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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=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" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
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    <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>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Investigation of Reflective Cracking in Wisconsin</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671979</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research aims to determine mixture performance and mix design requirements that increase the resistance of asphalt overlays to reflective cracking in Wisconsin. Recommendations must not sacrifice other critical performance or constructability attributes, such as rutting resistance and smoothness. Research efforts should focus on mill and overlay and overlay over existing Portland Cement Concrete design scenarios. Summarize existing mix design and performance requirements for asphalt overlays used by local and State Agencies in regions with similar climatic and aggregate resources as Wisconsin. Identify and recommend process-driven methods and technologies that show promise in reducing reflective cracking in Wisconsin. Using existing Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) mixtures as a benchmark, modify or supplement the existing WisDOT balanced mix design (BMD) special provision focusing on BMD “Approach C” for mixtures designated for asphalt overlays. Researchers will summarize relevant local and State practices concerning asphalt overlays and reflective cracking resistance, focusing on regions with similar climate, traffic, and aggregate resources as Wisconsin. Identify potential process-driven methods and technologies to improve reflective cracking resistance for recommendation as future WisDOT research. Using the existing WisDOT BMD special provision as guidance, researchers will preferentially modify or supplement the provision using BMD “Approach C” to reduce the reflective cracking of asphalt overlays. Develop recommendations and requirements to validate the BMD framework developed in prior tasks. Recommendations should consider a minimum number of projects, mix design designations (such as traffic level), project scope and size, and requirements for mixture sampling and data acquisition, among other variables.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:13:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671979</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Potential of Using Crack Attenuating Asphalt Mixtures in Oregon to Combat Long-term Durability Issues</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2594040</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Reflection pavement cracking occurs in Oregon when load-related surface level shear stress or underlaying cracks in asphalt or concrete propagate to surface. A successful approach to mitigate this problem is to construct a highly flexible thin asphalt layer underneath fresh asphalt pavement that can absorb displacement and impede cracking from propagating through and reaching the surface. While this approach has been successful in nearby states, there is no experience applying it in Oregon and this research project seeks to determine the optimum parameters (aggregate size, layer thickness, binder content, etc) for its successful application in Oregon roads.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 18:25:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2594040</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Practical Mix Design Guidelines for Reflective Cracking Resistant Mixtures Part 2</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2382063</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary objective of this project is to develop simple, but effective guidelines and procedures for designing asphalt mixtures that will adequately mitigate reflective cracking. 

Detailed objectives of this project are: (1) develop and evaluate asphalt mixtures to effectively mitigate reflective cracking; (2) determine mix design guidelines and procedures for asphalt mixtures that mitigate reflective cracking.

The recommendations should be limited to the equipment and testing procedures currently used by qualified asphalt mix designers for Florida Department of Transportation projects. The project will also recommend specification requirements for these mixtures such as appropriate gradation bands, appropriate binder grades, lift thickness, and target density.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:27:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2382063</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-4824:  Understanding of Reflective Cracking Using Accelerated Pavement Testing</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2253883</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Outcomes from the proposed project will provide a better understanding of asphalt mixture overlay reflective cracking and improved calibration factors for use in the PEMD software.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 22 Sep 2023 10:24:09 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2253883</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Reflective Crack Mitigation Strategies In Virginia - Performance Review</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2026987</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) maintains 3,343 lane-miles of composite pavements (asphalt over jointed concrete or continuously reinforced concrete pavements).  Propagation of cracks from existing pavements into new asphalt concrete (AC) overlays (reflective cracking) is a major problem with composite pavements. VDOT has been trying various available treatment methods to delay or mitigate reflective cracking in rehabilitated pavements. While varying degrees of success were noticed in these techniques, there were no guidelines developed as to what approach to apply under what circumstances. Current practices of VDOT to manage reflective cracking in composite pavements can be improved with a procedure in place for evaluating the existing cracking condition and then selecting an appropriate treatment method through a decision-tree process. The proposed research would document Virginia's predominant strategies for addressing reflective cracking of asphalt over concrete pavements and document relative performance. A second objective would be to develop reflective cracking mitigation guidelines/options based on: (i) field performance of different techniques (ii) initial cost (iii) benefit-cost (iv) existing pavement distress/thickness (v) traffic conditions, and (vi) construction feasibility.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 22 Sep 2022 09:15:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2026987</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Framework of Internal Damage Identification in Inhomogeneous Medium Interweaving Wave Scattering Model and Deep Learning </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1948952</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Various environmental conditions and loading forces may cause infrastructure material,
concrete, and hot mix asphalt (HMA) to deteriorate. In particular, internal vertical cracks and internal reflective
cracks (e.g., subsurface cracks) perpendicular to concrete surfaces are the most common,
challenging, and critical types of infrastructure damage. Consequently, these extensive damages
result in material property degradation, reinforcement corrosion, and even structural failure. Thus,
effective detection of the cracks must be executed in a timely manner for better service life
prediction and to monitor structural conditions at an early stage. There are recent advances in the
study of surface-opening vertical crack detection (e.g., nonlinear diffuse ultrasonic waves, guided
waves, and transmission energy). Despite these efforts, these studies for surface opening crack
not internal damage, may present certain limitations and challenges for more in-depth
understanding and monitoring of "internal" cracks. In particular, these internal reflective cracks
commonly occur in many other infrastructures such as airport runway, pavement, and pipe, under
the overlay caused by stress concentration at the bottom of the overlay.
