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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=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" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
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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>
      <url>https://rip.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle-RIP.jpg</url>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Smart Healing in Additively Manufactured Engineered Cementitious Composites Beams for Durable Transportation Infrastructure </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2665667</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project investigates the self-healing capabilities of 3D-printed Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) for transportation infrastructure applications, focusing on enhancing the durability and longevity of 3D-printed concrete structures. In particular, the research will examine how factors such as material composition, fiber reinforcement, and curing mechanisms influence the self-healing behavior of 3D-printed ECC beams. This self-healing capability has significant potential benefits as the layer-by-layer deposition process used in 3D printing can introduce "cold joints" or interlayer weaknesses, which may negatively impact long-term durability. The project will explore whether ECC’s intrinsic self-healing ability can mitigate these effects and enhance the durability of printed infrastructure, such as pavements, bridges, and retaining walls, which are subjected to harsh environmental conditions. The specific objectives of the project are to: evaluate the influence of supplementary cementitious materials like fly ash and blast furnace slag on the self-healing properties of 3D-printed ECC; assess the effect of different fiber lengths (6 mm and 10 mm) on crack control and healing kinetics; investigate the impact of various curing regimes (e.g., water immersion, relative humidity conditions) on the healing process; and conduct mechanical testing, microstructural analysis, and data modeling to develop predictive models for self-healing behaviors. 

The research will produce implementable results in the form of optimized ECC formulations with enhanced self-healing properties for 3D-printed infrastructure. It will also generate valuable data, including mechanical performance metrics, microstructural insights, and predictive models that could shape future design practices and standards for 3D-printed construction. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:30:44 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2665667</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Improve Durability and Performance of Concrete 3D Printed Transportation Solutions via Material and Printing Path Design - A Joint Study by OU and TAMU </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2646951</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This collaborative research effort will build upon and expand ongoing work by the PIs to explore laboratory-to-laboratory variability in 3DPC elements, while improving durability and performance via appropriate material and printing path designs. The mechanical and durability properties of externally, visually similar 3D printed concrete elements may differ significantly, when the printing path and material differs.  

The goal of this project is to advance the durability and longevity of 3D printed concrete elements by controlling the material properties and the printing path in three dimensions — across the area/slice, and height of printed structures. To achieve this goal, the project will pursue the following objectives: (1) investigate the impact of material selection and print path design on the mechanical and durability properties of 3D printed concrete elements, (2) integrate printing path effects into strength design equations and propose optimized paths that enhance strength and minimize crack formation for given micromechanical parameters, (3) experimentally validate the proposed paths through mechanical and durability testing, and (4) reduce dependence on scarcely available materials and introduce locally available alternatives for future infrastructure. 

A key innovation of this project is the development of alternating path strategies between adjacent slices, utilizing uniaxial, biaxial, and point symmetries to create continuous paths that "heal" weaknesses of preceding layers and enhance interlayer bonding. Identical specimens will be printed and tested at both institutions following unified printing protocols, enabling robust evaluation of printing path effects on structural integrity. Collaborative testing and analysis between the two teams will focus on quantifying interlayer bonding, interfacial properties, and composite action, ensuring a direct feedback loop between computational optimization and experimental validation that is critical for advancing the durability and resilience of 3D printed concrete components.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:08:18 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2646951</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Asphalt 3D Printing for On-Demand Transportation Infrastructure Construction and Repair </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2646934</link>
      <description><![CDATA[There is a growing need for more advanced construction methods for asphalt pavements in the U.S., driven by aging infrastructure, increasing traffic demand, and constrained maintenance budgets. Accelerated and cost-effective construction techniques have the potential to reduce project timelines, lower labor costs, and minimize downtime, making them essential for meeting the nation’s infrastructure goals. Additionally, asphalt composites are known to deteriorate over time due to factors such as repeated traffic loading, oxidation, loss of volatiles, and environmental exposure. This deterioration results in increased surface stiffness, the formation of cracks, stripping, aggregate loss, and development of potholes. This study responds to these needs by designing and evaluating a novel asphalt 3D printing methodology (PAVE3D) and demonstrating its practical feasibility for transportation applications. The proposed technology is mainly intended for pavement construction and repair applications including maintenance applications (e.g., crack sealing, and patching). With PAVE3D, customized pavement slabs for roads or bridges can be fabricated on-demand, or the geometry of existing potholes can be precisely scanned and filled with printing material. However, there exists a significant knowledge gap regarding the rheological requirements of asphalt-based binders suitable for 3D printing, as well as the key considerations involved in designing printable asphalt mixtures.  

