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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=PHNlYXJjaD48cGFyYW1zPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJkYXRlaW4iIHZhbHVlPSJhbGwiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9InN1YmplY3Rsb2dpYyIgdmFsdWU9Im9yIiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJ0ZXJtc2xvZ2ljIiB2YWx1ZT0ib3IiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9ImxvY2F0aW9uIiB2YWx1ZT0iMTYiIC8+PC9wYXJhbXM+PGZpbHRlcnM+PGZpbHRlciBmaWVsZD0iaW5kZXh0ZXJtcyIgdmFsdWU9IiZxdW90O1NvaWwgc3RhYmlsaXphdGlvbiZxdW90OyIgb3JpZ2luYWxfdmFsdWU9IiZxdW90O1NvaWwgc3RhYmlsaXphdGlvbiZxdW90OyIgLz48L2ZpbHRlcnM+PHJhbmdlcyAvPjxzb3J0cz48c29ydCBmaWVsZD0icHVibGlzaGVkIiBvcmRlcj0iZGVzYyIgLz48L3NvcnRzPjxwZXJzaXN0cz48cGVyc2lzdCBuYW1lPSJyYW5nZXR5cGUiIHZhbHVlPSJwdWJsaXNoZWRkYXRlIiAvPjwvcGVyc2lzdHM+PC9zZWFyY2g+" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
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    <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>
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      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Performance of Cement-Treated Aggregate (CTA) and Full-Depth Reclamation (FDR) Bases for Semi-Rigid Pavement Design</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2772642</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Cement-treated aggregate (CTA) and cement-stabilized full-depth reclamation (CS-FDR) are both used to increase pavement foundation stiffness, distribute wheel loads, reduce stresses transmitted to underlying layers, and support asphalt-surfaced pavement systems. Although both are cementitiously stabilized base materials, they are produced and constructed in fundamentally different ways. CTA is generally plant-produced from virgin materials while CS-FDR is produced in place by pulverizing existing bound and unbound pavement materials and stabilizing the reclaimed blend with cement. Consequently, CS-FDR may contain variable quantities of existing materials depending on original construction uniformity. CTA is expected to be more uniform, but Virginia experience has also shown that transport, placement, moisture loss, grading, and compaction can produce substantial field variability.

This is important as Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) begins the use of semi-rigid pavement analysis in AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design. Cement stabilized layers require material properties that represent their strength and stiffness rather than treating them as conventional unbound aggregate. 

Laboratory characterization and stiffness testing of field placed materials is necessary to describe properties of these materials for design, but laboratory testing alone is not sufficient. Repeated loading can produce progressive stiffness loss and damage even when a stabilized layer does not reach a clearly defined binary failure state. Accelerated pavement testing provides the necessary link between material properties and full-scale performance. Laboratory results can be interpreted with FWD-backcalculated stiffness, rutting and surface-distress progression, measured structural response, and post-loading forensic observations. 

This study therefore focused on the direct comparison of field-produced CTA and CS-FDR and on the development of Pavement ME inputs supported by laboratory, FWD, APT, and forensic evidence.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:15:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2772642</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Designing and Constructing Permanent Stable Foundation Layers in Areas of Sulfate Rich Soils</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2727387</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The presence of a suitable foundation layer plays a significant role in the constructability and long-term performance of pavements. During construction, these layers must provide sufficient support for placement and compaction of subsequent pavement layers, and during service life, these foundation layers play a critical role in the pavement structure by supporting the upper pavement layers and spreading loads to provide long-term pavement performance. When designed correctly, lime stabilized layers have a long history of providing permanent support in areas of plastic soils. However, lime has been removed from recent projects because of concerns over soluble sulfates. The use of select fill and geogrids has not provided projects with the support needed to successfully complete construction, and in some cases even handle construction traffic. These failures cost millions of dollars to fix and result in significant project delays. Adequate and permanent foundation layers are critical to performance of both flexible and rigid pavement structures. The research team will document the effectiveness of current practices for identifying sulfates on construction projects and determine if new or improved technologies exist to more effectively and reliably detect sulfates. The research team will deploy these tools on actual construction projects and document their effectiveness. Using advanced lab testing, the research team will determine treatment alternatives for soils containing sulfates. Based on the findings, the research team will recommend soil treatment or pavement structural design alternatives to provide permanent and stable foundation layers. The findings from this project shall be used to recommend updates to project selection, treatment guidelines, test procedures, specifications, and the Pavement Manual.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 16:37:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2727387</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Quantifying Impact of Soil Strength Degradation on Long-term Slope Stability</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2703925</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Soil slopes are integral to embankments, levees, bridge abutments, and natural terrain, and form a vital component of transportation infrastructure, highways, railways, and waterways. Soil strength degrades gradually with time due to unfavorable environmental conditions (e.g., water saturation, wet-dry cycles, freeze-thaw cycles, erosion, and chemical/biological degradation). Soil strength degradation increases chances of slope failures, which will pose significant safety risks to both human and transportation infrastructure. The primary objective of this project is to produce actionable procedures that facilitate the assessment of soil strength degradation tailored to unfavorable environmental conditions, quantify the impact of soil strength degradation on long-term slope stability, and provide informed decision-making procedures for slope safety and economics. The methodology involves a comprehensive review of literature and findings from related projects including the ongoing 
