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    <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
    <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
    <atom:link href="https://rip.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=PHNlYXJjaD48cGFyYW1zPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJzdWJqZWN0aWQiIHZhbHVlPSIxNzk2IiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJkYXRlaW4iIHZhbHVlPSI3MzAiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9InN1YmplY3Rsb2dpYyIgdmFsdWU9Im9yIiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJ0ZXJtc2xvZ2ljIiB2YWx1ZT0ib3IiIC8+PHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9ImxvY2F0aW9uIiB2YWx1ZT0iMTYiIC8+PC9wYXJhbXM+PGZpbHRlcnMgLz48cmFuZ2VzIC8+PHNvcnRzPjxzb3J0IGZpZWxkPSJwdWJsaXNoZWQiIG9yZGVyPSJkZXNjIiAvPjwvc29ydHM+PHBlcnNpc3RzPjxwZXJzaXN0IG5hbWU9InJhbmdldHlwZSIgdmFsdWU9InB1Ymxpc2hlZGRhdGUiIC8+PC9wZXJzaXN0cz48L3NlYXJjaD4=" 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>
      <url>https://rip.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle-RIP.jpg</url>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <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>Modernizing Rockfall Assessment</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2698372</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Using targeted remote sensing and other advanced survey techniques, combined with data-driven analysis, this pilot study will evaluate how well these approaches can identify meaningful changes in slope conditions and determine whether rockfall material reaches the roadway or is effectively contained (e.g., within ditches). The results will help 
Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) improve the consistency of slope evaluation and prioritization of mitigation efforts, supporting more efficient use of maintenance resources, improved safety, and reduced traffic disruptions. The study will also provide insight into how repeated observations can be used to track changes in slope condition and performance over time, supporting long-term planning and asset management.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 16:56:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2698372</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>3D SPT - Seismic Imaging for Bartow Project</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2697839</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The 3D SPT -seismic method (Mirzanejad et al. 2020) integrates seismic analysis with invasive SPT testing for volumetric imaging.  During SPT advancement, each hammer blow acts as a seismic source at a known depth.  A surface array of geophones (typically 48 sensors arranged over a 60 ft x 80 ft area) records the wavefields.  Using 3D elastic full - waveform inversion, the recorded data are transformed into a 3D Vs model extending laterally up to 60 ft (18 m) from the borehole and to the full SPT depth.

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:02:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2697839</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Improving Transportation Infrastructure Safety Through Flow and Scour Analysis at Porous Riverbank Protection Structures</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2695864</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Project Description: Protecting riverbanks from erosion during flood events is critical for ensuring the safety of transportation infrastructure located near rivers. Such erosion can undermine roadways and bridge foundations, leading to failures such as those observed on I-40 in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. In locations where riverbank erosion poses a significant transportation asset risk, porous riverbank protection structures such as engineered logjams (ELJs) have been implemented as alternatives to traditional revetment approaches. The geometric design of ELJs deflects flow away from banks while their porosity reduces drag and toe scour, thereby limiting additional flood-related failure risks. Additionally, ELJs can be constructed incrementally using off-channel crane equipment, which reduces construction costs associated with channel diversion and dewatering. 

Improved tools are needed to predict how flow deflection and scour vary with ELJ porosity and internal structure. Advancing this knowledge will support more reliable ELJ design and reduce the risk of over- or under-design. A larger database of flow and scour depth measurements for ELJs with a range of porosities and characteristics is needed to improve scour prediction methods and provide flow validation data for two- and three-dimensional hydraulic models.

