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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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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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    <item>
      <title>Enhancing Transportation Safety through Moisture Control Using Wicking Geotextiles in Pavement Systems</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2703923</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Excess subsurface moisture is a primary cause of pavement deterioration, contributing to frost heave, thaw weakening, pumping, stiffness loss, and surface roughness. These moisture-driven mechanisms compromise roadway safety by reducing vehicle stability, braking performance, and ride quality, while increasing maintenance frequency and costs. Wicking geotextiles are an emerging geosynthetic technology designed to actively remove both gravity and capillary water from pavement systems without external energy input. By transporting moisture laterally toward pavement shoulders and releasing it through evaporation, these materials help maintain drier and more stable subgrade conditions. Previous laboratory studies and field applications have demonstrated their technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness; however, current implementation remains largely empirical due to the lack of a mechanistic design framework.
This project aims to develop a fully coupled thermo–hydro–mechanical (THM) modeling framework to quantify the moisture-removal capacity of wicking geotextiles and evaluate their impact on pavement performance under unsaturated and freezing conditions. The research integrates laboratory characterization of soil–geotextile systems, controlled freezing tests to assess frost-heave mitigation, and advanced numerical modeling grounded in modern unsaturated soil mechanics. The validated model will be used to conduct parametric studies examining soil type, groundwater level, environmental loading, and installation configuration.
The expected outcomes include a validated THM model, quantitative evaluation tools for moisture control effectiveness, and practical, safety-oriented design guidance for transportation agencies. By transforming wicking geotextiles into a design-ready technology, this project will support safer, more resilient, and cost-effective pavement infrastructure.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 09:19:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2703923</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Remediating Disproportionate Approach Slab Settlements in Kansas Integral Bridges</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1902213</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The main objective of this project is to identify the best construction practices that minimize bridge approach settlement in integral bridges due to the near surface soil collapse. To this end, a small scale model of a typical Kansas integral bridge abutment-pile-soil system will be constructed and tested in a laboratory at K-State.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 07 Jan 2022 12:26:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1902213</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Impact of Soil Stiffness on the Performance of Crash Testing and Roadside Safety</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1707181</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' (AASHTO’s) Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH, 2016) contains the testing procedures used to evaluate various roadside safety features. MASH testing guidelines were intended to provide consistent and reproducible tests. One significant change in MASH is the use of standardized soil stiffness to provide consistency in the performance of safety barriers embedded in soil.  The development of stiffness criteria was based on testing in various U.S. test facilities utilizing soil criteria described in NCHRP Report 350: Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features, which did not specify soil types or the optimal hardware installations. The MASH specification for soil stiffness defines a minimum stiffness for the response of a standard W6x16 steel post surrogate to dynamic loads for a specified soil type and correlates this response to a static load test to be performed as part of each soil-based crash test. Since the implementation of MASH testing, concerns with this new soil stiffness criterion have been noted. The first of these is the lack of a maximum stiffness limit. Highly stiff soils can negatively impact system performance, and there is concern that the lack of an upper stiffness limit does not provide consistent testing between laboratories and various installations. Other potential issues relate to the optimization of the current testing for identifying salient properties of a variety of soils utilized by various crash testing facilities. Over the past few years, many crash tests have been performed on a variety of systems under MASH criteria. The opportunity to evaluate the efficacy of and potentially improve the new stiffness-based soil criteria is timely and critical to the continued improvement of roadside safety. Since MASH is the standard for evaluation of roadside safety devices, the research could affect state departments of transportation (DOTs) and other transportation agencies. Research is needed to review the current MASH soil specifications and evaluation procedures to ensure consistency in crash testing and develop proposed language for consideration by AASHTO to incorporate the research results in the next update of MASH.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to evaluate the impact of soil stiffness on the performance of crash testing and roadside safety.

