards.

The primary objective of this research is to advance the understanding, design, and implementation of anchorage systems for FRCM-strengthened concrete members, with the goal of mitigating premature debonding and achieving ductile, and efficient strengthening outcomes. Specifically, the project aims to: (a) synthesize and critically evaluate the current state of knowledge on FRCM anchorage; (b) develop and experimentally validate practical anchorage systems including transverse wraps, mechanical anchors, and spike anchors; and (c) produce a design-oriented framework for selecting, proportioning, and detailing anchorage systems.

Two coordinated experimental programs are proposed: (1) bond-level tests to characterize the effects of anchorage presence and type on joint force transfer, slip response, and failure mechanisms; and (2) flexural tests on reinforced concrete beams strengthened with anchored and unanchored FRCM reinforcement, to evaluate the translation of bond-level behavior to member-level performance and to verify design expressions under combined shear and normal stresses. The proposed research will equip state DOTs with validated anchorage solutions, support cost-effective preservation strategies, and accelerate the adoption of durable composite materials for extending the service life of transportation infrastructure.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 23:52:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2691724</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Post-Installed Post-Tensioning Anchorages in Concrete Bridge Foundations</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2540176</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this project is to investigate the feasibility of using cement-based grouted anchors in lieu of adhesive-based systems to facilitate anchorage to concrete. The project will have one primary thrust area of research: “active” anchorages for post-tensioned structures]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 21 Apr 2025 08:19:04 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2540176</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Grouted Post-Installed Concrete Anchorages</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2540175</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this project is to investigate the feasibility of cement-based grouted anchors less than 1” in diameter in lieu of adhesive-based systems with the focus on developing a basic understanding of the primary design variables: embedment type (i.e. threaded, headed, or deformed shanks), hole details, and grouting materials (i.e. standard high-strength grouts and ultra-high performance concretes (UHPC) with and without expansive additives). The research team will conduct proof of concept testing with a focus on the ultimate limit state and failure modes of the systems. Other key variables such as anchorage group and edge distance effect may be considered.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 21 Apr 2025 08:11:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2540175</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Anchorage Zone Reinforcement for Post-Tensioned Concrete Girders</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2448854</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Historically, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges did not provide adequate guidance for designing reinforcement for tendon anchorage zones of post-tensioned concrete girders and slabs. Designs had the potential for excessive cracking or congested reinforcing details. Additionally, the wide variation of design practices in use suggested the need for research in this area. The objective of this research was to develop design procedures for end and intermediate anchorage zones for post-tensioned concrete girders and slabs. The project tasks included a review of relevant research findings and practice, the conduct of laboratory tests and analytical studies, and the development of analysis and proportioning criteria for anchorage applications. Recommended specification provisions were prepared. Research on the project was completed in 1992. The research results were published in NCHRP Report 356 and in the unpublished appendices A-C. The recommended specifications represent a comprehensive revision to the existing AASHTO provisions. Detailed procedures are included for predicting first cracking load and ultimate load in post-tensioned concrete girder anchorage zones, and the overall recommendations are based on a limit state approach. A load factor for the maximum post-tensioning load is proposed, as well as a strength-reduction factor for anchorage zone calculations. In addition to these and other design (Division I) provisions, recommendations for construction (Division II) also are presented, including a section on a special anchorage-device acceptance test that replaces Sections 10.3.1.4.3 through 10.3.1.4.5 of the 15th Edition of the AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges. The recommended specifications provide for efficient and conservative design, and they were adopted by the AASHTO Highway Subcommittee on B ridges and Structures in 1993.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 04 Nov 2024 15:55:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2448854</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Develop/Refine Design Provisions for Headed and Hooked Reinforcement</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2056301</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The usefulness of reinforced concrete is dependent on sufficient anchorage between concrete and reinforcing steel. Sufficient anchorage occurs when reinforcing steel is embedded into the concrete a distance referred to as the development length. When this length of embedment is achieved the reinforcing steel is expected to reach or exceed stresses beyond yield. Geometric constraints within structural members may prevent straight lengths of reinforcement from developing their yield strength, such as straight bars being terminated within a beam-column joint. In these cases, the addition of a hook or headed bar attachment provides a more efficient anchorage mechanism compared to straight bars. Both hooked and headed bars have shorter development lengths than straight bars. However, the current American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Bridge Design Specifications (9th edition) has not developed standard details for headed reinforcement in bridge structures. In addition, current AASHTO LRFD design provisions for hooked bars are adapted from the American Concrete Institute (ACI) 318-14 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete. Considerable revisions to the current ACI 318-19 specification for the design of hooked reinforcement, which require increased lengths (50 to 70 percent longer) relative to previous code cycles, necessitates Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to revisit its current design practice for hooked reinforcement. This research seeks to provide TxDOT with clear and concise design guidance for engineers to use both hooked and headed bar attachments in TxDOT bridge structures. The research teams will accomplish this through large-scale experimental testing of specimens with hooked and headed bars representative of TxDOT bridge structures and current design practice.