To address these research gaps, laboratory experiments will be conducted in a 32-foot-long open-channel flume to quantify flow and scour at porous bank protection structures. Model ELJs will be fabricated using 3D printing to have identical external geometry but systematic variation in porosity and pore configuration. Flow fields will be measured using UMKC’s particle image velocimetry (PIV) system that can measure turbulent flow fields around channel obstructions with high resolution (<1 mm vector resolution). These PIV measurements will be used to quantify flow deflection and shear stress amplification. In addition, clear-water scour experiments will document the maximum scour depth for each ELJ configuration. 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:50:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2695864</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Cone Penetration Test Correlations for Missouri Soils </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2673279</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this research is to provide MoDOT with Missouri-specific guidance on the use of cone penetration test (CPT) measurements to estimate geotechnical parameters. This work will focus on two areas: (1) Development of Missouri-specific correlations to estimate undrained strengths of Missouri clays from CPT measurements. and (2) Investigation of inconsistencies between standard penetration test (SPT) and CPT derived values for granular soils in Missouri.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:30:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2673279</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>State of Practice for Specifying and Repairing Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671985</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) frequently uses Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls due to cost-effectiveness and ability to tolerate movements during their service life. WisDOT has observed excessive deformation or wall-facing damage due to deterioration or vehicular impacts. Research into durability of MSE wall reinforcements and best practices to ensure their longevity would be beneficial. This research will evaluate allowable limits for MSE wall settlements and out-of-plane movements and investigate repair/remediation methods when those limits are exceeded, with or without signs of distress. The research will investigate repair solution to address compromised wall facings.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:23:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2671985</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Next-Generation Weather-Resistant Pavement Foundations -- High Strength and Durable Stabilized Base Courses </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2665668</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Durability of the pavement foundation is critical to ensuring a sustainable and resilient roadway infrastructure and minimizing life-cycle costs. This research project explores innovative techniques and materials to improve the durability of base layers, a crucial component of a typical asphalt pavement foundation. The objectives of this project are to explore cement-stabilized FDR mixes with high stiffness for base courses with enhanced resistance against shrinkage cracking. The scope of work consists of preparing and testing FDR mixes with cement (both Type I/II and Type IL) as the main stabilizer, and various concentrations of crack mitigation asphalt emulsions with high maltene content (CM-Emulsion), analyzing the results, and preparing conclusions and recommendations. The cement stabilized materials will be tested for shrinkage crack potential, compressive and indirect tensile strength, and will be evaluated for mineralogical information using XRD for each combination of test variables. The conclusions and recommendations from this study are expected to be beneficial for constructing long-lasting pavements. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:33:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2665668</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Novel Surge Barriers for Coastal Protection</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2665445</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Surge barriers are large hydraulic structures designed to protect vulnerable infrastructure from coastal storm surges and high tides. Preventing surges from moving into bays and estuaries minimizes the need for other expensive elements of a flood control system, such as levees and floodwalls. Surge barriers can provide cost-effective protection critical transportation infrastructure, such as ports, roads, and bridges. Conventional surge barriers comprise a fixed structure with movable vertically or horizontally opening gates that can be closed during extreme storms and tidal events. Disadvantages of fixed barriers include high cost, sensitivity to waste and silt, vulnerability to blockage by debris, constraints to marine traffic, and environmental impacts. Temporary surge barriers can avoid these disadvantages. This research evaluates three novel temporary barrier concepts: flexible membrane barriers, sinkable floating barriers, and shade curtain barriers. Flexible membrane barriers are self-deploying and permanently located on shore. Buried when not deployed, they rise with rising water due to their