PI recently studied an analytical model to identify the internal reflective crack with various
numerical integration methods to improve the analytical solution validated through finite element
(FE) simulations and experimental study [8]. The advantage of this approach is that it provides an
accurate depth-to-crack distance by using the relation between scattering energy, so-called wave
response variation (WRV), and crack geometry. However, huge challenges in this effort of the
analytical modeling for identifying are to reduce the gap between the nonlinear analytical and
numerical WRV model and experimental WRV result; to identify the material inhomogeneity effect
in the wave scattering model (WSM); to define the physics-based interpolations with machine learning (ML) technique. The followings are
primary research gaps that need to be addressed in this project.
Consequently, the project's overall goal is to advance understanding of a WSM of an internal vertical reflective crack in inhomogeneous material (IHM) leveraging deep
learning. The testing data and its analysis of WRV by the crack and toward the establishment of
a unique analytical model will be then integrated into IWSM with the physics-based ML interpolation for complex features and environments, potentially for large
applications (e.g., buried concrete pipe in soil, one side accessible slab, reflective cracks from the
concrete pavement joint). The project will also carry out the Trans-SET missions by performing
research, technology transfer, education, workforce development, and outreach activities to solve
transportation challenges in Region 6.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2022 06:23:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1948952</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A Study of Geosynthetic Interlayers for Asphalt Overlays to Reduce Reflective Cracking</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1902224</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Due to temperature and/or moisture changes, freezing-thaw cycles, loss of subgrade support by erosion, and traffic loading, concrete pavements may develop different types of distresses during service life.  Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) overlays are commonly used to improve the serviceability of damaged concrete pavements.  Some HMA overlays prematurely exhibit a cracking pattern similar to what existed in the old, underlying concrete pavement, which is often referred to as reflective cracking.  The cracking in the overlays is often due to inability of the HMA overlays to endure tensile and shear strains.  Tensile and shear strains develop because of movement of jointed or cracked slabs of underlying old pavements resulting in stress concentrations around pre-existing cracks.  This movement is caused by a combination of traffic loading (differential deflections at cracks) and expansion and contraction of existing pavements due to change in temperature and/or moisture.  When the induced tensile and shear stresses corresponding to the strains become higher than tensile and shear strengths of HMA, cracks develop in the overlay and propagate with the cycles of movement. Even though different techniques have been used to mitigate reflective cracking, they often do not yield satisfactory results and performance.  Geosynthetics have been placed as interlayers between jointed or damaged concrete pavements and HMA overlays to mitigate reflective cracking.  Laboratory and field data showed mixed performance results from success to failure.  Past KTRAN research by the investigators found: (1) the shear failure could be avoid if the shear deformation of the HMA overlay was less than 6% of the overlay thickness and (2) the cracking could be avoided if the tensile strain in the HMA overlay was less than 0.6%.  Proper geosynthetic interlayers should be selected to limit shear deformation and tensile strain of HMA overlays to tolerable values.  Geosynthetic stiffness is one of the important parameters that affect the performance of HMA overlays and it will be investigated in this study. The objective of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness and benefits of different geosynthetic interlayers to mitigate reflective cracking on overlays through large box tests under cyclic loading.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 07 Jan 2022 13:17:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1902224</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Practical Mix Design Guidelines for Reflective Cracking Resistant Mixtures
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1768680</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary objective of this project is to develop simple, but effective guidelines and procedures for designing asphalt mixtures that will adequately mitigate reflective cracking.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2021 14:13:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1768680</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>RES2020-12: Evaluating the Performance of Inverted Pavements in Tennessee</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1716733</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Inverted pavement is an unconventional type of flexible pavement structure. In this pavement structure, an
