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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>Risk Assessment of Bridge Substructure due to Scour and Seasonal Moisture Variations
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2696152</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Changes in flooding patterns, temperature extremes, and soil moisture cycles are intensifying the environmental loads acting on bridge infrastructure. These changes often result in more frequent and severe hydrologic events, potentially heightened vulnerability to structural failure of bridges. Scour, the erosion of soil around bridge piers and abutments due to increased streamflow during heavy rainfall, is a leading cause of hydraulic-related bridge failures. Similarly, soil moisture variability caused by extreme temperature and precipitation swings can compromise pile capacity, as soil stiffness decreases significantly under saturated conditions. These issues are particularly critical for Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) projects, where rapid construction methods must ensure longterm performance and resilience. Scour and soil moisture variations can accelerate foundation deterioration, compromising the integrity and safety of ABC bridges. Therefore, the proposed study aims to incorporate hydraulic hazard effects into the assessment of bridge substructure performance. Specifically, it will develop a comprehensive understanding of how the increasing frequency and intensity of hydraulic events influence bridge vulnerability, particularly the risk of damage caused by scour and seasonal variations in soil moisture. The research team will evaluate multiple Global Climate Models (GCMs) using different Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios to project future temperature and precipitation trends at selected study locations. Hydrologic modeling tools will be used to develop calibrated streamflow models using historical datasets of precipitation, temperature, and flow rates. Also, scouring depths at bridge foundations will be estimated following the HEC-18 procedures. These outputs will be integrated into a finite-difference model to study how scour and variations in soil moisture affect the lateral load behavior of bridge piles. The results will quantify failure probabilities, providing a comprehensive understanding of bridge resilience under changing hydraulic hazard conditions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:40:24 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Bioswale sizing calculator to optimize placement</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2566925</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The design of bioswales faces ongoing challenges due to the absence of formal guidance, particularly regarding the optimal number and placement of bioswales on a given street. This lack of clarity hampers effective stormwater management strategies in urban areas. Current literature fails to provide sufficient direction on how to optimize bioswale sizing and placement based on watershed size and soil moisture levels, leading to suboptimal performance and maintenance issues. Addressing this gap, the proposed research aims to leverage the correlation between watershed size and soil moisture levels to develop a comprehensive understanding of optimal bioswale sizing and placement. By instrumenting 70 bioswales in New Haven with soil moisture sensors, this study seeks to answer critical questions that have long plagued city planners and land managers. Specifically, it aims to determine how many bioswales should be constructed in a given area to maximize stormwater management efficiency while minimizing maintenance requirements.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:02:04 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2566925</guid>
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      <title>Cryosuction and Its Role in Infrastructure Distress from Freeze-Thaw Cycles</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2534019</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Pavement infrastructure in cold regions experiences significant distress due to freeze-thaw cycles, which govern moisture migration, frost heave, and post-thaw weakening. Cryosuction, the process by which water is drawn toward freezing fronts due to soil suction, plays a critical role in this phenomenon by intensifying frost heave and accelerating pavement deterioration. However, the influence of cryosuction on moisture migration and subsequent pavement damage remains insufficiently understood, particularly concerning varying soil properties, salinity levels, and environmental conditions. The proposed study aims to quantify the role of cryosuction in moisture distribution during freeze-thaw cycles and examine its effects on soil freezing characteristic curves (SFCC) and soil water characteristic curves (SWCC) across different salinity levels. An experimental approach will be employed, involving soil suction measurements, moisture content analysis, and frost heave observations using advanced geotechnical instrumentation in a setup that will be fabricated as a part of this study. The results will provide clarification regarding the relationship between cryosuction, soil properties, and pavement distress, enabling the development of advanced models and potential mitigation strategies. This study through its findings will contribute to the design of more resilient pavement systems, reducing maintenance costs and extending infrastructure lifespan in cold climates.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Apr 2025 12:34:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2534019</guid>
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      <title>Effects of Organic Additives on the High Volume Reuse of Fly Ash in Geotechnical Engineering</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1301304</link>
      <description><![CDATA[As the coal remains the world's most abundant and accessible fossil fuel, the production of energy from coal will inevitably generate waste materials, i.e., the coal combustion products (CCPs). From 2002 to 2009, about 40% of CCPs was reused, while only 2.8% of the CCPs were used in pavement. This study intends to study the high volume reuse of fly ash, a major component of CCPs, in geotechnical engineering with organic additives, such as surfactant and polysaccharides. The microscopic properties, the unsaturated behaviors, and the unconfined compressive strength of fly ash and fly ash-soil mixture are studied. The microscopic imaging technique will provide the size, shape, and structure of the mixture. Then the water content and matric suction relationship, or soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) were measured. The suction can be calculated by the size and shape information from microscopic study by Laplace equation, and SWCC can also be predicted from particle size distribution. On the other hand, SWCC can also be used to predict the strength of fly ash-soil mixture. Furthermore, the physicochemical properties of the influent and effluent will be monitored to detect any chemical reactions. The outcome will provide the guideline on organic type and quantity, optimum fly ash to soil ratio, and water content of mixture for optimum performance in terms of strength. By connecting the intrinsic relations between microscopic behavior and the macroscopic mechanical properties, the understanding of the mechanisms for strength variation are advanced.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 07 Mar 2014 01:01:40 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1301304</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Laboratory Kneading Compactor Evaluation and In-situ Measurements Database Development</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1228489</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Caterpillar Inc. has developed proprietary technology to predict compaction performance for site-specific applications. The output of the technology is the prediction of a) the capability of compaction machines to meet compaction specifications, b) predicted productivity for specific machines, c) sensitivity of compaction and productivity to soil moisture, and d) recommended soil lift thickness with anticipated number of machine passes to meet compaction specifications. The technology is site and soil specific. It requires standard and specialized testing of the actual earthworks construction soils. Results from the soil testing are then input to unique software that converts the input data to the 4 predictions for capability, productivity, sensitivity, and process. This output has been defined as the recipe for successful cost effective earthworks construction. The forecasting technology is developed and has been shown successful in limited trial applications. General application of the technology needs a broader database of soils and machine performance results and coincidental upgrades to the prediction algorithms with an expanded database.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:21:59 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1228489</guid>
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