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    <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" />
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    <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>
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    <item>
      <title>3D-Printed Lattice-Based Structures for Next Generation Bridge Bearings and Bridge Isolation Bearings</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2714398</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Bridge bearings are installed between the bridge substructure and the superstructure to transfer loads and allow controlled translations to reduce stresses in the structure. In deteriorated and aging bridges, the old bearing system commonly needs to be replaced, and these replacements are currently very costly. Recent progress in 3D printing applications through a recent Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Phase I research project examined a new promising, customizable design for typical bridge bearings and isolation bearings. The current project will develop a prototype bearing system using concepts from architected lattice materials and aspire to manufacture and test the 3D printing bearing systems. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the proposed research include computational and experimental work to develop a new architected material bridge bearing product and test it for vertical, transverse, and other load conditions. In addition, the proposed research will aim to develop recommendations regarding the technoeconomic decision-making process (including cost models) informing how to apply the new prototype and identify the technical capabilities to achieve a cost-effective solution that can be implemented in the field. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:23:59 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2714398</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Use of Stainless-Steel Bridge Bearings for Steel Girder Bridges</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2701238</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Corrosion protection and prevention is a challenge for the steel bridges, especially in highly corrosive bridge environments, such as marine environment or locations with frequent exposure to deicing salts. Maintenance of steel bridge bearings is a large yearly expense for the Office of Structures in the Maryland Department of Transport State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA). Bridge bearings are the support system for the bridge girders and accommodate movements of the bridge beams and deck resulting from loading and thermal expansion/contraction. When a bearing is not functioning properly, the impacts range from mild to severe depending on the situation.
On the less extreme side, poorly functioning bearing results in additional stresses to the bridge, which over time compound to other issues such as cracking/spalling to the substructure units, etc. further deteriorating the bridge. In severe cases, it has resulted in cracks in the steel girder resulting in immediate closure of a structure and emergency repairs. On movable bridges it has resulted in the bridge getting stuck in an open position resulting in closure to the roadway until repairs could be made. The main culprit to the deterioration of the bearings is water resulting in rusting of the bearings. Fixing of the bearings is extremely costly because it requires jacking of the bridge to remove and
replace the impacted bearing. These reported issues raise the life cycle cost of bridge bearings. One solution to reduce the maintenance costs associated with corrosion is the use of a more corrosion-resistant steel, such as stainless steel. The use of stainless steel does not require protective coatings because chromium and the rest of the alloying elements develop a passive layer on the steel surface to protect it from atmospheric corrosion. ASTM A709 Grade 50CR (previously known as ASTM A1010), is a structural steel developed to address the corrosion issues associated with the use of traditional steels. Stainless steel bridge bearings have been installed at the Gawler River Rail Bridge near Adelaide in southern Australia. While structural bearings of stainless steel are generally more expensive than carbon steel alternatives, their use may substantially reduce life cycle costs by minimizing the need to replace them as a result of a longer service life – especially when indirect costs such as traffic management and traffic disruption are considered. A1010 stainless steel has been used for primary members in six vehicular bridges in the US [5]. In 2017, Virginia DOT completed a A1010 bridge, in which stainless steel were used for all primary and secondary members and fasteners. Duracorr stainless steel (current ASTM designation ASTM 709 Grade 50CR) is a low-cost, 12% chromium, stainless steel manufactured in the United States by ArcelorMittal USA. However, ASTM A1010 steel was developed with a low chromium-content (12% Cr) for highway bridge primary structural members to control the cost arising from large material volume use while maintaining satisfactory strength and impact toughness. Therefore, A1010 is not corrosion free and may corrode where high time-of-wetness and/or elevated chloride contents are present. Due to the relatively small volume of stainless steel consumed by bridge bearings, opting for a more costly stainless steel with elevated chromium-nickel content and higher corrosion resistance may prove more beneficial. This approach aligns with the objectives of extending service life and eliminating the need for maintenance. This study will address the question raised by the MDOT SHA Office of Structures on whether it is viable option to replace the standard metal bearings with stainless steel and eliminate any possibility of rusting. If the project's research survey results and literature search findings confirm this, a future shift to stainless steel bearings will eliminate maintenance and replacement works associated with rusted bridge bearing, potentially substantially reducing the life-cycle cost of bridge bearings. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 09:16:27 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2701238</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Design and Testing of High-Load Multi-Rotational Disc Bearings for Bridges



</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2669883</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The American Association of Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) LRFD Bridge Design Specifications (BDS) currently contain limited design criteria for disc bearings. The BDS requirements are predominately based on NCHRP Project 10-20A, “High-Load, Multi-Rotational Bearings: Design, Materials, and Construction” initiated in 1986 and published in 1999 as NCHRP Report 432: High-Load Multi-Rotational Bridge Bearings.  At the time, only one company manufactured disc bearings and testing samples of their product were limited.  Since 1999, multiple companies manufacture disc bearings and industry standards have progressed. 