To address these knowledge gaps, a comprehensive 1-year study involving systematic experimentation and data analysis is planned. The research methodology for this study will involve preparing four asphalt mixtures in the laboratory, two using 3D printing techniques, and two using conventional preparation methods. Various laboratory factors will be systematically varied during preparation to assess their effects on the asphalt mixtures. The prepared mixtures will then be tested to evaluate their performance with respect to major failure mechanisms. The planned effort leverages the existing high-temperature extrusion and material characterization capabilities at Louisiana State University (LSU) and provides valuable scientific and practical insights into the printing material requirements and the interplay of printing parameters during the PAVE3D asphalt printing process.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2026 22:19:44 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2646934</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Evaluating the use of recycled and sustainable materials in self-consolidating concrete for underground applications (UTI-UTC 13)
</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2543408</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research investigates the mechanical and durability properties of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) enhanced with recycled and sustainable materials for underground transportation infrastructure applications. The study focuses on incorporating recycled fibers—such as steel fibers recovered from waste tires—and supplementary cementitious materials like fly ash and slag to improve sustainability without compromising performance. Experimental efforts include laboratory-scale testing of fiber-reinforced SCC, assessments of fresh and hardened properties, and evaluations of crack propagation and shrinkage resistance. The project also explores the use of geopolymer-based and mortar-based materials in additive manufacturing processes using a large-scale 3D printer, with the aim of developing precast components for tunnel liners and support systems. Outcomes of the research contribute to the advancement of sustainable construction practices and the development of high-performance concrete solutions for underground environments.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2025 18:48:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2543408</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Study on Mix Design for 3D-Printable Components using Geomaterials and with CSA Cement as Binding Material</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2509296</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project proposes the idea of using locally available, natural geomaterials for 3D printing. Successful applications of geomaterials like soils into current 3D printing mix design can reduce the consumption of cement and produce a more sustainable mixture. The project will focus on the development of the mix design using sand, silt, or clay soils with calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement as the major binding material. CSA cement is a fast-setting material which makes it an ideal binding material for 3D printing purposes. To make the proposed mixture 3D printable, different admixtures like superplasticizers, viscosity modifiers, retarders, or accelerators will be used. Properties of the mixture during its fresh state including viscosity, yield stress, and setting time will be examined to ensure proper flowability, extrudability, and buildability for 3D printing. A viscosity test is introduced in this project to find the correlation between the fresh properties of the printed mixture and its printability. Correlations between the viscosity, setting, and the flowability and extrudability will be analyzed to find the ideal viscosity range for initial printing. In addition, creep tests under varying load levels at different intervals will be applied to the mixture to understand the creep behavior. When the printable mix designs are developed, the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) will be measured as the major strength parameter, which works as a refence for their possible future applications. The volume stability of the printed composite materials will be studied as well. 
The research objectives can be achieved through four major tasks: (1) Task 1 is to conduct a comprehensive literature review on 3D printing using geomaterials; (2) Task 2 is to develop mix designs using geomaterials and CSA cement that are suitable for 3D printing. Observations on potential cracks will be made to help screen the different mixtures suitable for 3D printing; (3) Task 3 is to develop methods to quantitatively evaluate the printability of geomaterials for 3D printing purposes. These include the fresh properties such as viscosity, setting time, and yield stress of the mixtures and the printability such as flowability and extrudability. Admixtures will be added in this task to modify the viscosity of the mixture and the setting time. The yield stress and creep properties of the mixture will be measured to evaluate the buildability. Trials of printing will be performed in this task to verify the suitability of these mixture designs for 3D printing; (4) Task 4 is to validate the mechanical performance of the printable mixtures developed in previous tasks. 7- and 28-day strength of the mixes and their shrinking potentials will be evaluated.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Feb 2025 15:07:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2509296</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>3D Printed Smart Permanent Concrete Formwork for Precast Structural Component</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2491000</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The U.S. transportation infrastructure faces challenges with aging and deterioration, underscoring the need for advanced solutions to ensure longevity. Conventional structural health monitoring falls short in cost-effectiveness and adaptability. In contrast, self-sensing cementitious composites (SSCCs) present a notable alternative, offering both efficient monitoring and repair capabilities. Thanks to rapid advancements in additive manufacturing (AM) that provide design freedom for construction, this proposal will leverage AM techniques coupled with novel self-sensing materials to develop smart precast concrete permanent formwork with enhanced durability, safety, and sustainability. SSCCs will strategically be integrated within 3D-printed concrete formworks for real-time strain monitoring. This project will perform extensive load testing to evaluate sensing performance, further validated using digital image correlation. A sophisticated multiphysics model will further streamline design decisions. The outcome of this project will illuminate the transformative potential of modern construction techniques in elevating precast components, paving the way for a new generation intelligent infrastructure.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jan 2025 12:05:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2491000</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Phase-II: Addressing Durability Concerns in Binders with Interlayer Reinforcement for 3D Printed Elements</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2480350</link>
      <description><![CDATA[3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) is one of the fastest emerging technologies and involves layer by layer building of a binder material with additives without the use of formworks while enabling the design freedom to produce complex structural geometries. To enable this technology to reach end use applications in construction such as printing large scale fail-safe concrete structural elements, the low tensile strength of concrete is to be overcome. These structures are constantly subjected to environmental deterioration mechanisms affecting their durability and life. Moreover, lack of knowledge and data about durability of 3D printed reinforced concrete structures hinders the growth of this digital fabrication method to truly offer its advantages towards transportation. 
