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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>Experimental Investigation of Rockburst Phenomenon in Tunnels Using a True-triaxial Apparatus (UTI-UTC 15)
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2543410</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research explores the mechanisms and risk factors associated with rockburst events in tunnel environments through controlled laboratory simulations. Utilizing a true-triaxial apparatus and specially designed analog sandstone specimens, the project replicates high-stress underground conditions to trigger and analyze rockburst phenomena. By integrating acoustic emission sensors, digital image correlation techniques, and advanced stress loading protocols, the study captures fracture initiation, crack propagation, and dynamic energy release processes during tunnel excavation. A miniature tunnel boring machine (TBM) is employed to simulate excavation through stressed rock blocks, enabling visualization and quantification of damage evolution. The findings aim to enhance the understanding of rockburst behavior, inform predictive models, and guide the development of effective monitoring and mitigation strategies to improve safety in deep tunneling projects.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2025 18:43:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2543410</guid>
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      <title>Failure Surface Identification, Structural Domain Segregation, and Rock Mass Characterization Using Drone-Based Structure from Motion Photogrammetry (UTI-UTC 16)
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2543411</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project aims to improve geotechnical characterization of rock masses in transportation infrastructure by leveraging drone-based Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry. The research focuses on identifying failure surfaces, segregating structural domains, and assessing rock mass quality in complex geological environments. High-resolution imagery captured by unmanned aviation vehicles (UAVs) is processed to generate three-dimensional (3D) models of exposed rock faces, enabling detailed mapping of discontinuities, bedding planes, and joint sets. These models are used to extract quantitative parameters such as joint spacing, orientation, and roughness—key inputs for stability analysis and tunnel design. The project applies this methodology in field sites like Clear Creek Canyon, demonstrating its capability to support slope stability studies and tunnel alignment planning. By offering a rapid, safe, and accurate approach to rock mass characterization, the research contributes to more resilient and cost-effective design strategies for underground infrastructure.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2025 18:38:59 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2543411</guid>
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      <title>Address Knowledge Gaps in Scour Analyses for Cohesive and Other Challenging Channel Materials</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2420078</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The research team will address two gaps in scour knowledge: pressure scour for cohesive soils and cohesive soils/rocks characterization for scour analyses. Pressure scour occurs when the water reaches the bridge's low chord; this increases the scour depth. Guidelines exist for cohesionless soils but not for cohesive soils. The research team will perform a series of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and/or flume tests to generate the input necessary and expand the SRICOS method to the pressure flow situation in cohesive soils. The research team will perform advanced testing on cohesive soils/rocks characterization for scour analyses. Advanced testing examples include the Erosion Function Apparatus (EFA) (research team) and Scour Testing devices (Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)). The research team will determine if the Slake Durability Test (SDT) can be a reasonable surrogate for input in scour depth calculations by collecting samples at a maximum of up to 20 bridges around Texas, and by conducting parallel testing on cohesive soils/rocks such as shale, caliche, and sandstone.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:01:28 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2420078</guid>
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      <title>Determination of In-situ Rock Density and Strength with SH-Love Wave Tomography</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2058569</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this proposed work is to develop an advanced testing system (hardware and data reduction methodology) for determination of rock density and strength. The system will enable to provide both density and strength at relevant resolutions (6-inch to foot pixels) for entire rock volume supporting foundations without requirement of borings. The analysis module (data reduction tool) will be transferred to FDOT, who owns the module for future uses in site investigations of soil/rock properties and stratigraphy.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2022 07:39:43 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2058569</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>A Study of Intermediate Geomaterials and Highly Erodible Rock </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1902216</link>
      <description><![CDATA[There has been substantial research on soil erodibility the past few years at the federal level (e.g., NCHRP 915) and state (e.g., KSU 15-4; KSU 18-5). But there is extremely limited information regarding the erosion characteristics of rock or intermediate geomaterials, such as shale. When these geomaterials are exposed on backslopes or natural slopes under Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) management there is the potential for erosion. Determining the geomaterial erodibility will help to estimate the potential material transport over time and whether more stringent erosion control measures are needed. There is significant need to be able to predict the erodibility of these materials. KDOT has had issues with not being able to control shale erosion in ditch backslopes which resulted in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fines. There are likely many factors that contribute to the erodibility of rock. This research will measure erosion characteristics of different sediments across Kansas to allow KDOT to identify where more erosion is anticipated. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 07 Jan 2022 12:43:28 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1902216</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Evaluating Maintenance Requirements and Water Quality
