<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="https://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
  <channel>
    <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" />
    <description></description>
    <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>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>Utilizing historic geotechnical data for the development of state-specific design correlations - Part 1: Data Entry</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2607966</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The purpose of this innovative project is twofold, and the project will be broken into two parts. The first purpose is to organize historical geotechnical borehole data into a usable format. For each proposed bridge replacement that involves new foundation construction, the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) Geotechnical Exploration Section typically completes at least one geotechnical boring at each substructure element (i.e., each pier and abutment). Approximately 2,000 digital files in the form of PDFs or Excel files, dating back to the early 2000s, can be found in the NMDOT Geotechnical Section share folder. However, the files are not in a format that can be easily tied to a geographic location or specific formation. This project will organize the historical data into the OpenGround database, currently used to log new boreholes or another DIGGS-compatible database. This could be incorporated into preliminary desk studies that are conducted in the early stages of new construction projects (Geotechnical Scoping Reports). It could also be used to supplement and support the data that is collected during the exploration phase of a design project, help fill in gaps in the data, and provide greater context for the type of material that is anticipated to be encountered during construction. Therefore, having this data available in the existing internally accessible OpenGround database would be a great asset to the Department. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:53:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2607966</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Modernization of Borehole Drilling Data</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2560887</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is enhancing the management of borehole and material site data by
consolidating information currently maintained in multiple formats across offices statewide. This project will
compile all existing geotechnical boring data and develop a centralized, standardized database integrated into
ITD’s ArcGIS environment. ITD staff, contractors, and the public will be able to easily access and visualize
geotechnical data, supporting planning, design, construction, and operation of the highway system. The project
will also establish workflows for incorporating newly collected data, ensuring the system remains current, reliable,
and user-friendly over time.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jun 2025 13:29:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2560887</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-4943:  An Experimental Study into the Fatigue Strength and Ductility of Builtup Steel Members with Holes made using Plasma Cutting Methods</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2444810</link>
      <description><![CDATA[SPR‐4841 served as a preliminary phase to this proposal, in which a literature review was conducted to evaluate current standards and existing research around the use of PACH in fatigue. The results of SPR-4841 revealed that the state of the practice for PACH is promising and suggest that plasma arc cutting could be proven acceptable as a hole making technique. In order to conclusively determine if such is the case, further experimental studies are recommended. This study proposes to fulfil the gaps in the literature related to such experimental test data. The project deliverables will be a final project report and if the technologies are found to produce holes that meet current behavior requirements, then move the research into practice through incorporation into INDOT and AASHTO Specifications.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 23 Oct 2024 14:12:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2444810</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Residual Stress in Florida Bored Piles</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2353366</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The project objectives are to study the thermal influence on residual stress development in bored piles and identify an appropriate design method for axial capacity using updated Measurement While Drilling (MWD) correlations to South Florida limestone. The authors will conduct a test program on three augered cast in place (ACIP) piles that includes  (MWD) with rock core testing for strength and thermal properties, monitoring pile temperatures and strains during curing, measuring strains during axial load tests, grout mix design and curing study to establish the relationships between curing temperature – modulus – mix design, modeling of curing bored pile, and establish T-z model(s) for bored piles with residual stress.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:48:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2353366</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Web-Based Tool to Advance Geotechnical Data Interchange and Reliability-Based Site Characterization</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2296662</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Web-Based Visualization
A web-based platform has been implemented by the DOTD for several large highway and bridge design and construction projects. These larger projects focused on the ability to interactively visualize and interpret data from soil borings, CPTs, geophysical data, and conventional field survey data. This project will standardize this visualization process for all projects.

GEC-5: 
This project will also demonstrate how geotechnical engineers and consultants can efficiently quantify the uncertainty of site conditions and develop soil design models based on statistical analysis of soil boring data. The uncertainty model can be interactively evaluated based on the methods presented in FHWA's Geotechnical Engineering Circular (GEC) No. 5 - Geotechnical Site Characterization.

DIGGS: 
Additionally, the project will demonstrate how DIGGS can be implemented into the web-based platform for standardized geotechnical data exchange. The implementation of DIGGS to efficiently increase the quality of geotechnical data deliverables as a digital asset. Other benefits of implementing DIGGS in geotechnical data management, visualization, and geotechnical design process will also be researched.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 28 Nov 2023 10:41:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2296662</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Impact of Bolt Holes on the Performance of Steel Girders</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2289610</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The design and construction of steel girder bridges, most often, require the use of bolts to connect various components in the field. In some cases, bolt holes have to be located at critical locations such as the tension flange of a steel girder. The impact of these holes on the capacity and the performance of the steel girders are accounted for during design. The current American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) LRFD Bridge Design Specifications (BDS) Equation 6.10.1.8-1 provides a limit on the maximum major-axis bending stress permitted on the gross area of steel girder flange, neglecting the loss of area due to holes in the tension flange. This equation is used in lieu of the 15 percent rule that had existed in previous editions of AASHTO design specifications, which allowed holes with an area less than or equal to 15 percent of the gross area of the flange to be neglected. However, for modern steels with yield-to-ultimate tensile strength ratio (Y/T ratio) higher than Grade 36 steel, the 15 percent rule was revised.