buoyancy. Sinkable floating barriers rest on the seabed when not deployed and, when needed, are raised to the surface by pumping air into a tube. Shade curtains are fabric barriers attached to an existing bridge. When not deployed, it is secured to the underside of the bridge deck. In advance of a surge, the fabric curtain is lowered using a sinker-cable system to provide a vertical barrier extending from the bridge deck to the seabed. Hydraulic loads are transmitted from the barrier to the bridge and its foundations, which must be capable of resisting the added loads. This project addresses three key issues related to temporary surge barrier deployment: site and environmental conditions for which temporary surge barriers are appropriate, hydraulic loading on the barriers, and structural/geotechnical design considerations for the barriers.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:18:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2665445</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Novel surge barriers for coastal protection (TAMU)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2663229</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Surge barriers are large hydraulic structures designed to protect infrastructure from coastal storm surges and high tides. Preventing surges from moving into bays and estuaries minimizes the need for other expensive elements of a flood control system, such as levees and floodwalls. Surge barriers can provide cost-effective protection critical transportation infrastructure, such as ports, roads, and bridges. Conventional surge barriers comprise a fixed structure with movable vertically or horizontally opening gates that can be closed during extreme storms and tidal events. Disadvantages of fixed barriers include high cost, sensitivity to waste and silt, potential debris blockage, and constraints to marine traffic. Temporary surge barriers can avoid these disadvantages. This research evaluates three novel temporary barrier concepts: flexible membrane barriers, sinkable floating barriers, and shade curtain barriers. Flexible membrane barriers are self-deploying and permanently located on shore. Buried when not deployed, they rise with rising water due to their buoyancy. Sinkable floating barriers rest on the seabed when not deployed and, when needed, are raised to the surface by pumping air into a tube. Shade curtains are fabric barriers attached to an existing bridge. When not deployed, it is secured to the underside of the bridge deck. In advance of a surge, the fabric curtain is lowered using a sinker-cable system to provide a vertical barrier extending from the bridge deck to the seabed. Hydraulic loads are transmitted from the barrier to the bridge and its foundations, which must be capable of resisting the added loads. This project addresses three key issues related to temporary surge barrier deployment: site conditions for which temporary surge barriers are appropriate, hydraulic loading on the barriers, and structural/geotechnical design considerations for the barriers.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2026 11:29:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2663229</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Coastal and river bridge scour mitigation using hybrid solutions (TAMU)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2663228</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Bridge piers, foundations, and abutments in coastal areas or across rivers often face heightened risk of detrimental scour development under wave and/or current loading. Along  coastlines bridges are part of essential evacuation routes, saving lives ahead of predicted storm impacts with life-threatening consequences if compromised. Further inland, many bridges across creeks and rivers that are part of rural transportation systems and low-volume road networks afford equally important transportation connections. When disaster strikes and these structures are compromised – as was painfully demonstrated in the recent Central Texas flash flood disaster – entire communities are cut-off from relief help or means to recover quickly. In most instances, bridge failure is initiated through hydraulically-induced scour formation and growth at the interface of the structural components and the surrounding sediment. If scour issues can be predicted and mitigated early, catastrophic failure can be avoided. The problem is that traditional mitigation techniques are costly or, in the case of rural bridges, may not even be included in the design. Here, the research team plans to test low-cost hybrid mitigation techniques that can help reduce scour impact to bridges caused by wave or current impact by using bio-cementation (such as Microbially-Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation - MICP) and/or geosynthetics in combination with the in-situ sediment.

Proposed Research: The team plans the following tasks to address the efficacy of these solutions to reduce scour: Task 1: Assess existing technological options for coastal and riverine bridge scour protection. This will be done via an in-depth literature review on scour protection with the goal of identifying various options, their advantages and limitations. 
Task 2: Conduct physical model wave flume scour tests with wave and/or current loading for different low-cost, hybrid scour protection combinations including MICP and geosynthetics in tandem with the in-situ sediments.
