CLOSE OVERLAY
Project Details
STATUS

In-Progress

START DATE

09/27/23

END DATE

09/26/25

FOCUS AREAS

Infrastructure

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, BEC, CP Tech Center
SPONSORS

FHWA Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program

PARTNERS

University of Florida, University of Texas at Austin, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Carnegie Mellon University

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Kejin Wang

PCC Engineer, CP Tech Center

Co-Principal Investigator
Peter Taylor

Director, CP Tech Center

Co-Principal Investigator
Leif Wathne

Associate Director, CP Tech Center

Co-Principal Investigator
David Sanders

Professor, Iowa State University

Co-Principal Investigator
Kyle Riding

Professor, University of Florida

Co-Principal Investigator
Maria Juenger

Professor, University of Texas at Austin

Co-Principal Investigator
Kimberly Kurtis

Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology

Co-Principal Investigator
Newell Washburn

Associate Professor, Carnegie Mellon University

Co-Principal Investigator
Christopher Ferraro

Assistant Professor, University of Florida

About the research

The United States has approximately 600,000 bridges and 47,000 miles of interstate highways. More than 75% of bridges and 60% of highways are made of concrete. Concrete production consumes massive amounts of raw materials and energy, and US cement production emits about 67 million tons of carbon dioxide. A key to concrete decarbonization is using low-carbon cement. We propose to formulate, characterize, optimize, evaluate, and implement a new generation, low-carbon, energy-saving, and cost-effective cement made with calcined clay (CC)/natural pozzolan, Type I portland cement (I), and limestone powder (L), called CC·I·L cement. Implementation challenges will be addressed by (1) streamlining the testing process for characterizing raw materials and their blends, (2) using machine-learning techniques to optimize cement composition and predict performance, (3) developing prediction models for hydration and adiabatic temperature rise via software modification, and (4) conducting both laboratory and field investigations to comprehend performance. A roadmap will be developed defining goals, outcomes, and milestones for implementing CC·I·L in future transportation infrastructure.

Project Details
STATUS

In-Progress

PROJECT NUMBER

693JJ319D000020, 693JJ323F00120N

START DATE

06/15/23

END DATE

06/15/25

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, BEC
SPONSORS

Federal Highway Administration

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Justin Dahlberg

Director, BEC

Co-Principal Investigator
Brent Phares

Bridge Research Engineer, BEC

About the research

This project is a task order under the main Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)-sponsored project, “Infrastructure Research and Technology Deployment Program.”

Past regional bridge load rating peer exchanges conducted by the FHWA from 2014 to 2019 proved effective to gain an understanding of the load rating practices used by state departments of transportation (DOTs). The exchanges helped make known the best practices and technologies being used for load rating bridges, posting bridges, and issuing permits. The success of these exchanges and the continual evolution of practices and technology coupled with newly imposed requirements provide reason for additional peer exchanges, which are intended to include representatives from all DOTs.

Project Details
STATUS

In-Progress

START DATE

06/09/21

END DATE

03/28/23

SPONSORS

Federal Highway Administration

PARTNERS

LEIDOS, Inc.

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Christopher Day

Research Scientist, CTRE

About the research

The objectives of this task order are as follows:

  1. Develop a synthesis of knowledge on traffic signal change and clearance intervals, identify research gaps, develop a research plan, and evaluate potential data collection alternatives.
  2. Provide a report, and companion database to characterize the current state of knowledge and practices related to traffic development and implementation of traffic signal change and clearance intervals.

 

“This project is a task order under the main FHWA-sponsored project DTFH61-16-D-00053, in which LEIDOS, Inc. is the Lead.” 

Project Details
STATUS

Completed

PROJECT NUMBER

Part of Cooperative Agreement DTFH61-1-RA-00018, 693JJ31750003

START DATE

01/06/17

END DATE

07/30/21

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, CMAT
SPONSORS

Federal Highway Administration

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Jennifer Shane

Director, CMAT

About the research

The Process Document was developed to help agencies manage and evaluate work zone activities and document the lessons learned. Its objective is to outline a structured post-construction evaluation process that uses a feedback loop to help evaluate and improve performance during the construction phase and generate lessons learned for future use.

The scope for the work was as follows:

  • Define a structured review process that includes evaluation
  • Define a feedback loop to document and mitigate project issues and generate lessons learned
  • Develop a structure for lessons learned documentation
  • Demonstrate the implementation of lessons learned in example projects

The four appendices (A through D) at the end of the Process Document were designed to be easily accessed at a later date. Appendix C provides a sample Lessons Learned form that readers can adapt and use on their projects.

