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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
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    <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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    <item>
      <title>Cone Penetration Test Correlations for Missouri Soils </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2673279</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this research is to provide MoDOT with Missouri-specific guidance on the use of cone penetration test (CPT) measurements to estimate geotechnical parameters. This work will focus on two areas: (1) Development of Missouri-specific correlations to estimate undrained strengths of Missouri clays from CPT measurements. and (2) Investigation of inconsistencies between standard penetration test (SPT) and CPT derived values for granular soils in Missouri.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:30:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2673279</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Clay and Shale LRFD Design Criteria for Drilled Shaft Foundations</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2604567</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) geotechnical design guidance has transitioned from using Texas Cone Penetrometer (TCP) boring logs and capacity correlations to design drilled shaft foundation elements with American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' Load and Resistance Factor Design (AASHTO LRFD) investigations and resistance-based design methods. The research team will optimize TxDOT's drilled shaft design methods and resistance factors for clay and shale in accordance with TxDOT's specific soil and construction conditions. The research team will develop a likelihood map of shale for a district selected by TxDOT.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:35:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2604567</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Stabilization of Expansive Soils using Geopolymers Prepared from Locally Available Resources</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1948956</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The stabilization of soft and highly compressible soils is essential to construct transportation
infrastructure using local geomaterials. Such geomaterials typically contain a high amount of clay,
and therefore lack desired mechanical properties in their native state. Typically, traditional
calcium-based compounds (i.e. Portland cement, lime), and organic polymers are used to improve
the mechanical properties of those geomaterials. However, traditional calcium-based stabilizers
have a high carbon footprint while organic polymers have durability issues. Geopolymers are a
family of inorganic polymers that have recently received much attention as an alternative to
ordinary Portland cement in various transportation infrastructure applications due to its good and
comparable mechanical properties. In addition, geopolymer can be synthesized from various
sources of waste materials (e.g., fly ash, steel slag) and natural materials (e.g., rice husk, volcanic
ash, clay), which lowers its impact on the environment and carbon footprint. Although there are
already many studies in the past decade or so on stabilized clayey soils with geopolymer, there
are only a limited number of studies that utilize locally available resources.
A collaborative research study is formulated by teams from the Zachry Department of Civil &
Environmental Engineering and Department of Materials Science & Engineering at Texas A&M
Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) to evaluate the feasibility of stabilizing clayey soils using
geopolymers synthesized from a locally available resource, namely calcined clays, for the
transportation infrastructure in Region 6. The effects of different geopolymer, dosage, and curing
conditions will be studied on the mechanical properties and durability of geopolymer-stabilized
soils in order to optimize the use of geopolymer synthesized from locally available resources for
transportation infrastructure in Region 6. As a part of the proposed study, engineering tests such
as compressive strength, swell, shrinkage, durability will be coupled with materials
characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray
spectroscopy to relate the micro and macro behavior changes between the native and
geopolymer-treated soils. The result of this study should provide major benefits in the design of
resilient and eco-friendly transportation infrastructure in Texas and other regional states in Region
6 where clayey soils are in abundance.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2022 10:46:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1948956</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Consequences-Based Analysis of Undrained Shear Behavior of Soils and Liquefaction Hazards, Phase 1: Filling the Data Gaps</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1879802</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The overall objective of this multi-year, multi-phase effort is to create a true performance-based model to evaluate the consequences of undrained response in all soils, including consequences resulting from earthquake-induced liquefaction and cyclic softening. Through this overall project, a more robust method for estimating field performance of soils during undrained events (including earthquakes) will be developed and tested. Due to the ability of the CPT to collect nearly continuous profiles of data in most soil types, for these studies we will focus initially on using CPT data for analyzing undrained shear behavior and liquefaction hazards. The framework is intended to be adaptable to other methods such as Standard Penetration Test (SPT), laboratory testing and analysis, and shear wave velocity (Vs) data.  The objective of this Phase 1 study is to fill critical data gaps to document the undrained shear behavior of sands, silts, and clays for both static and dynamic loadings, and to provide a preliminary set of predictive models for the undrained shear response of soils. We anticipate that several state DOTs would be interested in participating in this initial pooled fund study.  Later, in separate pooled fund studies, Phase 2 would focus on additional development of the models for consequences-based analysis of the undrained shear behavior of soils, and Phase 3 would focus on testing and validation of the models.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 Sep 2021 10:51:43 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1879802</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluating Biochar as a Multi-Beneficial and Cost-Effective Soil
Amendment Option for Maximal Stormwater Infiltration</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1765392</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Departments of Transportation (DOTs) are challenged to meet regulations for stormwater runoff in soils compacted during the construction process. Compacted soils exhibit limited root growth in vegetation, reduced infiltration and water storage, resulting in increased stormwater runoff. Biochar amended soils are a potential remedy to this issue. The addition of carbon enriched amendments such as biochar can enhance soil hydraulic properties including wet aggregate stability, water capture and hydraulic conductivity. As well as reduce the risk of environmental pollutants (organic and inorganic) from soils by forming complexes well as reduce the risk of environmental pollutants (organic and inorganic) from soils by forming complexes or through sorption. A recent field study conducted by Delaware DOT demonstrates biochar amendment’s ability to be used as a cost-effective stormwater best management practices (BMP). Stormwater runoff and peak flow rate in biochar amended sandy loam soil was decreased by roughly 50%, for a cost similar to an urban grass buffer.
