TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Research Report 883: Fracture-Critical System Analysis for Steel Bridges presents a proposed specification for the analysis and identification of fracture-critical members and system-redundant members. The report describes the analysis methodology and provides application examples. The analysis methodology is based on comprehensive 3-D finite element analyses (FEA) and case studies to evaluate the redundancy of new and existing steel bridges with members traditionally designated as fracture-critical members (FCMs), including simple- and continuous-span I-girder and tub-girder, through-girder, truss, and tied-arch steel bridges.

Recently Released TRB Publications

Bridges and Other Structures

TRB’s Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board has released 16 early access papers addressing pavements, including:

• Intelligent Compaction for Quality Control and Acceptance for Soil and Base Compaction through Statistical Analysis (link)
• Comparing Traffic Speed Deflectometer and Falling Weight Deflectometer Data (link)
• Time-Series Review of Highway Performance Monitoring System Data (link)
• Development of a Structural Capacity Prediction Model Based on Traffic Speed Deflectometer Measurements (link)
• Improved Backcalculation Procedure for Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (link)
• Leveraging State DOT Technology and Practice for Cost-Effective Pavement Management by Local Government Authorities (link)
• Pavement Friction Modeling using Texture Measurements and Pendulum Skid Tester (link)
• Field Investigation of Relationship between Pavement Surface Texture and Friction (link)
• Numerical and Experimental Predictions of Texture-Related Influences on Rolling Resistance (link)
• An Area-Based Faulting Measurement Method Using Three-Dimensional Pavement Data (link)
• Identification of Potential Location and Extent of Localized Interface Debonding in the Wheelpath of Asphalt Pavements (link)
• Fatigue Performance Prediction of Asphalt Pavements with FlexPAVETM, the S-VECD Model, and DR Failure Criterion (link)
• Protocol for FWD Data Collection at Network-Level Pavement Management in Iran (link)
• Soft Computing Tools to Predict Progression of Percent Embedment of Aggregates in Chip Seals (link)
• Development of Artificial Neural Networks for Predicting the Response of Bonded Concrete Overlays of Asphalt for Use in a Faulting Prediction Model (link)
• Application of Traffic Speed Deflectometer for Network-Level Pavement Management (link)

Recently Released TRB Publications

Pavements

TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Research Report 881: Traffic Control Devices and Measures for Deterring Wrong-Way Movements provides an analysis of factors associated with wrong-way movements on unsignalized divided highways and freeways. The divided highway analysis focuses on design, signage, and roadway markings, while the freeway analysis emphasizes the effectiveness of signage with flashing lights. The results are used to identify appropriate countermeasures and to develop suggestions for revisions to the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices that may deter wrong-way movements by drivers.

Recently Released TRB Publications

Design, Highways, Operations and Traffic Management

TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) and Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) have released a joint report, ACRP Synthesis 91 / TCRP Synthesis 137: Microgrids and Their Application for Airports and Public Transit. The report describes microgrids that airports and public transit agencies can implement to increase resilience of their critical infrastructure. A microgrid is described as a collection of loads, on-site energy sources, local energy storage systems, and an overarching control system. Developments in control technologies have seen advanced microgrid controllers expand microgrid functionality to create new value streams and revenue opportunities, increasing microgrid viability to many more sectors. This synthesis describes the benefits, challenges, costs, revenue streams, and ownership structures relevant to airports and public transit entities.

Recently Released TRB Publications

Aviation, Energy, Public Transportation

TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Synthesis 93: Sustainability's Role in Enhancing Airport Capacity compiles information and examples that successfully demonstrate the value of building sustainability concepts into capacity-enhancing projects. The report describes additional resources and tools that provide guidance on how to select, apply, and communicate sustainability measures. The report explores how sustainability efforts often build on themselves; how lessons learned from one initiative are carried through to the next; and how this progressive learning process can enhance sustainability’s role in capacity-enhancing projects over time.

Appendix E, available separately online, is intended for an airport leadership audience and focuses on the benefits of incorporating sustainability into capacity-enhancing projects.

Recently Released TRB Publications

Aviation, Environment

TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Legal Research Digest 34: Airport Public Health Preparedness and Response: Legal Rights, Powers, and Duties addresses the legal issues concerning the measures to detect communicable diseases, regulations to control communicable diseases, methods for decontamination, emergency legal preparedness, privacy, and potential sources of liability. This digest provides a checklist that airport attorneys and other staff can use to help prepare, plan, and coordinate with their partners in response to a threat of a communicable disease.