Phase-I of this project titled “Durability Assessment of Binders with Interlayer Reinforcement for 3D Printed Elements” is under investigation to understand the effect of deterioration mechanisms such as chloride ingress and freeze and thaw on the mechanical performance, and flexural strength capacities of (a) cementitious binders with successive layers representing 3D printed elements, and (b) cementitious binders with different types of reinforcement incorporated at the interface between successive layers. 
Phase-II proposes solutions to address the durability concerns assessed from preliminary investigations in Phase-I which are: (1) steel deterioration is higher when compared to deterioration in fiber reinforcement due to aggressive environments; (2) the reinforcement at the interface needs a protective barrier to prevent ingress; (3) a small portion of reinforcement extends out of the interface and is therefore exposed which needs additional protection. The objectives of Phase-II are to investigate two solutions that can potentially address the durability concerns of cementitious binders with different types of reinforcements incorporated at the interface between successive layers: (i) Investigate the suitability of polymer surface finishings for 3DCP with interlayer reinforcement, and (ii) Investigate the effect of a printed protective barrier using the same 3DCP mix around the reinforced 3DCP with sufficient design modification to create a strategic interface mismatch. 
Eight tasks have been curated to realize these objectives. Task 1: Coordinate with ACI 548 vice-chair Dr. Moneeb Genedy (Stakeholder) to identify which polymer resin and constituents may be ideal for a protective system against 3DCP to investigate objective (i). Task 2: Design outer layer external to 3DCP element using SolidWorks that enables interface mismatch and bonds with the fiber reinforcement to investigate objective (ii). Task 3: Acquire materials from Transpo and Euclid Chemicals who have actively donated materials for the PI’s ongoing work to investigate objective (i). Task 4: Develop a mix design for polymer surface protection for either spray-on or application technique to investigate objective (i). Task 5: Print 3DCP specimens with three types of interlayer reinforcement – steel, Glass Fiber (GF) and Carbon Fiber (CF). Task 6: Subject beam specimens (along with protective measures) to two types of deterioration mechanisms- freeze-thaw and chemical ingress exposure. Task 7: Perform flexure test on beam specimens. Task 8: Conduct post testing analysis and understand reinforcement behavior.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 01 Jan 2025 16:01:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2480350</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Automated System to Feed UHPC to 3D Printer </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2404258</link>
      <description><![CDATA[3D printing of cementitious materials in construction offers the potential benefits of reducing construction timelines and costs, as well as increased design flexibility, ultimately contributing to more efficient and sustainable practices. The integration of 3D printing technology presents an exceptional opportunity to revolutionize the Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) approach. However, challenges related to material supply interruptions and maintaining the material workability/quality pose significant barriers to realizing its full potential in the construction industry. Drawing from the latest advancements in 3D concrete printing at Florida International University’s Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center (ABC-UTC), this research project aims to bridge the existing knowledge gap by developing an automated system for real-time mixing, feeding, and quality control of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) to 3D printers. The proposed system includes state-of-the-art storage silos, pneumatic conveyors, customizable conveyor belt systems, and advanced control algorithms, all augmented with precision sensors. This integrated system is designed to ensure precise batching, mixing, material supply, and quality control throughout the printing process, enabled by continuous monitoring and real-time adjustments via sensor technology. This automation minimizes manual intervention, mitigates the risk of human errors, and maintains high-quality material, thus improving the structural integrity of the printed elements and structures. The project's primary objective is to ensure seamless integration between 3D printing technology and concrete supply mechanisms through a continuous and uninterrupted flow of UHPC to various 3D printers. The potential benefits of this research project include faster construction, enhanced structural integrity, and reduced environmental impact through optimized material usage. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 21 Jul 2024 14:47:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2404258</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Internal Curing of 3D Printed Engineering Cementitious Composites: Paving the Way for Sustainable and Durable Infrastructure in the Southwest Climates </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2291297</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, is considered the next industrial revolution, allowing for the flexible production of industrial products. This emerging technology can aid engineers and architects in creating complex representational models economically and quickly during the design phase of an infrastructure project. When it comes to selecting materials for 3D printing of infrastructures, Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) have several potential benefits. ECC is a novel class of high-performance fiber-reinforced material with demonstrated exceptional properties. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of using internal curing of ECC materials for 3D printing, on a small scale. The goal is to construct durable infrastructures by adapting novel 3D printing technology for the future of transportation construction. A complementary goal is to examine the internal curing potential of the ECC materials used for 3D printing. The specific objectives of this research are: (1) Advance the application of innovative manufacturing techniques, 3D printing in this case, in transportation infrastructure projects in low-humidity regions like New Mexico; (2) Modify ECC mixes developed by the PI to enhance their mechanical and durability performance by incorporating internal curing agents, specifically lightweight aggregates. A 50% weight substitution of cement with suitable alternatives (fly ash and slag) will be pursued; (3) Investigate the effect of different types (local New Mexico pumice and expanded glass) and contents of internal curing agents (across three distinct substitution levels for normal weight aggregates, comprising 25%, 50%, and 100% replacement) on the performance of ECC for transportation infrastructure; (4) Ensure printable ECC mixes performance by thoroughly examining fresh properties including water content, extrudability, and buildability for 3D printing by 3D printing a zigzag pattern and wall; (5) Assess the feasibility of designing an ECC mix suitable for 3D printing infrastructure in arid conditions. This will be achieved by evaluating mechanical properties, including compressive, flexural, and tensile strength, across three distinct curing regimes. The goal is to establish an ECC composition demonstrating robust mechanical performance and durability within dry environments, enhancing its suitability for 3D-printed infrastructure applications; (6) Explore the economic viability of the 3D-printing process and the ECC used for transportation infrastructure projects.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Nov 2023 17:47:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2291297</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Durability Assessment of Binders with Interlayer Reinforcement for 3D Printed Elements</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2291291</link>
      <description><![CDATA[3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) is one of the fastest emerging technologies and involves layer-by-layer building of a binder material with additives without the use of formworks while enabling the design freedom to produce complex structural geometries. To enable this technology to reach end-use applications in construction such as printing large-scale, fail-safe concrete structural elements, the low tensile strength of concrete is to be overcome. Incorporating reinforcement such as steel between printed layers to carry tensile stress is at the risk of exposure to environmental degradation mechanisms such as chloride ingress and freeze-thaw which affect their durability due to lack of formwork and the weak morphology of the interface.
In this study, it is hypothesized that intrusion of chlorides and exposure to freeze-thaw will decrease the flexural strength and interlayer strength of reinforced 3DCP elements. In addition, 3DCP elements with fiber-reinforced polymers may show increased resistance to deterioration mechanisms while improving flexural and interlayer strength. This project aims to assess the durability properties of cementitious binders with interlayer reinforcement to aid in the design and development of 3DCP elements for transportation systems. The objectives of the proposed study are to answer two issues: the effect of deterioration mechanisms such as chloride ingress and freeze and thaw on the mechanical performance, and flexural strength capacities of (a) cementitious binders with successive layers representing 3D printed elements and (b) cementitious binders with different types of reinforcement incorporated at the interface between successive layers.
The following tasks will be pursued to achieve the aforementioned objectives: (1) developing a database of mix design for 3D printed concrete by targeting the specific workability requirements; (2) preparing specimens with steel, glass fiber (GF), and carbon fiber (CF); (3) subjecting specimens to deterioration mechanisms including freeze-thaw and chemical ingress; (4) testing specimens without exposure, with freeze-thaw exposure and chemical ingress exposure in flexure and obtain a database with graphs of load vs displacement behavior; (5) investigating failure interfaces using microscopic analysis; (6) performing a training session for rural STEM high school teachers; and (7) identifying large-scale structures for 3D printing durable elements.


