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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>Calculating Pile Downdrag: Experimental and Numerical Investigations</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1751128</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The goal of this research is to investigate pile downdrag in consolidating ground using fully instrumented lab-scale pile tests and finite element numerical modeling. Pile foundations embedded in consolidating soil profiles (i.e., soil experiencing settlement due to surcharge loading, groundwater level drop, liquefaction, etc.) are subject to increased axial loads (i.e., drag load) and pile settlements (i.e., downdrag). Downdrag has been reported to have caused extreme foundation movements, differential settlements, and extensive damage to various structures in south-central states. State DOTs are facing a design challenge about inconsistency design codes (i.e., AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications and FHWA Driven Pile Manual) to predict drag load and downdrag. Although several field monitoring programs in the literature were successfully conducted on piles under downdrag, fully instrumented lab-scale pile tests focusing on the responses at the soil-pile interface is still lacking, which will be investigated in this project. This research focuses on investigating the soil-pile interaction (e.g., downdrag, drag load at the soil-pile interface, and location of the neutral plane) using S3F interface shear stress sensors, strain gauges, and settlement plates. The test results will be used to calibrate a numerical modeling tool that can accurately predict downdrag and drag load along the pile. This research is relevant to Tran-SET’s vision and mission because the investigation of pile behavior under downdrag will help improve the inconsistent design specifications, avoid overly conservative design, reduce the construction cost, and result in more sustainable and resilient geotechnical infrastructure. Downdrag design is ubiquitous in Region 6 states. The test results of this research will update the current design specifications of downdrag calculation. This research will also develop a ready-to-use numerical modeling tool. This modeling tool will be disseminated to state DOTs, consulting firms, and industry communities at the end of this project. The outcome of this research will contribute to workforce development. The research team will focus on educating professional engineers using the short course, webinars, technical publications, and conference presentations. The outcome of this research will also be incorporated into the LSU online Master of Science program in Civil Engineering, which attracts many state DOT engineers and industry professionals.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2020 15:27:08 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Proposed AASHTO Specifications for Design of Piles for Downdrag</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1682279</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The AASHTO LRFD [Load and Resistance Factor Design] Bridge Design Specifications (BDS) recognizes that piles in settling soil experience downdrag forces from negative skin friction and may also move downward with the adjacent soil. Many bridges are constructed in areas where there is compressible soil or liquefiable soil, which necessitates the con- sideration of downdrag forces and associated settlement. Downdrag for static and seismic conditions has increasingly placed greater demands on existing and new foundations and also led to higher construction costs. Therefore, there was an immediate need to review the fundamental behavior of piles subject to downdrag and propose design requirements for the implementation of the neutral plane method for the evaluation of downdrag and the static and seismic design of piles. Under NCHRP Project 12-116A, "Proposed AASHTO Specifications for Design of Piles for Downdrag"; the University of Arkansas was asked to (1) propose modifications to the bridge design requirements for the static and seismic design of piles for downdrag and (2) develop design examples to demonstrate the application of the proposed design require- ments. The research team proposed draft language for consideration by AASHTO in the next update of the LRFD BDS and provided analysis and design examples to illustrate the proposed updates. NCHRP Research Report 1112: Design of Piles for Downdrag presents procedures for determining downdrag loads used in the design of bridge piles. The procedures were developed based on an extensive review of the state of practice and a collection of existing field test data. The research findings will be used by geotechnical engineers responsible for designing bridge foundations for state departments of transportation. In addition to this report, NCHRP Web-Only Document 398: Pile Design for Downdrag: Examples and Supporting Material is available on the National Academies Press website (nap.nationalacademies.org) by searching for NCHRP Web-Only Document 398.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 03 Feb 2020 19:57:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1682279</guid>
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      <title>Drag Reduction Proof of Principal Research</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1236226</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The dust suppression project that was funded last year through the University Transportation Centers (UTC) discovered that the feasibility of drag reduction for large vehicles is feasible through extensive wind tunnel testing. Although the project was not able to test the full scale version on a trailer due to time and financial restraints, valuable data and insight was gained for future large scale testing. This project will utilize the knowledge gained from the dust suppression research and try to validate their findings on a full scale trailer. If time and money permits, flaps will be attached to the trailer to try to quantify the amount of fuel savings on a vehicle of that size.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:43:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1236226</guid>
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