Benefits of Alternative Vegetated and Non-Vegetated Linings in Roadside Swales
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1765388</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Swales are the most widely-used stormwater control measure (SCM) in the transportation environment, including linear rights-of-way, highway interchanges, operations and maintenance facilities, and secondary roadways. They are predominant because they are of low expense and easily fit into typical department of transportation (DOT) rights-of-way. Swales are usually constructed with turf grass and other low-lying grasses, and recent research (much of which was conducted in North Carolina) demonstrates modest to moderate effectiveness regarding pollutant reduction. However, there are many circumstances when grass-lined swales are impractical, especially when located under a tree line so that the vegetation is shaded or in areas with steep slopes. This situation is conducive to rock lining in lieu of vegetation. Moreover, native deep-rooted grasses are often adapted to growth in swales,  and these grasses have different – and less costly – maintenance needs than conventional low-lying turf grasses that need to be mowed. There is little to no information available on how rock-lined and native-deep rooted grass-lined swales perform with respect to water quality. Additionally, research is needed to assign a manning’s roughness coefficient by deep-rooted grasses to flow. Four existing swales and four existing bioswales located at NC State’s Sediment and Erosion Control Research and Education Facility (SECREF) will be used to evaluate water quality performance of alternatively-lined swales. Four of the swales to be tested are currently conventional grass-lined, with the other two being bioswales. Data from previously-conducted experiments will serve as a basis to compare the performance of alternative swale linings. Two different linings will be retrofitted into the existing swales/bioswales. One will be a rock lining (Class B, as specified by NCDOT); the second, a deep rooted native grass mix. Field tests will be conducted in 2021, after a thorough literature review is conducted in autumn 2020. The research team will reach out to NCDOT Roadside Environmental Unit (REU) staff and also reach out to local contractors to determine the costs and availability of alternative swale linings to help NCDOT determine future swale designs. If alternatively-lined swales prove cheaper to maintain while providing at least comparable water quality treatment, the potential for less expensive, yet still safe, operations is likely.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 26 Jan 2021 07:58:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1765388</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Developing and Calibrating Fragmental Rockfall Models using Physics Engines</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1728173</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objectives of the research work are to: 1) Develop a field data collection methodology to observe rockfall events, generated by scaling projects. Develop a detailed database of rockfall events, collected and analyzed from state department of transportation (DOT) rock slope scaling projects, and utilize this database to define ranges of input parameters needed to simulate rockfalls. 2) Build a user interface with the selected physics engine to permit model self-calibration based on observations, and generate numerous simulations providing probabilistic output data. Define and produce usable metrics such as runout distance for a defined % of the volume, bounce height and energy etc. 3) Determine the basis for decisions related to goodness of fit of simulations, and simulate many known rockfall events to define appropriate ranges of input parameters to generate realistic fragmental rockfall models for different geological settings and slope condition states. 4) Simulate the interaction between falling fragments and the underlying slope, considering geology, geometry and whether the blocks will be impacting outcropping rock, talus, soil, and possibly vegetation, to refine the fragmentation model. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2020 14:03:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1728173</guid>
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      <title>Criteria for Predicting Scour of Erodible Rock in West Virginia</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1300217</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The study will assess the scour potential of bridges founded on rock within West Virginia by selecting 15 existing bridge locations, with a minimum of one bridge located in each of the ten West Virginia Department of Highways (WVDOH) districts. The bridges under study will be selected in collaboration with WVDOH Project Monitors and will include sandstone, siltstone, claystone, shale, and limestone rock types. Determination of cumulative stream power, and rock characteristics from modified slake durability testing of collected samples, will be performed. Methodologies and test methods developed for the NCHRP Project 24-29, Scour at Bridge Foundations on Rock will be among those applied to the evaluation of rock and stream characteristics of West Virginia. The goal of the study will be to collect geologic and hydrologic data that is site-specific to West Virginia, study relationships between site hydraulics and rock scour, and develop models that can be used to more accurately predict rock scour at bridges. In addition, a map will be developed showing the areas within West Virginia that are more prone to scour. The map will indicate where scour potential exists and where scour is not known to be a problem. The map will be based primarily on the data collected and evaluated for the 15 bridge study sites. Scour potential for areas of the map where site-specific data is lacking will be based on reasonable extrapolation from site-specific data, existing geologic mapping, WVDOH records, and other data sources considered reliable.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Feb 2014 01:00:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1300217</guid>
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