TASKS: PHASE I — Planning - (Task 1) Conduct a review of literature and MASH testing data. The MASH testing data shall come from a cross-section of crash testing facilities. Review dynamic bogie and static instrumented post-test results performed during crash testing for each facility and correlate this to barrier performance. (Task 2) Review the test installation procedures and inspect the soil conditions at crash test facilities. Soil conditions shall include, but not be limited to, native and fill material soil type, width and depth of fill material, gradation, compaction, soil density, moisture content, and moduli. (Task 3) Identify sections of MASH that will be impacted by the results of the research findings. Develop proposed draft language for consideration by AASHTO to incorporate the research findings in the next update of MASH (herein called AASHTO Deliverable). The goal of the modifications is to more accurately reflect barrier performance during crash testing, with consideration given to soil conditions. (Task 4) Develop a plan to test the proposed AASHTO Deliverable. Submit, for NCHRP approval, a test plan for validation of potential modifications to MASH soil specifications and testing criteria. (Task 5) Prepare Interim Report No. 1 that documents the work completed in Tasks 1 through 4, and provides an updated and refined work plan for the remainder of the research no later than 6 months after the contract award date.  The updated plan must describe the process and rationale for the work proposed for Phase II. PHASE II — Testing and Final Deliverables - (Task 6) Execute Task 4 according to the approved Interim Report No. 1.  Based on the test results and data analysis, modify the proposed AASHTO Deliverable as needed. (Task 7) Submit a final report and project deliverables. Project deliverables shall include: (1) a conduct of research report documenting the entire research effort; (2) the AASHTO Deliverable with draft language for the implementation of the findings for consideration by AASHTO in a future update of MASH; and (3) implementation plan.

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2020 10:29:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1707181</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Update the Pile Design by CPT Software to Incorporate Newly Developed Pile-CPT Methods and Other Design Features</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1464356</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary objectives of this research project are to collect all available pile load tests database from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) and the corresponding Cone Penetration Test (CPT) soundings and soil borings close to test pile locations, and perform a screening based on soil condition and failure criteria during the load test, to compare between the measured and estimated pile resistance of the collected pile load tests database for all direct CPT methods, and  perform statistical analyses to evaluate/rank the pile-CPT method(s) for use in Louisiana soil, to select, modify and/or develop a new pile-CPT method for use in the design of piles driven in Louisiana soils, re-calibration the resistance factor (ø) for all selected pile-CPT methods, to update the Louisiana Pile Design-Cone Penetration Test (LPD-CPT) software to incorporate the newly selected pile-CPT prediction methods, to update the “LPD-CPT” software to incorporate the effect of scour on soil properties and CPT data, and hence the long-term pile resistance and the pile set-u[ empirical equations into updated “LPD-CPT” software, incorporate the calibrated resistance factors (ø) for pile-CPT methods and pile set-up into the update “LPD-CPT” software in order to design the pile according to Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) design methodology, and update the “LPD-CPT” software to be able to generate synthetic CPT profiles for all piles in the project.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Apr 2017 10:51:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1464356</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Seismic Assessment of Cut and Cover Tunnels - Large Scale Tests</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441864</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The use of precast and cast-in-place cut and cover tunnels, particularly in urban areas, is increasing in California. Seismic performance of such buried structures is critical in the overall post earthquake availability for the transportation systems. Placing these tunnels on competent or soft and liquefiable soils and covering them with a variety of backfill soils may create a varying seismic response. Seismic ground-tunnel interaction mechanisms are dictated by geometry, stiffness characteristics, and deformation mechanisms of the underground conduit and the surrounding soil. Large-scale shake table testing of representative configurations will provide data sets of seismic response that provide a physical basis for: (1) development of assessment approaches; (2) development and calibration of analytical and numerical models; and (3) development of design guidelines. Such large-scale experimentation allows for employing actual field construction procedures, soil materials, and soil placement/compaction methods.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2017 10:54:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441864</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>SPR-4108: Development of Comprehensive CPT-Based Geotechnical Design Manual for Indiana Transportation Infrastructure</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1428931</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The main goal of this project is the development of a comprehensive  cone penetrometer test (CPT)-based geotechnical design manual for site exploration, interpretation of soil behavior, and design of shallow/deep foundations, embankments and retaining walls in Indiana. Currently, geotechnical designs are carried out using soil strength and stiffness parameters that are obtained from time-consuming and relatively expensive laboratory tests. Since the CPT is an in situ test, the manual will provide the basis for Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) engineers to use CPT results directly for the assessment of site conditions and the design of geotechnical projects in the future.