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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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      <title>SPR-5026: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Geosynthetics in Controlling the Detrimental Effects of Slow-Moving and Turning Traffic</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2553993</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of geosynthetics in slow-moving and turning traffic regions.  Phase 1 includes laboratory testing to assess geogrid effectiveness by quantifying lateral restraint, and stiffness enhancements under turning traffic stress conditions. Phase 2 focuses on field implementation with site selection, instrumentation, and in-situ performance monitoring. The study will develop optimized design strategies and construction practices, with findings disseminated through a final report and implementation guidance for effective integration into INDOT projects.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 15 May 2025 16:00:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2553993</guid>
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      <title>Alternative Pavement Rehabilitation Strategy Using a Geogrid Interlayer</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2507238</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A common pavement rehabilitation strategy to address structural and functional deficiencies of the underlying pavement involves repairing the damaged Portland cement concrete (PCC) layer and placing a 4- to 6-inch asphalt concrete (AC) overlay. The AC-PCC composite pavements comprise a significant portion of roadway mileage in the U.S., representing over 91,000 centerline miles, including 9,500 centerline miles on the Interstate network alone. This process often requires costly and time-consuming concrete repairs before adding the asphalt layer, yet it does not guarantee the durability of the rehabilitated pavement section. According to the 2024 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) report om Practices for Maintaining and Resurfacing Existing Composite Pavements, the performance of AC overlays on existing PCC pavements varies considerably. State departments of transportation (DOTs) reported performance lives of about 6 to 15 years for AC overlay. The major distress affecting the performance of AC-PCC composite pavements is reflective cracking - a phenomenon of propagation of cracks from an existing cracked pavement surface into and through the newly laid overlay due to traffic and/or temperature induced stresses. The distress due to reflective cracking can be retarded by the installation of different interlayer systems, which can improve the performance of the asphalt overlays by providing stress relief, reinforcement and moisture control.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 10 Feb 2025 11:11:43 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2507238</guid>
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      <title>Quantify the Benefits of Using Geotextiles and Geogrids to Improve the Performance of Unbound Pavement Layers</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2422990</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Geotextiles and geogrids are the most used geosynthetics in transportation/pavement applications. Geotextiles can reduce layer intermixing, facilitate moisture reduction, and provide confinement and stabilization to subgrade and base materials. Geogrids provide mechanical stabilization by giving strength to base and full depth reclamation material through lateral restraint and improved load bearing capacity in pavement systems. The main objective of the study is to produce a current best practices design guide for road designers detailing when to use and what types of geotextiles and geogrids to use for given soil, pavement designs, and traffic conditions. Having a guide will aid designers in utilizing these products to better predict pavement outcomes and to extend pavement life. The project tasks include (1) evaluating current Minnesota Department of Transportation
(MnDOT) practice related to the beneficial and cost-effective use of geosynthetics; (2) reviewing research and state of the practice on geosynthetics applications, available products, design methods, and specifications; and (3) proposing recommendations for geosynthetic solutions in pavements to modernize MnDOT’s practices and manuals. The study will highlight current best practices and produce a synthesis report and a Technical Guide for using geotextiles and geogrids based upon soil type, pavement structure, and traffic loads, etc. This will include quantification of these benefits based upon the functions of the geotextile, i.e., separation, filtration, drainage, and stiffening or stabilization, and for geogrids, stabilization of aggregate cover over soft subgrade in unpaved roads and paved road unbound aggregate layer stabilization that will include the strength gain of the base or full depth reclamation material. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 30 Aug 2024 10:00:43 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2422990</guid>
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      <title>Field Evaluation of Geogrid-reinforced Pavement Systems on Soft Subgrades</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2265761</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary objective of this research project is to instrument and monitor test sections within a Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) roadway project (West Davis Corridor) that will allow the comparison of the field performance of pavement systems bearing on soft subgrades designed without and with geogrid.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 11 Oct 2023 16:29:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2265761</guid>
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      <title>Ballast and Soil Performance Separation by Using Instrumented Geo-grid &amp; Machine Learning</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1908985</link>
      <description><![CDATA[To study how different combinations of ballast and soil yield the same tie displacement under the same load, a simple FEM track model was built with different combinations of ballast and soil moduli. The results show that it is possible for tracks with different combinations of moduli to have the same overall track displacement under the same load. However, the interface between the ballast and the soil does show very different stress-strain characteristics for different scenarios although the overall vertical track displacement might be similar. There is a clear dividing line between the track with higher subgrade modulus and the one with lower subgrade modulus no matter what the ballast condition might be. In another words, the vertical stress vs. horizontal strain relationship at the interface of ballast and subgrade together with the track modulus measurement might be able to separate the ballast and soil performances.
To measure and further study the vertical stress and the horizontal stain at the ballast-soil interface, this research team is proposing to install instrumentations such as stress cells and strain gauges on geogrids, which are typically installed in between the ballast and soil to improve the track bearing capacity. The final objective of this research is to develop ballast and soil performance characterization algorithms based on the instrumented geogrid data (both in the lab and the field) by using supervised machine learning techniques including the Logistic Regressions (LR) and the Supporting Vector Machine (SVM). 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Feb 2022 18:12:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1908985</guid>
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      <title>Numerical Study of Geosynthetic-Aggregate Interaction Under Wheel Loading</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1228256</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Interaction between geosynthetics (geogrid or geotextile) and aggregates under traffic wheel loading has been considered as one of high-priority problems by the Transportation Research Board. The practical use of geosynthetics above the subgrade or in base course has demonstrated their effects on the reduction of rut depths and the prolonging of pavement life. Continuum mechanics treats aggregates as a continuum media, which cannot properly simulate the movement and interaction of aggregates with geosynthetics. The proposed research will investigate this interaction using a numerical software - particle flow code (PFC), which is based on micromechanics. Micromechanics assume that aggregates are a granular assembly, in which stresses are transmitted by contacts between grains, each of which has a different direction. The numerical study will investigate the mechanisms involved in the interaction between geosynthetics and aggregate and provide guidance for the selection of geosynthetics and aggregates and the design of geosynthetic-reinforced base course under traffic wheel loading.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:17:32 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1228256</guid>
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