unbound aggregate base (UAB) with a low initial modulus is sandwiched (layered) between two stiffer layers, a
thinner asphalt concrete layer (AC) and a cement-treated base layer (CTB). This type of pavement structure has
been a potential alternative to the conventional flexible pavement structure due to its cost-efficient usage of asphalt,
comparable performance and durability based on past studies. However, field investigations of inverted pavement
have not been widely conducted and are very limited in the USA. Therefore, the objective of this study is to present
a comprehensive investigation of the inverted pavement system including field and laboratory works. In this study,
the effect of nonlinear stress-dependent property of unbound aggregates on both the inverted and conventional
flexible pavement structures was first investigated. Second, through field investigation in Vulcan pavement, a
comparison study between the inverted and conventional pavements was conducted under the same traffic level
and environmental conditions. In addition, the nondestructive pavement testing method – falling weight
deflectometer (FWD) was applied to evaluate the structural conditions of the inverted pavement, contributing to
the effective maintenance and preservation of pavements. Finally, the accelerated pavement testing (APT) method
was used to evaluate the rutting performance of a full-scale inverted pavement constructed on the UT (University
of Tennessee) campus. Based on the results of the comprehensive investigation of both field (full-scale) and
numerical simulations, the inverted pavement structure can be regarded as an alternative to the conventional
flexible pavement. 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2020 18:17:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1716733</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluation of Asphalt Mixtures Resistance to Cement-Treated Base Reflective Cracking in the Laboratory</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1644232</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Cement-treated base (CTB) is a mixture of aggregates and/or granular soils combined with a defined amount of Portland cement and water that hardens after compaction and curing to form a durable paving material. CTB is widely used as a pavement base for highways, parking lots, and airports, before paving the wearing (surface) course of asphalt or Portland cement concrete mixture to complete the pavement structure. The use of the correct quantity of Portland cement, adequate water, thorough mixing, and proper curing are all important factors to permit maximum compaction and prevent any cracking. If a CTB layer has cracks, they will most probably propagate as reflective cracking to the upper layer (i.e., asphalt mixture layer). Asphalt mixtures produced to be constructed over a CTB or a cracked base should be evaluated against reflective cracking for better performance during the pavement service life. There are varieties of laboratory tests that are used to simulate the propagation mechanism of reflective cracking in pavements – and each with limitations. In this project, the available laboratory tests will be evaluated, and a laboratory test setup will be considered and used to test an asphalt mixture layer on top of a simulated CTB layer at low and room temperatures. The considered test setup should properly simulate the propagation mechanism of reflective cracking in pavements. The aim is to examine if adding the CTB layer to the existing test will still give valid data and reasonable findings. The accomplishment of the project objective require the following tasks: (1) conducting an in-depth literature review, (2) a laboratory test setup will be selected and assessed to evaluate the effect of CTB reflective cracking on asphalt mixture layers on top of it, (3) preparation of Hot-Mix Asphalt (HMA) mixtures for testing, and (4) evaluation of reflective cracking resistance for lab-produced HMA mixtures on top of a CTB layer using the considered laboratory test setup at room temperature and low temperature.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 05 Aug 2019 20:26:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1644232</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Investigation on Pavement ME Design Reflective Cracking, Faulting, IRI Prediction Models, Concrete Overlays Design Tool, and Performance Threshold Levels for Iowa Pavement Systems</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549926</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary objectives of this research are (1) to investigate reflective cracking predictive models for Iowa highway pavements by evaluating and calibrating the recently integrated mechanistic-based reflective cracking model in Pavement ME Design and (2) to establish and recommend Iowa pavement performance threshold levels. 