Task 3: Develop scour prediction equations based on the conducted physical model tests that can be used to assess the efficacy of the hybrid solutions for use in coastal and riverine bridge systems.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2026 11:25:04 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2663228</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>COLLABORATIVE: Quantifying erosion and load transfer mechanisms of geosynthetic reinforced coastal pavement subgrades and embankments during inundation events (TAMU/TXST)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2663227</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Project Description: Transportation infrastructure in coastal regions is highly susceptible to soil erosion and subgrade degradation under frequent inundation events caused by storm surges. Fines within the subgrade are washed out due to flood-induced subsurface flow, while overflowing water along embankments results in overtopping and eventually leads to surficial erosion and complete collapse. These processes result in embankment and pavement failures; addressing these issues requires novel and innovative infrastructure durability solutions. One approach that combines hydraulic protection of subsoils with reduced soil erosion and provides drainage to recede floodwaters from infrastructure is geosynthetics. Geosynthetics, like geocomposites and turf-reinforced mats (TRMs), are often used to control erosion in slopes and levees from overtopping and rainfall. Also, the use of geosynthetics is increasingly growing for pavement reinforcement applications. These well-established benefits of geosynthetics can be combined and effectively applied for coastal transportation infrastructure that often sees failures following inundation events. Hence, this research study focuses on evaluating geosynthetics to solve both embankment erosion and maintain drainable and resilient subgrade foundations to support coastal transportation infrastructure. 
Geosynthetic Reinforcement of Coastal Embankment Slopes: TRMs and geocomposites will be studied for this application. Texas State University (TXST) will measure the erosion characteristics of the test materials using the erosion function apparatus (EFA). The EFA will quantify the erosion rates of the soil with and without the protection of these geosynthetic layers under varying hydraulic stresses, providing insights into soil erodibility and material performance. Texas A&M (TAMU) will conduct small-scale flume erosion studies on model embankment slopes using a coastal, sandy soil. Flume studies on embankment slopes built with and without geosynthetic reinforcements will be subjected to overtopping and inundation flow conditions for various time periods. Erosion patterns will be studied via laser and digital image scans. These data will also assess the role of geocomposites and TRMs on mitigating soil erosion and enhancing slope stability.  
Geosynthetic Reinforcement of Coastal Pavement Subgrade Foundations: TAMU flume study results will yield erosion patterns, more specifically void patterns, that will be used to create an  “eroded” pavement structure. These artificial voids will be created inside a large box setup, with 12 to 18 in. of subgrade supporting a flexbase aggregate base layer. These box samples will be instrumented with moisture probes, pressure cells, and MEMS deformation sensors. Each model pavement will be subjected to cyclic plate load tests to study and evaluate the load-bearing capacity and load transfer mechanism from repeated loads to the underlying subgrades. The same tests will be performed on the samples after they are inundated. The role of geocomposites both before and after exposure to moisture inundation, as well as load transfer mechanisms on subgrades with erosion-simulated voids, will be evaluated.
This is a collaborative project between Texas A&M University (TAMU) and Texas State University (TXST). Flume and large-scale box studies will be performed at TAMU Galveston campus and Center for Infrastructure Research (CIR) laboratories, respectively. TXST will perform the EFA with geosynthetic layers experiments. EFA studies focus on evaluating the critical shear stresses (i.e., hydraulic shear stresses at which soil erosion initiates) of the reinforced/unreinforced subsoils. Changes in critical shear stress at discontinuities such as gravel/sand interfaces will be of particular interest.  These combined results will generate a comprehensive understanding of the potential improvements of embankment and foundation reinforcement using advanced geosynthetic materials in providing resilient support to transportation infrastructure in coastal corridors. The results of this project will be used to design Phase II with coastal railroad track embankments.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2026 11:12:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2663227</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Efficient system reliability assessment of shoreline seawalls: Applications to SEAHIVE (UM)</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2663225</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Seawalls play a critical role in protecting coastal transportation systems from erosion, flooding and storm surges. Yet their performance is deteriorating due to changes in structural capacity and increasing external demands, posing growing threats to coastal safety. Evaluating the reliability and risk of seawalls along the shoreline is essential for informed maintenance and repair decisions. However, the large scale of shoreline seawalls and the complex coastal and geotechnical conditions in Miami present significant challenges for system reliability analysis. This is a collaborative research project conducted in partnership with Texas State University. The objective of this research project is to develop an efficient and practical framework that integrates interdisciplinary expertise in geotechnical asset management, seawall design and construction, and reliability analysis to perform system reliability analysis of shoreline seawalls.