Recently Released TRB Publications

Aviation, Law

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has released a report that develops a balanced mix design (BMD) for MnDOT and identifies how it evaluates materials from four Minnesota projects. A BMD sets a maximum asphalt content based on the rutting criterion and a minimum asphalt content based on cracking criterion.

State Research News

Design, Pavements

TRB conducted a webinar on Wednesday, August 29, 2018, from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM ET that featured research from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)’s Synthesis 521: Investment Prioritization Methods for Low-Volume Roads.

This webinar identified current practices used by transportation agencies to make investment decisions about low-volume roads. Low-volume roads can be at a disadvantage within traditional investment prioritization processes that focus on volume-based metrics of benefit and impact. However, low volume roads can also create significant value for the wider economy and society, providing basic access to remote communities, ensuring connectivity for industry to a global economy, and supporting economic development opportunities. The presenters discussed prioritization approaches that go beyond standard transportation asset management or engineering-type measures, to those that account for broader economic, social, and environmental implications of low volume road projects.

The slides are available. Contact Reggie Gillum at rgillum@nas.edu for a copy of the recorded webinar.

Webinar Presenters

• Naomi Stein, Economic Development Research Group, Inc.
• Mark Hoffman, Arizona Department of Transportation

Moderated by:  Anita Bush, Nevada Department of Transportation

Professional Development Hour Information

 A certificate for 1.5 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) will be provided to Professional Engineers (PEs) who register and attend the webinar as an individual. For groups, only the person that registers and attends the session will receive a PDH certificate. Certificates of Completion will be issued only to individuals who register for and attend the entire webinar session.

Individuals registered as Florida PEs are no longer required to email TRB with your license number to report your attendance. Instead, please use your certificate that TRB provides through RCEP.net as verification of your attendance to the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.

Please check with your licensing board to ensure that TRB webinar PDHs are approved by your board.

This webinar was developed in March 2018. TRB has met the standards and requirements of the Registered Continuing Education Program (RCEP). Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to RCEP by TRB. Complaints about registered providers may be sent to RCEP, 1015 15th Street, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. Website: www.RCEP.net.

Registration questions? Contact Reggie Gillum at RGillum@nas.edu.

 

 

 

TRB News

Economics, Finance, Highways, Society

TRB conducted a webinar on Thursday, August 30, 2018 from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM ET that identifies recent attacks on transportation systems and describe practices that may avoid network breaches. As critical transportation infrastructure comes to rely on greater amounts of data, cyberattacks are an eminent threat. This webinar explored systems that are resilient to attacks and will offer ways to create an awareness of cybersecurity within the transportation culture. Presenters shared resources to help transportation agencies combat ever-changing threats.

This webinar was organized by the TRB Standing Committees on Critical Transportation Infrastructure Protection and Information Systems and Technology. Contact Reggie Gillum at RGillum@nas.edu for instructions on receiving a copy of the recorded webinar.

The slides are available.

Webinar Presenters

• Pete Rahn, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT)
• Anne Strauss-Wieder, North Jersey Planning Authority

Moderated by:  Doug Couto, Center for Digital Government\ 

Professional Development Hour Information

A certificate for 1.5 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) will be provided to Professional Engineers (PEs) who register and attend the webinar as an individual. For groups, only the person that registers and attends the session will receive a PDH certificate. Certificates of Completion will be issued only to individuals who register for and attend the entire webinar session.

Individuals registered as Florida PEs are no longer required to email TRB with your license number to report your attendance. Instead, please use your certificate that TRB provides through RCEP.net as verification of your attendance to the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.

Please check with your licensing board to ensure that TRB webinar PDHs are approved by your board.

This webinar was developed in March 2018. TRB has met the standards and requirements of the Registered Continuing Education Program (RCEP). Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to RCEP by TRB. Complaints about registered providers may be sent to RCEP, 1015 15th Street, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. Website: www.RCEP.net.

Registration questions? Contact Reggie Gillum at RGillum@nas.edu.

TRB News

Data and Information Technology, Security and Emergencies

TRB conducted a webinar on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM ET that explored the future of freight education. Presenters focused on how to develop a talent pipeline starting in primary and secondary education (K-12) and continuing through university programs. The webinar provided information for the K-12, community college, and university communities about how to support the freight industry.

This webinar was organized by the TRB Standing Committee on Intermodal Freight Transport.

The slides are available.

 Webinar Presenters

• Margaret Kidd, University of Houston
• Angeli Logan, California State University at Long Beach
• Darrin Mellinger, Cummins Sales and Service

Moderated by:  Tom O’Brien, California State University at Long Beach

TRB News

Education and Training, Freight Transportation