An Iowa reflective cracking performance database will be developed and prepared by using the Iowa DOT Pavement Management Information System (PMIS) and other available resources (i.e., distress images, material testing records, previous project reports relevant to Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) implementation in Iowa, etc.) By using the prepared Iowa reflective cracking performance database, the reflective cracking predictive models in Pavement ME Design will be calibrated for Iowa conditions by identifying and evaluating various optimization approaches. This will also necessitate local calibration of Pavement ME Design composite pavement International Roughness Index (IRI) prediction model coefficients. The pavement performance threshold levels for Iowa highway pavement systems will be identified and recommended to the Iowa DOT by executing a comprehensive literature review, survey/interview of SHAs pavement engineers across the nation, and historical performance analysis of representative Iowa pavement sections.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Sep 2018 14:50:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549926</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Long-Term Field Monitoring of Paving Fabric Interlayer
Systems to Reduce Reflective Cracking</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1511077</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The formation of reflective cracking of pavement overlays has confronted highway engineers for many years. Stress-relieving interlayers, such as paving fabrics, have been used in an attempt to reduce or delay reflective cracking. The primary objective of this study was to conduct a long-term monitoring of the paving fabric interlayer systems to evaluate its effectiveness and performance. A comprehensive testing, monitoring, and analysis program was undertaken, where twelve 500-ft pavement sections of a two-lane highway were constructed, and then monitored for seven years. Particular attention was directed towards investigating the influence of several factors including overlay thickness on long-term performance. A comparison between the performance of paving fabric treatment systems for milled and non-milled surfaces, as well as a comparison between the performance of paving fabrics on sealed and non-sealed surfaces is reported.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2018 11:37:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1511077</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Mitigating Pavement Reflective Cracking Using A Ductile Concrete Interlayer</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1505414</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Overlays are constructed over existing pavement structures as a repair measure. When an overlay is placed on an existing pavement, under thermal, shrinkage or traffic induced loadings, cracking of the overlay often takes place at locations where there are joints or cracks in the underlying pavement due to stress concentration. This phenomenon is known as reflective cracking. Reflective cracking in the overlay allows water to penetrate the pavement structure and contributes to many forms of pavement deterioration, including increased roughness, spalling and decreased fatigue life. Therefore, to achieve an effective and durable pavement repair using overlay system, reflective cracking needs to be suppressed. 
A ductile high-performance fiber reinforced concrete (HPFRC) interlayer is proposed in this research to mitigate the reflective cracking problem in pavement overlays. It is hypothesized that by adding a thin layer of highly ductile HPFRC material between the existing pavement and overlay, reflective cracking can be arrested by the ductile interlayer.  
HPFRC mixtures will be selected for the proposed interlayer application and their mechanical properties will be characterized. HPFRC interlayer system will be designed and tested under static and fatigue loadings to evaluate their performance and effectiveness in suppressing reflective cracking. The outcome of this research will include design recommendations and guidelines for HPFRC interlayer systems. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 23 Mar 2018 07:49:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1505414</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Mitigating Joint Reflective Cracks using Stone Interlayers: Case Study on Louisiana Highway 5, Desoto Parish</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1485788</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The purpose of this research is to monitor the effectiveness of stone interlayers in composite pavements, determine the depth of stone required to prevent reflective cracking at the joints, and measure the movement of the concrete joints under traffic loading.  Five test sections, 1000 ft. in length each, will be constructed with stone interlayers ranging in depth from 9 to 21 inches.  The control section has an average stone interlayer thickness of 5 inches.  
On this project, both transverse and longitudinal crack control will be of interest with the transverse cracks occurring due to movement at the joint and longitudinal cracks due to widening the existing Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) lanes with asphalt concrete.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Oct 2017 09:19:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1485788</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>PPRC14 SPE 3.31: Improved ME Design Algorithms and Reliability Approach</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441809</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this project is to improve the ability/reliability of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and national Mechanistic-Empirical (M-E) procedures to predict pavement distresses.  Update/add algorithms for asphalt fatigue cracking, thermal reflection cracking, top-down cracking, full-depth reclamation and raveling. Address asphalt recovery between truck loadings, and the interaction of truck traffic loading and temperature for asphalt surfaced pavement. Address upcoming changes in  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) test methods for asphalt fatigue cracking and translation of data from repeated shear to the new Asphalt Material Performance Tester (AMPT) equipment. Improve roughness progression algorithms for asphalt and concrete. Update calibration of Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) models for jointed plain concrete (JPC) transverse cracking and faulting using new condition survey data. Complete study investigating range of coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) values.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2017 10:53:09 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441809</guid>
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