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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>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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      <title>Enhancing the Resilience of Coastal Box Girder Bridges through Geometric Modifications</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2012468</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The primary goal of this proposal is to enhance the resilience of coastal box girder bridges subject to storm and/or tsunami wave loading through an evaluation of their design geometry.  Specifically, the geometry to be studied is the angle of inclination of the web plates, the width of the bottom flange (where a width of zero implies a triangular form), and the integration of the rail/parapet as a structural element. The desired outcome would be to equip coastal bridge designers with resilient strategies for new coastal bridge designs as well as retrofit strategies of existing T-type and box type decks.

The intended outcome of the project is to equip coastal bridge designers with resilient strategies for new designs and retrofits of existing bridges.  This outcome will be disseminated in reports, papers, and oral presentations as described previously.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2022 14:23:08 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2012468</guid>
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      <title>SMART Shear Keys for Tsunami/Storm Surge-Hazards Mitigation of Concrete Girder Bridges</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1945810</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In recent years, transportation infrastructures have been exposed to increasing hydraulic hazards, such as tsunamis and storm surges. In 2011, a devastating tsunami triggered by a Mw 9.0 earthquake struck Japan, 252 bridges were severely damaged. Most of the bridges worked normal after the earthquake load but failed after its associated tsunami loading due to the combination effect of buoyancy and overturning. Storm surges associated with the 2005 Hurricane Katrina floated and displaced many superstructures of bridges when end diaphragms and girders trapped air under water, dropping the bridge spans into water.

The goal of this multi-phase proposal is not only to prevent the floated-and-displaced bridge superstructures but also to limit the damage of bridge substructures under tsunami/storm surge events by exploring and developing a novel concept of concrete-girder bridges with Sliding, Modular, Adaptive, Replaceable, and Two-dimensional (SMART) shear keys. Each key is composed of three precast concrete modules arranged in L-shape that are horizontally and vertically post-tensioned with replaceable unbonded steel bars to form two wedged sliding surfaces. When installed next to a girder and anchored into its capbeam support, the key provides controllable horizontal and vertical friction forces during natural hydraulic hazards and regulate corresponding displacements over time. This shear key will not only constrain the displacement of the bridge superstructure under floating and overturning loads, but also dissipate hysteresis energy to enhance the safety of the bridge substructure.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 30 Apr 2022 11:47:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1945810</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>SMART Shear Keys for Multi-Hazards Mitigation of Diaphragm-Free Girder Bridges - Phase III</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1703754</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The goal of this multi-phase project is to prevent the out-of-plane rupture of concrete girders and flexural damage to lateral restrainers under earthquake loads and floated-and-displaced bridge superstructures under hurricane events by exploring and developing a novel concept of diaphragm-free girder bridges with Sliding, Modular, Adaptive, Replaceable, and Two-dimensional (SMART) shear keys. Each key is composed of three precast concrete modules arranged in an L-shape that are horizontally and vertically post-tensioned with replaceable unbonded steel bars to form two wedged sliding surfaces. When installed next to a girder and anchored into its capbeam support, the key provides controllable horizontal and vertical friction forces during natural hazards and regulates corresponding displacements over time.
The Phases I and II of this project were mainly focused on: 1) characterizing and modeling novel SMART shear keys under cyclic loads, 2) understanding and evaluating the effect of SMART keys on the seismic behavior of a small-scale bridge bent and a simplified highway bridge subjected to ground accelerations, 3) developing a strategy and algorithm for optimal placement of SMART shear keys, and 4) understanding and developing a similitude law of SMART shear keys for the prediction of their behavior and responses through small-scale model tests. The Phase III of this project is mainly to understand and model the tsunami behavior of bridge superstructures with SMART keys. Specifically, it will conduct small-scale model tests under broken and unbroken waves and develop the drag, lift, and moment coefficients as a function of friction force.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2020 15:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1703754</guid>
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      <title>Design of CFST Components and Connections for Transportation Structures: Course Module</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1596177</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Over the past decade, significant research has been conducted on concrete-filled steel tubes (CFSTs) and their connections for use in regions of low to high seismicity. CFSTs have application to the superstructure (piers) and substructure (deep foundations). Both CFST components and connections have been thoroughly evaluated using experimental and numerical (high-resolution, finite element modeling) research approaches. In addition, system-level evaluations have been conducted. The results from the work include new design expressions that have been implemented in AASHTO as well as state department of transportation design manuals. Advantages of the system included: (i) larger strength and stiffness for a given diameter in comparison with conventional RC construction, (ii) facilitation of accelerated bridge construction, (iii) improved constructability, (iv) use of environmentally-friendly (low cement) concrete for the concrete fill, and (v) improved seismic performance through damage mitigation. The course module will provide an overview of the research conducted, design expressions for the CFST components and connections, nonlinear modeling techniques, system-level response to vertical and lateral demands including earthquake and tsunami loading, and design examples.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 30 Mar 2019 14:05:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1596177</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Tsunami Design Forces for ABC Retrofit</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1596173</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The catastrophic damage that tsunamis cause to coastal communities is often exacerbated by the destruction of much of the transportation infrastructure. To reduce the impacts of tsunamis, it is essential that transportation agencies retrofit bridges using methods that minimize disruption to the current transportation system. This project leverages funds from the University of Washington to provide initial estimates of forces that a tsunami would impose on a bridge as the result of debris-laden flows.

The effects of the initial tsunami bore on bridges has been studied analytically and experimentally by a number of researchers. For example, with funding from FHWA and five state DOTs, PEER is currently coordinating a study in which the impact of a tsunami bore on a bridge superstructure was simulated experimentally at the NHERI wave flume at Oregon State University (OSU).

This small project focuses on later, post-bore effects of tsunamis, which can be equally damaging but have rarely been studied. The post-bore effects are dominated by quasi-steady-state, debris-laden flows that cannot be simulated experimentally well in a flume with a transient, piston-generated wave. No data is available to calibrate design or simulation models for this condition.  Such data is needed to develop ABC methods for the retrofit of bridges to resist tsunamis.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 30 Mar 2019 14:00:44 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1596173</guid>
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      <title>Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER) - Lifeline Partnership 3</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441802</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The effects of earthquake ground shaking and ground deformation on California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) bridges and other highway facilities remain a very significant threat to public safety and both the reliability and performance of the overall highway system.  The project will conduct research in 6 earthquake related topic/task areas: Ground Motion Prediction Models (GMPEs), Site Response Analysis, Fault Rupture Hazard, Tsunami Hazard, Liquefaction, and  Bridge Vulnerability and Design.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2017 10:52:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1441802</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>SEISMIC: OSU: Vulneralbility of California's Bridges to Tsunami: Phases I and II</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1234219</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The vulnerability of California's approximately 200 highway bridges along the coast due to large tsunami wave has been a concern to Caltrans for many decades. With increasing population along the coastline, protecting human lives and preserving infrastructure on the coasts are a very high priority. This research is needed to answer how vulnerable coastal bridges are when using Caltrans tsunami design criteria. This proposal will fund Phase I &amp; II that involves 2-D and 3-D numerical model simulations. The deliverable is a detailed budget and research plan for Phase III.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:08:42 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1234219</guid>
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