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2022 16:48:28 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2056301</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Seismic Performance and Fragility of Retrofitted Reinforced Concrete Bridge Columns to Long-Duration Earthquakes</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1856847</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Long duration earthquakes are characteristic of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which has the potential to generate a Magnitude-9.0 earthquake with strong shaking in Washington, Oregon, northern California, and Alaska. The proposed research is focused on characterization of the probability of failure of retrofitted bridge columns due to fatigue fracture of reinforcement under long-duration earthquakes. The proposed research will include the formulation of fatigue fracture models based on actual earthquake strain histories, as previous research on fatigue modeling of reinforcement has used idealized reversed cyclic loading histories. Ongoing research by the PIs on this topic has generated test data for legacy grade 40 reinforcement, typical of 1950s-1970s bridges. The proposed research will include additional testing of modern grade 40 and grade 60 reinforcement to better characterize the influence of earthquake cycle content on fatigue life. Nonlinear time history analyses, incorporating the improved fatigue fracture models, will be conducted for a range of bridges subjected to Cascadia Subduction Zone demands, and results will be used to develop failure fragilities.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 05 Jun 2021 17:08:20 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1856847</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Confinement Effect of Narrow Baseplates or Reaction Area on Anchor Breakout, Part 2
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1849173</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary objectives of this research project are: (1) Review and identify the effect of confinement of narrow baseplates or reaction area on screw anchors breakout resistance. (2) Determine the effect of anchor groups and configurations on the anchor breakout resistance. (3) Determine the failure mechanism and appropriate confinement modification factor of screw anchors used in various applications. (4) Determine the screw anchors' performance under cyclic loads. (5) Develop new Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Structures Design Guidelines criteria for screw anchors with confinement effects. (6) Develop modified FDOT Structures Design Guidelines criteria for adhesive anchors with confinement effects if necessary.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:52:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1849173</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Anchorage Zone Reinforcement of Post-Tensioned Box Girder Bridges</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1440834</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Adequate anchorage zone performance is critical to the proper performance of post-tensioned bridges.  Sufficient reinforcement is important to distribute the forces in the anchorage zone region. The last substantial experimental research on post-tensioned concrete anchorage zones was the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) 10-29 in 1994. California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has implemented a design procedure in Memo to Designers 11-25 for anchorage zone design.  However, experience on recent construction projects has shown that current detailing methods can lead to highly congested reinforcement in anchorage zones.  The objective of this project is to develop and validate an efficient, yet safe design procedure for anchorage zones. The proposal is a combination of analytical work that will focus on the 3-dimensional (3D) spreading that occurs in box girder bridge anchorage zones and experimental work. The experimental work will include both large-scale tests of the anchorage zone in the laboratory and four field instrumentation sites.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Dec 2016 11:39:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1440834</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of Prefabricated Bridge Railings</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1398651</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Many organizations are promoting and utilizing Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) practices to reduce traffic impacts and to reduce societal costs. One of the most common means to achieve ABC is to utilize prefabricated elements which are brought together, on-site, to construct the in-place bridge. The purpose of this research is to begin the process of developing crash-tested prefabricated concrete bridge railings that have durable anchorage details. The developed prefabricated bridge railings must be attached to a bridge superstructure with durable connections that satisfy the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) 2009 Specification. Needed anchorage systems include details that connect the prefabricated bridge railing to the bridge deck and details that connect one prefabricated bridge railing to an adjacent prefabricated bridge railing. The end products of this research will be crash-tested prefabricated bridge railings with recommended durable anchorage systems and details that meet design test level TL-4 in accordance with MASH and Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Bridge Design Specifications.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2016 15:27:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1398651</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Developing Girder Strands into the Cap Beam for a Positive Moment Connection</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1350428</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To maximize the seismic resistance in the longitudinal direction of a bridge made from precast, pre-stressed concrete girders, the columns, cap beam and girders must be connected in such a way as to provide flexural resistance.  Therefore, the goal of the research is to determine a good method for anchoring the strands in the cap beam, and to verify it by testing.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2015 01:00:43 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1350428</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Use of Shallow Anchors and Anchored Mesh System for Cut Slope Protection in Ice-Rich Soils</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1307048</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The overall objective of this research is to investigate the performance of shallow anchors in frozen soils and develop an anchored wire mesh system which can be used to solve the problems associated with the exposed ice-rich permafrost cut slopes. The system will be safe, environmentally acceptable, cost-effective, and requires little maintenance in the long term. The specific goals of the project are as follows: (1) Investigate the rate of thermal degradation of ice-rich permafrost cut slopes. (2) Investigate load transfer characteristics of a shallow anchors during freeze-thaw cycles. (3) Investigate the local and global stability of the slope protection systems. (4) Investigate performances of different anchored systems for ice-rich permafrost cut slopes exposed during construction and investigate the optimum design for ice-rich permafrost cut slopes. (5) Investigate methods to construct ice-rich permafrost cut slopes with an anchored slope protection system. The results will be used to develop design and construction guidance for anchored slope protection systems for a variety of field conditions in Alaska.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2014 01:01:09 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1307048</guid>
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