Mid-America Transportation Center (MATC) project at University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). This project will evaluate the soil strength degradation models for different fill materials and their interactions with reinforcement and chemical binders under unfavorable environmental conditions considering the key influence factors. Utilizing numerical software, this project will assess the performance of soil slopes with different fill materials and mitigation methods changing with time by considering soil strength degradation under unfavorable environmental conditions. This project will also perform Life Cycle Cost Analysis to assess all costs incurred during the life of a project, such as initial design, construction, maintenance, repair, and re-construction with different fill materials and construction/mitigation methods.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 13:42:12 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2703925</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Selecting Appropriate Mitigation Methods for Soil Slope Failures: A Safety and Equity-Centric Approach
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2628205</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Soil slope failures pose significant risks to both human lives and infrastructure, necessitating effective mitigation strategies. This research proposal aims to investigate the selection of appropriate mitigation methods for soil slope failures, with a dual focus on safety and equity considerations.
The proposed study will employ a multidisciplinary approach, integrating geological, climatic, geotechnical engineering, and socioeconomic perspectives. It will begin with comprehensive review of existing mitigation methods, including slope flattening, stabilization, lightweight fill, and drainage. Subsequently, a systematic evaluation framework will be developed to assess the efficacy of these methods in terms of safety enhancement and equitable distribution of benefits.
Safety considerations will encompass factors such as slope stability and resilience to extreme weather events. Equity considerations will involve analyzing the distribution of risks and benefits among different socioeconomic groups, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by soil slope failures.
Taking advantage of the collected field slope data for the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) geotechnical asset management system, computational modeling techniques will be employed to quantify the performance of various mitigation strategies under different scenarios. Additionally, stakeholder consultations will be conducted to incorporate local knowledge and community perspectives into the decision-making process.
The anticipated outcomes of this research include a set of guidelines for selecting optimal mitigation methods tailored to specific soil slope failure scenarios, taking into account both safety and equity. By integrating technical expertise with social equity principles, this study seeks to contribute to the development of more resilient and equitable disaster risk reduction strategies for soil slopes. This research will contribute to the knowledge and procedure for selecting optimal mitigation methods of soil slopes to address their safety and community equity. 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 14:23:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2628205</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Enhancing the Reliability of Transportation Structures by Quantifying Strength Reduction Magnitude of Soils in Midwestern States</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2626785</link>
      <description><![CDATA[For highway structures in Nebraska and many Mid-Western states, the extreme precipitation brought the failure of slopes even though they were designed and constructed complying with relevant codes and practices. Back analyses of these failed slopes showed that the strength of soils at failure turned out to be substantially lower than the tested one at the design stage. Further studies showed that this kind of substantial strength reduction was due to the strength reduction of glacial tills during wet seasons. This reduced strength of soils is called “Wet-Drained-Fully-Softened-Strength (WDFSS)”, however, the method to evaluate this critical strength takes extremely long time (months if not years for one test) and high cost. This research team developed a new field-testing method to evaluate this critical strength by utilizing an innovative “self-wetting” CPT-based method that can evaluate this WDFSS in a rational time span, that is usually a day.
This research team, therefore, proposes to evaluate the WDFSS of various Nebraska soils with this innovative CPT method, so that WDFSS can be conveniently obtained and utilized for design work.
In addition, this study includes the Santee Reservation area – one of Native American Reservations in Nebraska as one of test sites. This area showed as high as 90% strength reduction for clayey glacial tills in the previous study (Song et al. 2019). Providing specific geotechnical information to the tribal government will greatly enhance the usage of their territory in more resilient and productive ways.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:18:13 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2626785</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of Cement Recycled Asphalt Base Stabilization (CRABS) Design Guide for Idaho Transportation Department</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2560882</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is working to develop a Cement Recycled Asphalt Base Stabilization (CRABS)
Design Guide to provide best practices, and standardized procedures for the design and construction of CRABS in Idaho.