Due to the limited research, bridge designers are reliant on disc bearing manufacturers’ unique in-house designs, which introduces uncertainties that may result in nonuniform reliability and performance. Renewed consideration of high-load multi-rotational (HMLR) disc bearings would likely result in a more thorough and robust design approach. Research is needed to update the current practice for the design, fabrication, and construction of disc bearings.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop design procedures and acceptance testing methods and criteria for HLMR disc bearings for highway bridges. It shall be applicable to all design limit states.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 18:46:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2669883</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Ultrasonic Inspection of Reconditioned Railroad Bearing Components – Year 3</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2574196</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Freight rail bearings are often subjected to heavy loads such that the performance of each bearing plays a crucial role in the safe operation of the entire train. Even bearings that are properly maintained may still fail due to rolling contact fatigue (RCF) if local regions within the bearing race do not meet established effective case depth (ECD) standards. In addition, little is known about potential changes that may occur within the highest stress region after extensive service life. Ultrasonic grain scattering shows sensitivity to both microstructure and residual stresses such that nondestructive measurement methods based on diffuse ultrasonic backscatter have shown a high correlation with the overall status of the raceway. Results from the first year showed clear differences between new and reconditioned bearing cups in terms of their ultrasonic signatures. This work will be expanded to include spatial maps of raceways to identify locations that are outside the statistical bounds expected for a given part. Those locations will be identified and those parts will be tested in simulated service life testing at UTRGV for comparison with the predictions. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 14 Jul 2025 19:01:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2574196</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Effect of Long-Term Inactivity on Railcar Bearing Lubricant and Seal Function</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2574620</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Prior work on the effects of prolonged inactivity on rail bearing performance focused on possible effects of extended idle periods on lubricant condition and performance. Those studies utilized bearings which had been idle for three years. Normal changes in lubricant antioxidants and consistency were observed but changes did not fall outside the necessary condition for safe operation of the bearing. A controlled study of long-term idleness on lubricant characteristics began as part of that study and the research team proposes extending that work for another year. In the testing of the idle bearings received from CSX Transportation, two seal-related conditions were observed which would have some impact on long term performance. One bearing showed evidence of water intrusion as evidenced both by corrosion on the bearing raceway and behavior of samples in thermal analysis. In addition, several bearings subjected to service testing developed lubricant leaks from the metallic joint between the seal and bearing cup which is a press fit. In almost two decades of bearing life testing, the research team has never seen a leak at that location, even in bearings which had been reassembled multiple times. The proposed work would have one continuing effort and one new line of investigation. (1) The effects of extended inactivity on lubricants stored in a bearing simulator and continuously exposed to the South Texas elements would continue for another year. (2) Evaluation of effects of extended periods under load without rotation on the metal-metal interface between the bearing seal and the bearing cup. 

 ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:59:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2574620</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Comparison of Onboard Condition Monitoring System Mounting Location for Freight 
Railcar Bearing Defect Detection Using Vibration Signatures</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2574768</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Prior research at the University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS) has demonstrated that onboard sensor technology can make early and accurate detections of defect initiation in railcar bearings and wheels. Vibration thresholds were developed using the extensive history of acceleration data gathered from an accelerometer mounted at the preferred Smart Adapter (SA) location on the bearing adapter. This location is not available on many adapter types. Data acquired at alternate locations on the adapter indicates that there are systematic differences in recorded vibration waveforms that are significant enough to require compensation in order to find equivalent threshold levels. We propose a study using multiple, simultaneously sampled accelerometers on adapters at several different locations of the adapter surface, to determine the required compensation functions. This large-scale study will be conducted at the UTCRS lab but will be supplemented with field data expected to be gathered at the MxV Rail Fast Loop facility. The test will directly acquire data from (a) the SA location, (b) face-mounted top dead center (TDC) location, (c) and face-mounted at a location 45o off top-dead center (Mote). It will also be compared with statistical data from commercial vibration sensors with alternate mountings. The lab testing will take place concurrently with other previously committed experiments on a combination of healthy bearings and bearings with known early-stage and progressing defects. The outcomes of this project would include quantitative, calibrated comparisons of vibration signatures from the SA location to the alternate as well as potential improvements to existing thresholds and algorithms. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:51:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2574768</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>FAST® Loop Comparison of Onboard Condition Monitoring Versus Wayside Detection Systems</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2405271</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Prior research at the University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS) has demonstrated that onboard sensor technology can make early and accurate detections of defect initiation in railcar bearings and wheels. Hum Industrial Technology, Inc., has further developed this technology to the point of field deployment in commercial applications with multiple railcar operators. Although these field deployments have already shown the ability to detect defective wheelsets, there is a lack of head-to-head comparison data in which the same bearings and wheels are monitored using both conventional wayside sensors (Hot Bearing Detectors (HBD) and Wheel Impact Load Detectors (WILD)) and onboard monitoring (commercial units from Hum and next generation prototypes from UTCRS), at the same time on the same track. This is a crucial step in validating the current onboard technology, as well as an initial field test of newer experimental techniques.
The research team proposes a large scale (40+ sensor units) test to be conducted at the MxV Rail FAST® (Facility for Accelerated Service Testing) track loop. The test will acquire data from (a) commercial Hum Boomerang wireless sensors, (b) UTCRS prototype sensors developed during the 2023-2024 funding cycle, (c) an existing HBD installed at FAST®, and (d) an existing WILD installed at FAST®. The test will include several randomly selected cars, and one car intentionally installed with a combination of healthy wheels/bearings and wheels/bearings with known early-stage defects. At the end of the test run, selected bearings and wheels will be pulled and inspected for a "ground truth" evaluation of defect severity.
The outcomes of this project would include quantitative, calibrated comparisons of (a) temperature only (HBD) versus temperature and vibration (onboard) measures of bearing health and (b) wheel flat measurements from onboard accelerometers versus WILD. It will allow direct evaluation of the relative performance of onboard and wayside in early detection. The UTCRS prototype portion of the project would also demonstrate the viability of new techniques such as synchronized sampling and adaptive filter cutoffs and provide a large-scale public database for training artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) systems.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 22 Jul 2024 08:12:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2405271</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Ultrasonic Inspection of Reconditioned Railroad Bearing Components – Year 2</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2405275</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Freight rail bearings are often subjected to heavy loads such that the performance of each bearing plays a crucial role in the safe operation of the entire train. Even bearings that are properly maintained may still fail due to rolling contact fatigue (RCF) if local regions within the bearing race do not meet established effective case depth (ECD) standards. In addition, little is known about potential changes that may occur within the highest stress region after extensive service life. Ultrasonic grain scattering shows sensitivity to both microstructure and residual stresses such that nondestructive measurement methods based on diffuse ultrasonic backscatter have shown a high correlation with the overall status of the raceway. Previous research has shown clear differences between new and reconditioned bearing cups in terms of their ultrasonic signatures. That work will be expanded to include spatial maps of raceways to identify locations that are outside the statistical bounds expected for a given part. Those locations will be identified, and those parts will be tested in simulated service life testing at University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) for comparison with the predictions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 22 Jul 2024 08:09:13 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2405275</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Effect of Long-Term Inactivity on Railcar Bearing Lubricant Performance</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2405270</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The performance of railroad bearings that sit idle in railyards, large industrial plants, or shipping ports has only recently been explored. Some of the bearings, with documented periods of inactivity exceeding 18 months, have been associated with major derailments. This provides a basis for concerns that the inactive periods contributed to early failure, possibly through degradation of the grease properties brought on by moisture intake or grease separation leading to uneven protection of the metal components. The proposed work builds on prior efforts conducted in collaboration with CSX Transportation, MxV Rail, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and seeks to improve the  understanding of the effects of long-term inactivity on lubricant properties.