The current provision is based on the yielding and fracture of axially loaded tension members as opposed to the yielding and fracture of tension flanges of flexural members. A refinement of the current provision may lead to improved design strength of steel I-girders, particularly for girders with longer spans where modern steels are employed. Research is needed to better understand the impact of tension flange holes on steel girder performance and possibly improve the current state-of-practice. 

The objective of this research is to conduct an analytical study on the impact of tension flange holes on the strength and ductility of composite steel I-girders and recommend modifications to existing compact steel I-girder design requirements, if needed. At a minimum, the research shall focus on Grade 50 and hybrid Grade HPS70W steel girders.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 13 Nov 2023 18:03:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2289610</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-4841:  Investigation into the Fatigue Strength and Ductility of Steel Plates with Holes made from Plasma Cutting Methods</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2238797</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will perform a study to examine and synthesize all of the existing data related to the use of plasma cutting to place holes in steel components. While this method is very efficient resulting in cost and time savings, questions remain regarding the possible effect on ductility and fatigue life as compared to traditional hole drilling techniques. The results will be used to craft a detailed experimental program should additional data be needed.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 31 Aug 2023 16:39:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2238797</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Improved Geotechnical Site Characterization Using Measurement While Drilling</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1872015</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objectives of this research are (1) to provide proof-of-concept for measurement while drilling (MWD) in Illinois, (2) to provide guidance to Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) on using MWD to more accurately identify site stratigraphy, (3) to develop methods to obtain Illinois-specific correlations to soil and rock properties using the drilling parameters obtained from the four categories, and (4) to explore use of MWD for design of driven pile and drilled shaft deep foundations. The goals of this research are to unlock MWD as a technique to complement standard technology practices of SPT borings, rock coring, and Rimac testing (as well as complementing emerging technologies such as cone penetrometer test and geophysics in the near future), to expand subsurface investigations to include MWD boreholes alongside current SPT borings, and to improve the reliability of interpreted ground conditions. Using MWD in IDOT practice will provide higher quality geotechnical and geological subsurface data that will reduce the cost of field exploration, design, and construction of IDOT infrastructure and provide drill rig performance information (e.g., drill component damage detection, time-to-repair using machine learning). Specific beneficial outcomes will involve correlating MWD data with SPT N-value equivalents; new tools to distinguish glacial tills, soft weathered rock, and harder competent rock layers; improved rock property data such as recovery, rock-quality designation, rate, and unconfined strength; standardized methods for collecting MWD data and developing boring logs that are gINT compatible.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 12 Aug 2021 12:19:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1872015</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of In-Situ Cyclic Borehole Shear Soil Test Device</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1664454</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In this project, a Cyclic Borehole Shear Test (CBST) device was developed to enable rapid in situ measurement of cyclic behavior and monotonic shear strength properties of the soil. The CBST is unique in its ability to measure the parameters in the soil’s natural setting, under cyclic loading, and in a matter of minutes whereas present laboratory techniques can take several weeks. By testing the soil in situ, the device saves time and money, while reducing effects of soil sample disturbance which can significantly affect laboratory test results. Based on the results of several field testing trials, numerous refinements and modifications were made to the system that included the physical testing apparatus inserted into the borehole, the electronic and pneumatic measurement and control system, and the software control program. Comparisons of the field CBST results to those of conventional laboratory cyclic direct simple shear tests demonstrated that the device can measure meaningful cyclic behavior of soils in situ. Further research will be pursued to more rigorously relate the measured displacements to shear strains in the soil surrounding the borehole, and to explore applications of the device to in situ measurement of the liquefaction behavior of soils. With further research, the device has the potential to fundamentally transform the presently empirical techniques used in practice for assessment of soil liquefaction resistance into a more mechanistic physics-based framework. 

The final report is available. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 04 Nov 2019 21:02:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1664454</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Adaptive, predictive 3D geologic modeling for hard rock tunneling (UTI-UTC 01)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1500822</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project aims to make use of borehole and monitoring data collected along the excavated portion of the tunnel to reduce uncertainty in our geologic model and predict ground conditions along the unexcavated portion.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 16 Feb 2018 16:19:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1500822</guid>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>