]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Nov 2023 21:53:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2291291</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Bio-Inspired Solutions for Jersey and Road Noise Barriers: Exploring 3D Printing as Alternative Precast Technology</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2250458</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research project aims to leverage the potential of concrete 3D printing as an alternative precast technology to develop innovative Jersey barriers for impact energy absorption and self-reconfigurable acoustic metamaterials for road noise mitigation. By combining concrete and polymers and exploring the novel approach of printing two materials simultaneously, the project seeks to optimize energy dissipation in Jersey barriers and develop customized acoustic barriers with improved noise reduction capabilities. The research will involve design, comprehensive analysis, fabrication techniques, and rigorous testing to validate the performance and durability of the 3D-printed barriers. The findings from this project have the potential to significantly enhance road safety and noise reduction in transportation infrastructure. By providing novel solutions backed by thorough validation, the project aims to offer sustainable and effective measures for mitigating impact forces and reducing road traffic noise.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Sep 2023 22:12:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2250458</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>3D Printed Advanced Materials to Mitigate Prestressed Concrete Girder End Cracks</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2250454</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Despite the recent popularity of 3D printing, its applications in transportation infrastructure are largely unexplored. This research aims to investigate a specific application of 3D printing for tackling the problem of end cracking in precast-prestressed concrete bridge girders caused by prestress release, which could be detrimental to bridge durability. 3D-printed shells, serving as permanent formworks and made of strain-hardening cementitious composites (SHCC), are proposed for providing a damage-tolerant protective layer around the girders at their ends. The project will involve the development of a new 3D-printable SHCC, design of an SHCC shell for lab-scale beams, testing of beam specimens, and numerical simulations for aiding an integrated material-printer-structure design approach. If this proof-of-concept project is successful, future research will seek to scale up the novel idea to large-scale girders, which could significantly enhance the durability and service life of the precast-prestressed concrete bridge girders.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Sep 2023 22:06:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2250454</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Innovative Precast Concrete Truss Using Adaptive Shape Memory Prestressing System</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2250305</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The ever-growing demand for making transportation infrastructure more durable and sustainable requires serious efforts to reduce carbon emissions associated with the concrete and steel used in transportation infrastructure. Almost half of the CO2 emission in the construction industry is related to steel and cement production. Cement alone is the source of about 8% of the world's CO2 emissions, and concrete is the second most used substance by mass after water. One way to achieve sustainability is by optimizing the materials used in transportation infrastructure. Taking precast concrete (PC) prestressed bridge components as an example, the geometric configurations of PC bridge girders have not significantly changed over the last several decades. Part of this could be attributed to the constraints imposed by the prestressing system and how the prestressing force is applied, which has not changed much over the years. This research will help address this issue by studying the application of an innovative Adaptive Prestressing System (APS) in a geometrically optimized (truss) PC system. The new APS can apply localized prestressing in any direction without mechanical tensioning or special hardware, which is ideal for prestressing short diagonal or vertical members of a PC truss. Additive manufacturing (3D printing) technology advancements make casting concrete trusses more feasible. Reusable, durable 3-D printed molds can be used in precast plants to construct trusses with various complex geometries. This research will investigate the APS technology to overcome the issue of cracking in lightweight PC trusses. APS utilizes shape memory alloys (SMAs); a class of smart metallic material that can remember their original shape by heating after being excessively deformed. APS is based on utilizing the permanent force associated with the shape recovery of the deformed SMAs to prestress members subjected to tension in a truss that are hard to prestress using conventional methods. The research will include experimental testing and numerical simulation of reduced-scale PC truss structures with APS placed in tension members that are hard to prestress using conventional methods. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Sep 2023 21:56:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2250305</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Efficacy of 3D Printing for Steel Bridge Fabrication</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2100876</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This study will evaluate application of additive manufactuering to existing steel bridge fabrication methods.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2023 11:17:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2100876</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Planning Project for Initiating A Large-scale 3D Printing Facility</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2071995</link>
      <description><![CDATA[There is a need to advance the manufacturing process for improvements towards sustainable and resilient civil infrastructure. Recent developments in additive manufacturing technologies has enabled bespoke design and flexibility in on-site development or prefabrication of houses, buildings, and bridges. However, the automated nature of these advanced processes is one of the ways that prevents these technologies to be widely spread and adopted. 3D printing is an emerging and appealing topic in construction. The primary goal of this proposal is to identify the roadmap towards a successful and sustainable large-scale 3D printing facility to be used in construction of durable components of infrastructure.

The intended outcome of the project is a comprehensive review of 3D printing for transportation and/or general civil infrastructures, which can work as a fundamental knowledge base for decision-making process.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 16 Dec 2022 12:22:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2071995</guid>
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