The proposed work will consist of (a) preparation of two test bearings which will be placed outdoors in a position to receive direct sunlight, (b) placement of grease samples in the same location in a simulated bearing housing to mimic the thermal cycle of a sun-exposed bearing, (c) regular sampling from the simulated bearing housing to monitor long-term changes in lubricant performance and condition, (d) at 23 weeks and 48 weeks, bearings will be retrieved and installed on a laboratory test rig and run for 15,000 simulated miles with continuous performance monitoring of temperature rise, vibration spectra, and power consumption, (e) post-test inspection including disassembly, teardown, and visual inspection of all bearing components, and (f) analysis of the grease composition at all stages with specific focus on loss of oxidation inhibitors and changes in tribological performance.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 22 Jul 2024 07:59:31 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2405270</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Assessment and Evaluation of Post-Liquefaction Lateral Spread Impact on Bridge Deep Foundations</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1855320</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Durability and serviceability of bridges and their deep foundations could be highly influenced by the downdrag forces acting on the pile foundation due to the inundation of existing collapsible soil layers and resulting large soil settlement around the piles. The analysis of the bridge deep foundations under downdrag forces triggered by the inundation of collapsible of collapsible soils carries a lot of ambiguity and uncertainty. Current practice focuses on the assessment of downdrag force caused by the consolidation settlement of clay layers based on the distribution of fully mobilized downdrag force and resistance along the pile.

The proposed research work determines the excessive settlement of collapsible soil caused by the inundation of the soil based on a number of basic properties of the collapsible soils such as the soil’s initial void ratio, degree of saturation, uniformity coefficient, dry unit weight and collapse potential. Such an excessive soil settlement is employed in the proposed pile-soil model to assess the downdrag force acting on the pile skin and the associating pile axial response considering the pile-soil relative settlement and mobilized pile-soil resistance. The proposed model combines the pile-head axial load from the superstructure along with the developing downdrag force and mobilized pile-soil resistance above and below the neutral plane, respectively, based in the pile-soil interaction.

The developed pile-soil model is compiled into a computer code with a user-friendly graphical interface for input and output data. The proposed model will be validated through case studies available in the literature.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 28 May 2021 19:05:29 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1855320</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Low Temperature Performance of a Friction Pendulum Bearing Inundated with Ice</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1669407</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Friction pendulum system (FPS) bridge bearings manufactured by Earthquake Protection Systems (EPS) at several locations around the country are known to fill with and retain water in the inner cavity of the bearing. FPS bearings are delivered and installed with cover seals around the outer bearing (attached to the top and bottom plate) that prevent exposure of the sliding surfaces. However, from inspection of in-service bearings, several DOTs have reported observations of breached seals and standing water on the sliding surface. The influence of water contamination on the sliding surface friction properties appears to be absent in prior literature, but anecdotal observations have suggested that water contamination may decrease the bearing friction coefficient.
In Alaska, an even bigger concern is the fact that water trapped in the bearings will freeze during the winter months. The presence of ice in the cavity of the isolator could obstruct the movement of the bearing during an earthquake. This would result in increased base shear demand, which is potentially damaging to the bridge superstructure and foundation. Thus, the consequences of water and ice contamination in the bearings must be evaluated to determine how well the bearings will function, and whether uncertainties in the bearing response can be accounted for in the design process. If consequences of water or ice contamination are severe, mitigation options should be explored that can either prevent the bearings from taking on water or help the bearings to quickly dry out.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 27 Nov 2019 17:25:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1669407</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Analysis of Isolated Girder and Bearing Movement on Lowndes County Bridge</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1522932</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary objective of this research is to perform an assessment and analysis of the plate girder and bearing that has moved on the bridge.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 10 Jul 2018 09:09:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1522932</guid>
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