<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="https://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
  <channel>
    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
    <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=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" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
    <description></description>
    <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>
      <url>https://rip.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle-RIP.jpg</url>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>Automated QA/QC and Guidance for Inspecting Robotically-Welded Steel Structures
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719306</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this research is to develop a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) process for inspecting welded steel structures using infrared thermography (IRT), automate the front-end (i.e., data collection) and back-end (i.e., data analysis and decision-making) of the QA/QC process, and create publicly accessible resources and guidance on implementing IRT-based assessment.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:25:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2719306</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Condition Assessment Technology for Bridge Decks with Waterproofing Membranes</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2717329</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The condition assessment of reinforced concrete (R/C) bridge decks with waterproofing membranes and asphalt overlays is a significant challenge that has limited the use of this corrosion-protection strategy. State departments of transportation (DOTs) with existing inventories of bridge decks with waterproofing are unable to make effective repair and rehabilitation decisions because there is no way to assess the condition of the deck concealed by the waterproofing system. Some highway agencies do not use waterproofing membranes or asphalt overlays for the same reason.

 Bare R/C decks can be assessed easily by traditional methods such as sounding or chain drag, but bridge decks with a waterproofing membrane and asphalt comprise several layers of different materials that preclude the use of these traditional methods. Defects can occur within the R/C decks (delamination) or between the layers (debonding), and chloride-contaminated moisture can be entrapped between the layers. The presence of these subsurface defects affects heat flow through the multi-layer medium, producing subtle variations in the asphalt surface temperature, which are too small to be detected using conventional infrared thermography. More advanced nondestructive methods have also not proven successful. 

For NCHRP 20-30/IDEA 262, the research team will develop a new nondestructive technology based on time-lapse thermography to assess the condition of R/C bridge decks with a waterproofing membrane and asphalt overlay. The proposed research will explore if subtle surface temperature variations can be reliably detected by using a time-lapse thermography approach, which collects thermal data over time to assess time-varying thermal behavior rather than simply measuring surface temperatures. This helps increase sensitivity, potentially enabling more effective imaging of debonding, delamination in the R/C deck, and areas of entrapped moisture. The proposed technology serves a high-priority need of state DOTs that own in-service decks with waterproofing. 

Working with DOT partners (New Hampshire and Nebraska DOTs), deck materials will be evaluated to obtain more detailed information on the thermal properties of membranes in relation to the proposed measurement method. Measurement algorithms will be developed using a modeling and simulation approach that is currently being used for subsurface damage detection. Following laboratory characterizations to assess the measurement procedures and to obtain needed measurement parameters, field validation of the developed procedure will be performed.


]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:40:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2717329</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Use of Infrared Thermography for the Inspection of Welds in the Shop and Field - Phase II</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1647846</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary goal of this project is to identify the accuracy, repeatability, and constraints of infrared technology to identify deficiencies in welds on steel and aluminum components. Another objective is to identify how infrared technology could be used at the time of welding or potentially during a later inspection period after heating the surface of a material to a known temperature or ambient temperature.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Aug 2019 09:44:09 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1647846</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Field Evaluation of Thermographic Bridge Concrete Inspection Techniques</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1320104</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Field testing and evaluation of thermal imaging to evaluate the reliability of the technology, validate previously developed guidelines for field use, and evaluate implementation barriers.  Participating states will be provided training and hardware for testing within their existing bridge evaluation programs, to identify implementation challenges, evaluate the effectiveness of guidelines, and assess the utility of the technology for bridge condition assessment.  The research team, in cooperation with the states, will conduct a series of focused field tests that include field verification of results.  These field tests will seek to quantitatively evaluate the capabilities and reliability of the technology under field conditions to validate and improve the guidelines, and support practical implementations of the technology.  The outcome of the research will be a new inspection technique for improving bridge safety and identifying repair and maintenance needs.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Aug 2014 01:00:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1320104</guid>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>