The proposed project builds on two lines of prior works. First, an effective and well-defined inspection rating system was developed to evaluate the conditions of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls at Texas State University. Second, SEAHIVE®, a novel seawall composed of concrete perforated hexagonal prisms, was developed at the University of Miami and has been implemented in the Miami area for its ability to dissipate wave energy and protect habitats. Leveraging these advances, the proposed project will establish a unified framework for reliability assessment of shoreline seawalls.
The project consists of two phases: component-level and system-level reliability analysis. At the component level, the research team will develop an efficient and effective method to evaluate the reliability analysis of individual SEAHIVE® components. First, using available analytical models and experimental data, the team will define limit states that specify the conditions under which SEAHIVE® components perform adequately or fail. Second, the inspection rating method originally developed for MSE walls will be recalibrated for SEAHIVE® in the Miami area, following procedures established in prior work. Finally, these calibrated ratings will then serve as inputs to the defined limit states, enabling the calculation of reliability indices. The expected outcome of this phase is a practical guideline for engineers to quickly rate the seawall and determine the component reliability index.
Since seawalls function as interconnected systems rather than isolated units, the next phase is system-level analysis. Specifically, the team will elicit statistical correlations in seawall deterioration and soil conditions across different locations using inspection, measurement, and simulation data. An efficient system reliability analysis will then incorporate these correlations into component-level reliability analysis to compute the overall reliability index of seawalls along the shoreline. Together, the two phases will yield a practical decision support tool to efficiently inspect the shoreline seawalls and estimate the system reliability index in support of risk management and maintenance prioritization for seawalls.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2026 11:03:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2663225</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Thermal Effects on Concrete Substructure Elements</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652209</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Upcoming changes to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Load And Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Bridge Design Specification (BDS) include the modification of how thermal effects are calculated, specifically related to uniform temperature change. Historically load factors for uniform temperature change (γTU) were 0.5 for force effects and 1.2 for displacement effects for strength limit states, and 1.0 for force effects and 1.2 for displacement effects for service limit states. The reduced force effect (γTU = 0.5) was used to account for changes in cross-section and material properties over time, allowing the use of gross section properties in a simplified analysis. In the upcoming BDS these values will change to 1.0 for force effects and 1.2 for displacement effects, regardless of limit state being evaluated. The rationale for removal of the reduced force effect is that modern analysis software packages are capable of accounting for varying section and material properties over time, and the conflation of load factors and analysis procedures is unnecessary and confusing.
Current Kansas Department of Transportation (KsDOT) policy allows for the application of γTU values equal to 0.33 and 1.20 for force and displacement effects, respectively. Policy states that one-third of the instantaneous modulus has been used in the past and is suggested for LRFD substructure design. Although no known issues have been caused by this design policy, there is no known justification for its noncompliance with current AASHTO LRFD specifications and the resulting force effects may be unconservative. Additionally, the conflation of analysis processes with load factors may be confusing to engineers, introducing the potential for design errors. With the upcoming changes to the LRFD BDS, KsDOT policy will be further out of compliance with no known justification. Information is needed to ensure that force effects are being appropriately determined and accounted for in the KsDOT bridge design process.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 14:58:04 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2652209</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Micro-to-Macro Insights into Durability of Stabilized Soils Exposed to Wetting-Drying Cycles  </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2646953</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Roads built on problematic soils like expansive and soft clays often fail prematurely due to issues like heaving, cracking, and rutting. Low-strength, high-compressibility, and moisture sensitivity of these soils, primarily driven by the reactive nature of clay minerals, are the underlying causes for this. Stabilizing such problematic soils with cementitious binders is a common practice. Soils are often subjected to severe Wetting-Drying (W-D) cycles due to extreme weather events like flooding during monsoons and heat waves during summers and the long-term durability of stabilized soils under these stresses remains a critical