Biochar’s effect on soil varies by soil type, and there are limited studies on its impact to clay soils native to North Carolina. Additionally, the impact of biochar on a specific soil will also vary by biochar type, making it necessary to test against multiple biochar variations to identify an optimal mix. The overall goal of this research is to evaluate the cost-effective use of biochar for maximal stormwater infiltration and runoff quality in amended soils and assess its ability to provide social and ecological cobenefits resulting from healthy landscapes. In doing so, the effectiveness of a suite of biochars will be assessed over a range of application rates and clay soils native to North Carolina. Ultimately, this research will determine the optimal biochar amendment rate and type for soil improvement BMPs and quantify its multi-beneficial roles within urban watershed management. Specific objectives of this work include:
(1) Create a NC geospatial webtool identifying NC biochar suppliers, detailing characterization and price for each selection.
(2) Perform preliminary batch testing to assess biochar application rates on contaminant removal for a suite of biochar types.
(3) Conduct bench-scale testing (column tests) of nutrient and metal losses in biochar amended soils.
(4) Develop triple bottom line framework and model for assessing co-benefits of stormwater BMPs based on landscape improvements.
(5) Development of recommended specifications for optimizing biochar amendment rates for soil improvement BMPs.
Completion of this project will be a step towards the strategic implementation of biochar as a stormwater BMP with environmental and economic benefits to stormwater management. Anticipated research products include: (a) biochar vendor locator web-tool, (b) BMP embedded benefits modeling tool, (c) specifications
for selection of biochar type based on the soil type and water quality benefits warranted, and (d) a design guide detailing best practices for adding biochar to NCDOT’s Stormwater BMP Toolbox.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 26 Jan 2021 08:24:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1765392</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Coupling Novel Soil Moisture-Suction Sensors and UAV Photogrammetry Technology to the Performance of Highway Embankments</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1644229</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The majority of highway embankments across the United States, specifically in the South-Central region, are in marginal condition because the high-plasticity clays used during construction soften with time to significantly lower strengths. Also, infiltrating rainfall increases pore-water pressures and ultimately lead to slope instability. As a result, these failures have required periodic maintenance to ensure proper highway safety, which has been costly for the Louisiana and Texas DOTs.
This study will advance the understanding of how long-term wetting-drying cycles change the in-situ unsaturated and strength properties of high-plasticity clays. The project scope focuses on developing a predictive design and rehabilitation tool for highway embankments while addressing fundamental unsaturated and shear strength research questions. One highway embankment with prior history of shallow slides will be instrumented to collect undisturbed shear strength, in-situ soil moisture, and pore-water conditions. Specific objectives of the project include:  (1) measure in-situ suction and moisture content using a novel suction-TOR sensor, (2) rapidly evaluate embankment geometry and slope movements using  unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and (3) develop a numerical tool that can predict fully softened shear  strengths, slope failures for a rainfall event, and improvements in embankment to a repair.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 05 Aug 2019 20:39:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1644229</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Implementation Using Geofoam for Bridge Approach Slabs and Roadway Embankments</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1359586</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT's) Fort Worth District installed a novel lightweight fill material, Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) geofoam, as part of a rehabilitation of the US 67 bridge over SH 174 in Johnson County. The bridge embankment constructed in 1995. is approximately 40 ft. high. Readily available moderate plasticity clay soil has been adopted as the fill material. For the past 16 years, the approach slabs at each end of this bridge had experienced more than 17 in. of settlement. The District funded a rehabilitation project to remove the modular block walls underneath, construct 3:1 slopes, repair bridge beams, and remove and replace 150 ft. of approach slab and pavement on each end. EPS geofoam was selected due to its lightweight and high compressibility attribute. The weight of EPS geofoam utilized is only a small fraction of soil that was excavated. Geofoam was designed to replace 6 feet of the embankment from the bottom of the bridge abutment upward. The additional 2 ft. remaining at the top of pavement was constructed with a 10 in. layer of item 247 flexible base, 4 in. of item 3224 Type. B hot mix, and 10 in. of CRCP concrete pavement. This rehabilitation work started in January 2012 and was completed in the following month (February 2012). This area was instrumented with four (4) horizontal inclinometers and four (4) pressure cells to monitor the settlement behavior and pressure response of the embankment in relation to the dead load of the overlying pavement structure, live traffic loading, embankment settlement, and pressure against the abutment and wingwalls. After the completion of installation in February 2012, University of Texas, Arlington (UTA) research team conducted field performance monitoring at regular interval. It can be observed from the horizontal inclinometer data that during the three years after opening to traffic, less than 1.5 in. (38 mm) of post-construction vertical displacement [settlement] has occurred. No visible deformation or bump is observed in the concrete pavement surface. However, soil erosion at shoulder and a 3 in. (76mm) differential settlement at the pavement has been observed and documented on the south side slope of the embankment. it appears that the slope soil is creeping laterally away from the roadway thereby leading to this differential settlement at the pavement and wing wall edge. Continual wet soil exists at the end of a drain line installed at the end of the wing wall during construction and draining down the slope. The origin of this water is still unknown. Due to the continual soil movement and water draining from under the approach slab, the influencing factors contributing to settlement of geofoam installation are not yet identified. Additional data collection is desired in order to evaluate the longer-term performance of the EPS geofoam in this embankment. Hence, continued site visits for data collection need to be conducted for at least 5 to 6 years. Long-term performance data will also help in the formulation of design charts for future use of EPS geofoam in other projects.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2015 02:45:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1359586</guid>
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