Developing such a guide is a critical step toward improving the efficiency, sustainability, and resilience of Idaho’s road
infrastructure. CRABS is a proven pavement rehabilitation technique that can enhance pavement performance while
supporting cost-effective and environmentally responsible construction practices. However, ITD’s design process for
CRABS continues to evolve, and a thorough evaluation is needed to confirm that treatments consistently achieve the
intended service life and to refine design approaches for rehabilitating existing CRABS sections. Field assessments of
older CRABS sections reveal inconsistencies in construction quality—some segments remain durable for decades, while
others deteriorate prematurely. This variability compromises the accuracy of pavement performance predictions and
reduces ITD’s ability to prioritize investments based on evidence. This project will address these challenges by
developing a formal CRABS Design Guide. A comprehensive, unified guide will help standardize CRABS techniques and
material selection while extending pavement service life and supporting longer-lasting pavement rehabilitation
outcomes across Idaho’s highway system.. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jun 2025 13:15:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2560882</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Base Stabilization of Iowa Granular Roads Using Recycled Plastics</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2509058</link>
      <description><![CDATA[
Plastic waste is one of the greatest environmental challenges in not only Iowa but also other states. Recent bans on imported plastic waste into developing countries is forcing many United States cities and states to take issues related to plastic waste more seriously. In addition, fiberglass-based (also known as glass-reinforced plastic or glass-fiber-reinforced plastic) wind turbine blades from wind powered generators in Iowa are being heaped up in piles in landfills instead of recycled. The objectives of this research are to determine the structural benefits and environmental suitability of using recycled plastics as a base stabilization agent and then to develop a practitioner’s guide to document best practices to implement such a solution in Iowa’s gravel road network. This will be achieved through the execution of the following primary tasks: (1) characterization of recycled plastic materials, including recycled wind turbine blade materials, (2) identification of innovative solutions of using recycled plastics to stabilize granular roads through comprehensive laboratory assessment, (3) construction and assessment of pilot test sections employing identified solutions through a set of field tests and surveys, (4) determination of the structural benefits and environmental suitability,(5) cost-effectiveness evaluation, and (6) development of best practice guidance documents and implementation recommendations. The successful outcomes of this research will not only help reduce landfill waste but also provide an innovative and less expensive alternative to strengthen the bases of Iowa’s granular roads.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:41:04 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2509058</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>"Cradle to Cradle" Approach to Shoreline Stabilization and Erosion Control combining Native Dredge Materials with Advanced Manufacturing</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2508955</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objectives of this research effort include: (1) review of the literature surrounding the production of mortar and concrete elements for shoreline stabilization and erosion control, as well as use of local materials (2) development of mortar and/or concrete mixes and element shapes which rely on beneficial use of dredged material and other locally available materials, (3) review of manufacturing processes appropriate for the limited space available at dredged material containment areas (DMCA), (4) refinement of design based upon materials circularity principles, and (5) making recommendations for cost-effective strategies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Feb 2025 08:43:32 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2508955</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of ME Pavement Design for Cementitious Material Reinforced Subgrades</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2507251</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Building on the Phase I project, “Application of Cementitious Materials and Fiber
Reinforcement to Enhance Lime Stabilization for Nebraska Shale Soils,” this study evaluates design parameters for subgrades treated with lime and cementitious additives, with an emphasis on resilient modulus (Mr) testing to advance Mechanistic-Empirical (ME) pavement design. Phase I demonstrated that lime alone has limited effectiveness in stabilizing Nebraska’s challenging shale soils, particularly in the northeast, while combining lime with additives such as fly ash or cement effectively mitigates shrinkage and swelling issues (Ibdah et al., 2024). Phase I included an evaluation of strength properties, such as internal friction angles and unconfined compressive strength (UCS), for only two soils: gray shales and brown lean clay. Results highlighted a need for further research into critical parameters like Mr, especially under environmental stresses like freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles. 