concern. Often, failure in the system due to these W-D cycles is progressive in nature, starting from the generation of micro-cracks that eventually propagate into fully developed fractures within the soil mass. Also, the pore structure and pore connectivity alter significantly during this process, and manifest into the overall strength and performance deterioration. The evolution of the pore network, number of cracks, and their morphological features, like the length, width, and connectivity, are extremely important to understand the longevity and durability of stabilized soils to ensure safety of the transportation infrastructure. With this objective, this project aims to investigate the micro-to-macro scale damage progression in stabilized soils subjected to the W-D durability cycles. The study will be conducted on soft soil (low-plasticity clay) with two different stabilizers, namely Portland limestone cement and lime. Modification to the workability and strength characteristics of the stabilized soils will be quantified through laboratory tests, including Atterberg limits, Proctor compaction, and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) tests, and the optimum dosages of the stabilizers will be determined. Durability assessment of the stabilized soils with optimum dosages will be evaluated for 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 W-D cycles following the ASTM D559 & AASHTO T135 testing protocols with different specimen sizes. Mass loss, volumetric strain, and UCS values post-durability cycles will be recorded from different specimen sizes and compared to evaluate the effects of specimen size on the durability evaluation. This data will be beneficial for simplifying and advancing the durability testing protocols. Additionally, advanced X-ray micro-Computed Tomography (μCT) will be used to visualize and quantify internal microstructural changes, such as pore connectivity and crack morphology evolution, in miniature soil specimens. Image analysis algorithms may be developed for the robust and accurate quantification of the microstructure. Finally, correlations will be developed between the total porosity, number of cracks, crack length, crack width, and the UCS values of soil for various durability cycles. These correlations are expected to aid in the realistic prediction of the long-term performance of stabilized soils. Micro-perspectives and insights from this project will be crucial for developing more resistant and durabletransportation infrastructure in regions with problematic soils.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:59:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2646953</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Enhancing Site Response Analysis for Bridge Infrastructure in the Southern Plains Region: Issues, Pitfalls, and Pathways to Improvement </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2646962</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Bridges in the Southern Plains Region are essential to the continuity and resilience of the regional transportation network. Although traditionally considered a region of moderate seismic hazard, past seismic events and updated hazard characterizations along with escalating bridge costs have highlighted the need for the additional use of site response analysis in seismic bridge design. This project aims to investigate and resolve key technical limitations in current site response analysis practices as applied to bridge infrastructure within the Southern Plains Region. These include discrepancies in design acceleration estimation between American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) general procedure and site-specific site response analyses, the influence of bedrock shear wave velocity on seismic hazard and amplification, the sensitivity of site response outcomes to input motion depth, and the comparative accuracy of equivalent-linear and nonlinear modeling approaches under varying site conditions. The project will utilize detailed geotechnical and seismic data from existing Southern Plains Transportation Center (SPTC), Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) efforts to assess representative bridge sites, ultimately producing evidence-based recommendations and tools for more reliable seismic design and evaluation of bridge systems throughout the Southern Plains Region.  

There are four objectives of this project. The first is to quantify discrepancies in fundamental period and design spectrum estimates between the AASHTO general procedure and site-specific site response analysis across varying geologic conditions. The second is to evaluate the sensitivity of site response predictions and Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis results to different bedrock shear wave velocity assumptions, including stiff soil and rock layers. The third is to assess the influence of varying ground motion input depths—from shallow to deep—on spectral amplification and response characteristics for deep basin sites. The last is to compare equivalent-linear and fully nonlinear site response analyses to establish practical modeling guidelines based on site condition, shaking intensity, and data availability. Project tasks include (1) literature review, (2) site selection and data complication, (3) baseline site response analysis, (4) comparative and sensitivity analysis, (5) guideline development, (6) reporting, and (7) dissemination. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 17:14:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2646962</guid>
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