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2016 15:56:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1428931</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Characterization and Modeling of Photon Absorption in Asphalt Materials for Improved Accuracy and Consistency of Nuclear Density Measurement</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1356625</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Although the nuclear method has been widely used in the compaction measurement of both soils and asphalt pavements, its accuracy for asphalt pavements is not as good as that for soils. Due to this issue, many disputes have incurred in construction projects, which resulted in replacement of the nuclear test method with the core sample method in many state departments of transportation (DOTs) for quality assurance or acceptance including the Region II states, although most contractors still use it on quality control as a fast and economic test method. The previous investigation disclosed that the above disputes can mainly attribute to the effect of asphalt's chemical constitution on the nuclear gauge count readings. There are three basic types of photon interaction with matter, i.e., the Compton, photoelectric, and pair production effects. The first two effects are dominant in the existing nuclear test methods. Attenuation from the Compton effect is proportional to physical density; however attenuation from the photoelectric effect depends on atomic number or composition. Therefore, to accurately measure material density, the relative composition effect needs to be corrected. In other words, the Compton and photoelectric effects need to be decoupled. The goal of this project is to improve the accuracy and consistency of the nuclear test methods in asphalt pavement construction. To this end, we will first investigate the energy absorption difference between asphalt and aggregate materials. Experiments will be conducted to test the energy absorption rates of asphalt binders, mixtures, and soil materials using different nuclear sources. The nuclear gauge count reading changing with asphalt material density and microstructure will be characterized and modeled. The correlation between actual block densities and nuclear gauge count readings will be analyzed and understood, and photon absorption will be simulated through particle transmission analysis, and an appropriate calibration equation will be developed.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2015 01:00:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1356625</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Rapid Determination of Unsaturated Moisture Diffusivity for Soils During the Frost Heave</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1256241</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Frost heave and thaw weakening are typical problems in northern regions. It is well known that frost heave is caused by water flow through capillary zone to a freezing front where it forms ice lenses. Investigation of soil behavior in the capillary zone is in the range of unsaturated soil mechanics and the unsaturated transmission of water is the key to understand the frost heave problem. The magnitude and rate of transient moisture flow in an unsaturated soil in response to suction changes is controlled by the unsaturated moisture diffusion coefficient. It is well-known that unsaturated soil properties such as moisture diffusivity are significantly different from those when the soil is fully saturated with positive pore water pressure. Although significant progress has been made in unsaturated soil mechanics in the past two decades, not enough advancements have been made to apply this new field to practical, yet very important, problems such as the frost heave and thaw weakening problems. As part of an Oklahoma Transportation Center (OkTC, one of the ten National University Transportation Centers) sponsored research project, Mabirizi and Bulut (2010) developed a unified, simple, and practical testing equipment and method to measure both the drying and wetting unsaturated soil moisture diffusivity coefficients in laboratory. Compared with the existing methods, the method significantly reduces the time and efforts for measuring the drying and wetting unsaturated soil moisture parameters by exposing the cylindrical soil specimens to drying and wetting cycles, respectively. The same concept can be applied to measuring the unsaturated diffusivity of soils during one dimensional frost heave in Alaska. The objective of this research is to implement the most recent advances made in unsaturated soil mechanics to investigate the frost heave problem. The objective will be achieved through equipment development, laboratory testing, model development, and numerical simulation.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Jul 2013 01:00:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1256241</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Development of Soil Stabilization Technical Advisory Guide</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1234325</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Development of Soil Stabilization Technical Advisory Guide will include the following work: (1)Outline for Guidelines. (2) Write Draft Guidelines. (3) Submit Draft Guidelines. (4) Publish Guidelines. Scope does not include: (a) Preparation of training materials. (b) Delivery of training. (c) Inclusion in, or integration with, other Caltrans guidelines. It is recommended that these tasks be considered for a separate project upon successful completion of this project.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:10:31 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1234325</guid>
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