Meanwhile, subgrade stabilization techniques are vital for sustainable infrastructure in
Nebraska, where variable soil conditions and environmental challenges, such as freeze-thaw cycles, can significantly impact pavement performance. However, there is limited data on Mr reduction under freeze-thaw cycles and moisture changes. This study addresses this gap by integrating cementitious materials with advanced geotechnical testing to improve subgrade layer performance and provide reliable ME pavement design inputs. The Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) offers a robust framework for predicting pavement performance by considering traffic loads, climate variability, and material properties (AASHTO, 2008).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 10 Feb 2025 14:14:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2507251</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Stabilizing Leaking Sand Behind MSE Walls</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2489964</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has a large number of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) panel walls with sand backfill. Some of these walls have experienced problems with sand flowing out between the panel joints because the geotextile filter fabric is not present over the joints. Untreated loss of backfill can result in conditions that become progressively worse. According to the Texas Department of Transportaiton (TxDOT), once loss of backfill begins, it gets worse as the surface area of internal voids increases. If the process is allowed to continue and voids get large enough, the wall may begin to experience panel movements and distress. For this reason, evaluation of the wall and repairs should be timely. Possible solutions to this problem include reducing water flow through the backfill, blocking the backfill from being able to flow between the panels, adding a cementitious agent to the backfill to stabilize it, or some combination of these. Sealing surface joints above the wall to reduce water flow will always be helpful but may not be sufficient. One blocking solution promoted by TxDOT is using backer rod and a sealant to fill the joints. Some TxDOT districts have used expandable foam as a blocking agent, although KDOT tried this and had a poor experience. A more preferred outcome would be one where the sand itself is stabilized, the surface of the wall remains uniform (irregular seams with backer rod are not present/visible), and there is at least some drainage permitted. These objectives could potentially be achieved using a thin polymer, cementitious, or biological grouting agent to cement the sand together in the volume of sand immediately around the joint. The grout would be injected into the sand using a wand inserted through the gap between panels. This cemented volume could still have some permeability to permit some seepage and would not be noticeably different from the rest of the wall joints in appearance. If injection with a wand proves feasible, this would likely be a more cost-effective alternative than backer rod and silicone sealant due to lower labor and material costs. Voids in the backfill would be addressed with a different material, such as urethane foam, a more viscous grout, lightweight cellular concrete, or other material.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:59:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2489964</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Soil Stabilization Using One-Part Geopolymer: A Sustainable Approach for Enhanced Durability and Performance</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2474212</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Soil stabilization is a way of improving the physical properties of soil to ensure the stability and longevity of soil. Traditional soil stabilization methods commonly employ materials like Portland cement and lime. The exploration of additional options for stabilization agents has gained considerable interest. One such promising alternative is the use of geopolymers. Geopolymers are inorganic polymers formed through the activation of aluminosilicate materials with alkaline solutions. Unlike traditional cement, geopolymers utilize industrial by-products such as fly ash, slag, and metakaolin as their primary raw materials, which are abundantly available and often considered waste. The geopolymerization process involves the chemical reaction of these materials with an alkali activator, resulting in a hardened binder with superior mechanical and chemical properties. 
The goal of the present study is to use one-part ready-to-use solid geopolymer which needs only water to activate and eradicate the necessity for handling hazardous liquid alkaline activators. This research aims to evaluate one-part geopolymers as an innovative solution for soil stabilization. By addressing the technical, environmental, and economic aspects, this study seeks to establish a comprehensive understanding of the potential benefits and practical application of geopolymers in enhancing soil properties for construction purposes. 
Specific objectives of the project include the following: (1) Optimizing a one-part geopolymer formulation suitable for soil condition; (2) Evaluating the mechanical properties of geopolymer-stabilized soils including compressive strength, tensile strength, and durability; (3) Conducting life cycle assessment of the binders, and (4) Investigate the practical application methods and economic feasibility of one-part geopolymers in field conditions. 
