<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>Investigation of Piezoelectric and Other Advanced Sensors in Concrete</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2398090</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The overall objective of this study is to determine if these new sensors actually measure in-place compressive strength of concrete as stated. Additionally other advanced sensors will also be investigated. 

The specific objectives of this research are as follows: (1) review the state-of-the practice for piezoelectric and other NDT compressive strength sensors; (2) review the state-of-the practice for in-situ surface and bulk resistivity sensors; (3) laboratory testing of sensors; (4) field testing of sensors; and (5) cost-benefit analysis of adopting new technology providing it is feasible.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 28 Jun 2024 09:18:35 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2398090</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Real-time Monitoring of Concrete Strength to Determine Optimal Traffic Opening Time</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1762344</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The aim of this project is to develop a reliable in-situ sensing method to evaluate the concrete properties for determining optimal traffic opening time of patching job or new construction with fly ash or other supplementary cementitious materials. This goal will be achieved by using piezoelectric sensors coupled with electromechanical impedance (EMI) analyzers to determine the very early age properties of concrete (i.e. Stiffness, setting time, hydration, etc.). This novel method will address the deficiency of current testing methods for determining traffic opening, for instance extensive calibration of maturity test and inefficiency of flexural strength test.   The impact of this study can be revolutionary as it does not require any conventional mechanical testing and expensive and heavy test setups in the field. It only requires commercially available piezoelectric sensors (~$10 per sensor) and a portable EMI analyzer for data analysis and interpretation. There is no need for calibration for each different mix design. The associated benefits of using this novel non-destructive sensing method include (1) determining optimal traffic opening time based on reliable data of concrete properties; (2) reducing pre-mature failure of concrete pavement, bridge deck, patching, and other concrete structures; (3) enabling significant cost and schedule savings in construction projects due to reduced testing samples and testing time; and (4) reducing construction worker safety issues and jobsite accident rates in construction zones.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 06 Jan 2021 16:57:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1762344</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-4513: Determining Optimal Traffic Opening Time through Concrete Strength Monitoring – Wireless Sensing</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1718347</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The research team has successfully developed and implemented a nondestructive testing (NDT) method using piezoelectric sensors to measure real-time concrete strength and stiffness. However, the current hardware and software are bulky and inconvenient for field implements.  This project will develop a wireless sensor with hand-held devices or portable terminals, and associated graphic interface to make devices easy for field implementation. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2020 08:59:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1718347</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of a Self-Powered Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) System</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1644427</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This study further develops a roadside piezoelectric energy harvesting system. The basic sensing element is a stack of 6 piezoelectric disks, 1-inch in diameter, connected in parallel. A set of 4 of these stacks supports a metal load carrying plate installed flush with the pavement surface. These piezo stacks exhibited a linear voltage versus stress behavior that is relatively independent of loading frequency. This will allow estimating of axle loads. At the same time, these 4 piezoelectric stacks generate very high voltages (i.e., 100 Volts for a car axles and 800 Volts for a truck axle) but relatively low amperages (i.e., 10-100 mA depending on load level). The electrical power generated is sufficient to keep the rechargeable batteries on site sufficiently charged to power at 3.3 V a microprocessor with a power consumption of 0.4 μA “dormant” and 40 μA “awake” (e.g., Analog Devices ADuCM4050). This dual-role for the piezo-stacks developed represents a leap forward in weigh-in-motion (WIM) technology. It will allow the development of a low cost WIM system that can operate off the electrical grid. This will provide state agencies a much better informed picture of the utilization of their roadway and bridge infrastructure. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 08 Aug 2019 08:01:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1644427</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Kinetic-to-Electric Energy Conversion (KEEC)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1365860</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In phase I, researchers will evaluate existing piezoelectric generation technologies in the laboratory and through mathematical modeling to optimize placement in pavement. In phase II, project site selections will be made for demonstration and evaluation purposes.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2015 01:00:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1365860</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Broadband Hybrid Electromagnetic and Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting from Ambient Vibrations and Pneumatic Vortices Induced by Running Subway Trains</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1347213</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In 2012, there were 139 incidents in which people got hit by subway trains in New York City, compared with 146 in 2011. Most of the victims slipped or fell or went on to the tracks to fetch personal belongs. A promising approach to reduce future occurrence of such tragedies is distributed sensor nodes that detect obstacles and monitor train motion. In such applications, an important limitation is the near impossible task of maintaining numerous sensors and microsystems. Accordingly, the development of alternate low-cost and reliable distribute power sources would fill an acute need to replace traditional batteries or electricity supply. To this need, energy harvesting of ambient vibrations and pneumatic vortices induced by running subway trains is proposed to enable self-sufficient wireless sensor nodes and/or many other surveillance devices. A primary issue limiting energy harvesting advances is its poor efficiency, as linear generators still use frequency matching to achieve optimal harvesting performance. However, in practice, the power output can be drastically reduced due to many limiting factors that may result in mismatch between the excitation and the resonance frequencies. Recently, piezoelectric energy harvesting using coupled magnets has been proposed to enhance bandwidth and therefore the harvesting efficiency. However, to date, coupling the electromagnetic and piezoelectric transduction mechanisms in one device has not yet been investigated nor has pneumatic vortices yet been used as an ambient power source. This underscores the promising idea of my proposal, which is to develop broadband hybrid electromagnetic and piezoelectric harvesters that rely on ambient vibrations and pneumatic vortices induced by running subway trains. The main objectives of this proposed research are: 1) How to convert ambient vibrations and pneumatic wave vortices to electric power? 2) What is the harvested output power? Is it sufficient to power a sensor network? 3) To use the results from this University Transportation Research Center (UTRC) investment to develop proposals to interested industries and agencies to address this important societal need of public health and safety.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2015 01:01:12 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1347213</guid>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>