The proposed research will consist of the following tasks. Task 1: Selecting sources of aluminosilicate raw materials, appropriate alkaline activators and soil samples. Task 2: Characterization of soil through laboratory tests, such as particle size analysis, Atterberg limits and specific gravity. Task 3: Optimize the design mix proportions and conduct mechanical tests, such as Proctor compaction tests, unconfined compressive strength, split tensile strength tests and durability tests (wetting-drying cycles, freeze-thaw cycles and chemical resistance). Task 4: Perform economic life cycle impact analysis along with leachate analysis to assess the potential for leaching harmful substances into soil. Task 5: Conduct small scale field trials with various types of soil collected from different locations of Louisiana and stabilized using the proposed one-part geopolymer formulations.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:47:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2474212</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Soil Innovations for Enhanced Coastal Infrastructure Durability: Durable Soil Stabilization with Computational Insights</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2437899</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Problematic soils, such as soils that shrink and swell, weak clays, and silts, are commonly found in coastal areas of the United States. Constructing infrastructure including ports, roads, railways, and pipelines in places with challenging soil conditions can lead to significant damage and early failure during its operational lifespan. The rising sea level has worsened this scenario through more frequent intense storms and storm surges. Hence, ensuring the optimal functioning of coastal structures is crucial for the protection of our coastlines and the communities residing in these areas. The frequent infiltration of saltwater into the stabilized soil material can rapidly degrade its qualities. Restricting the entry of salt-rich water into the stabilized soil material and forming durable products that enhance strength (such as low Calcium C-S-H) will boost the long-term performance. Therefore, there is a need to optimize the current approach for chemical stabilization for the coastal environments, e.g., salt-rich, dynamic pH, moisture fluctuations, and temperature changes. This study will focus on two main objectives: firstly, improving the chemical composition of the stabilizer to encourage the development of strong strength-enhancing compounds (such as low calcium C-S-H) in coastal environments, and secondly, enhancing the density of compacted stabilized soil to reduce the infiltration of moisture and dissolved salts by using the soil modification properties of the stabilizers.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 07 Oct 2024 16:30:51 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2437899</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>2319 Comparative Performance of Geotextile Products for Subgrade Stabilization through Plate Load Tests</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2434203</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Different geosynthetic manufacturers and suppliers continuously produce newer subgrade stabilization products and advocate for their use in the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT)-sponsored and other roadway projects in Oklahoma, which makes it essential for ODOT to have an objective and reliable set of guidelines and product evaluation program for the acceptance and use of such products based on their measured performance in conjunction with soils that would be representative of those encountered regularly across the state. This project aims to address this need for ODOT by testing different subgrade stabilization geotextile products using nominally identical aggregate base-subgrade models in the laboratory so that their performances can be quantified and compared consistently and reliably in terms of their corresponding Settlement Reduction Factors (SRF) and Traffic Benefit Ratios (TBR) for field applications (Mahmood 2013). These factors can help ODOT engineers quantify the benefit of individual geotextile products directly relative to unreinforced (i.e. control) conditions, especially to implement for the project conditions and requirements they encounter in Oklahoma. The research team will also search for any data available from other states to determine any specific trends and variations in the TBR and SRF values for different geotextile products on subgrade soils in Oklahoma as compared to those reported on other subgrades, which can also be beneficial for verification purposes relative to the results of the study. ASTM D 8462 (ASTM 2022) will be used to carry out the plate load tests. The products that will be included in this study are those which are most often used in Oklahoma, as well as those promoted by other manufacturers as equivalent alternatives at lower prices, and higher-end products to determine practical upper-bound values for the benefits expected from subgrade stabilization products for future cost benefit analysis.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Sep 2024 15:59:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2434203</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>MSE Retaining Wall Forensics Investigation</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2431157</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls are designed and installed all over the country. When the time comes for them to be removed or replaced, little time is taken to evaluate the walls performance during its removal. How did the soil reinforcement survive? Did the structure backfill become contaminated with fines or animals? How did the drainage truly perform? Did deicer and other treatment chemicals penetrate deeper into the soil mass? As part of the F-12-AS I-70 eastbound bridge replacement scheduled to occur during the 2024 construction season, the MSE wall adjacent Vail Pass Safety Reconstruction project will excavate and replace a RECO MSE retaining wall adjacent to the bridge’s east abutment. This wall has been in place for almost 50 years providing a great opportunity to examine MSE wall life, design, soil reinforcement corrosion, corrosion location and resiliency along interstate highways in mountainous areas]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Sep 2024 07:52:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2431157</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Vehicles over dunes: Bio cementation-based Coastal Infrastructure for Flood Protection and Beach Access</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2425114</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The research team proposes to study bio-cementation (via microbially- and enzymatically induced carbonate precipitation) as a method to stabilize engineered dune slopes in coastal areas. These stabilization methods are intended as a nature-based engineering solution for use in the construction of beach access ramps that can support vehicular traffic loads while simultaneously resisting erosion due to wave impact. The erosion resistance will be evaluated by subjecting untreated and treated dune sand slopes to varying wave forcing conditions in a moveable-bed wave flume. The resistance to traffic loading will be evaluated by measuring the unconfined compression strength and resilient modulus of untreated and bio-cemented soil columns. Test results will be analyzed to address the effectiveness of both bio-cementation methods in stabilizing dune slopes.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Sep 2024 19:21:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2425114</guid>
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