The Discussion Facilitation Guide is a companion document to the Process Document, and the purpose is to provide resources to facilitate discussion during training. This document provides a training discussion outline with recommended steps for facilitation. Everything mentioned in this companion document is a suggestion and can be adjusted accordingly.

Project Details
STATUS

In-Progress

PROJECT NUMBER

693JJ319D000020, TO693JJ321F000116

START DATE

04/26/21

END DATE

03/31/24

FOCUS AREAS

Infrastructure

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, BEC, CTRE
SPONSORS

Federal Highway Administration

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Omar Smadi

Director, CTRE

About the research

This project is a task order under the main Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)-sponsored project, “Infrastructure Research and Technology Deployment Program.”

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) coined the phrase, “good roads cost less.” UDOT emphasized the long-term financial savings that agencies gain when they keep roads in good condition through timely preservation and maintenance.

The Center for Transportation Research and Education (CTRE) team proposes to demonstrate the effects of bridge and pavement conditions on a wide array of system performance objectives. The team will demonstrate how state departments of transportation (DOTs) can, in their transportation asset management plans (TAMPs), enhance performance in all areas by sustaining a state-of-good-repair (SOGR) for National Highway System (NHS) pavements and bridges. The CTRE approach also will show how a TAMP can communicate to stakeholders the linkages between the SOGR and achievement of system performance goals.

Project Details
STATUS

Completed

PROJECT NUMBER

DTFH6113D00009

START DATE

03/20/13

END DATE

09/29/20

RESEARCH CENTERS CP Tech Center
SPONSORS

Federal Highway Administration

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Peter Taylor

Director, CP Tech Center

About the research

The overall goal of this project is to provide a variety of expert technical support services and technology transfer activities to the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Construction Management Team (CMT). The project includes assisting the CMT in its efforts to advance the industry-wide adoption of innovations that accelerate the delivery of pavement and bridge construction projects by providing appropriate information and training to state and local highway agencies, consultants, materials suppliers, research/academic institutions, and other stakeholders through workshops, conferences, equipment demonstrations, presentations, technical publications, and web-based training.

This project supports several task orders. They include the following:

Project Details
STATUS

In-Progress

START DATE

11/07/18

END DATE

12/31/24

FOCUS AREAS

Infrastructure

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, CP Tech Center
SPONSORS

American Concrete Pavement Association
Federal Highway Administration
Portland Cement Association

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Peter Taylor

Director, CP Tech Center

About the research

The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to further an ongoing concrete pavement technology program, which includes the deployment and transfer of new and innovative technologies and strategies to advance concrete pavements and improve pavement performance.

Project Deliverables by Type

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Guides & Manuals
Tech Briefs
Case Studies
One-Pagers
Reports

 

Project Deliverables by Topic

Search the table below to view project deliverables by topic (optionally filtering by document type).

YearResourceType
2024Interlaboratory Study to Establish Precision Statements for AASHTO T 358 and AASHTO T 402, Electrical Resistivity of Cylindrical Concrete SpecimensReport
2024Guide for Reducing the Cradle-to-Gate Embodied Carbon Emissions of Paving Concrete (Interim Guide)Guide/Manual
2023Optimizing Concrete Pavement Opening to TrafficTech Summary
2023Performance History of Concrete Overlays in the United StatesTech Summary
Case Study
2023Interlaboratory Study to Establish a Multi-Laboratory Precision Statement for AASHTO T 395-22, Characterization of the Air-Void System of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Sequential Pressure MethodReport
2023Concrete OverlaysVideo
2022Concrete Pavement Preservation Guide (3rd Edition)
(Click for high-resolution version)
Guide/Manual
2022Targeted Overlay Pavement Solutions (TOPS): Concrete Overlay Case Studies (2022)Case Study
2022Reclaimed Fly Ash in Highway InfrastructureVideo
2022Use of Recycled Concrete Aggregate in Concrete Paving MixturesTech Brief
2021Concrete Overlays—The Value Proposition
(Click for high-resolution version)
Tech Brief
2021Concrete Overlays—A Proven Technology
(Click for high-resolution version)
Tech Brief
2021Quality Control for Concrete Paving: A Tool for Agency and Industry
(Click for high-resolution version)
Guide/Manual
2021Guide to Concrete Overlays (4th Edition)
(Click for high-resolution version)
Guide/Manual
2020Targeted Overlay Pavement Solutions (TOPS): Concrete Overlay One-Page SummariesOne-Pager
Tech Brief
2021Use of Harvested Fly Ash in Highway Infrastructure (2020, updated 2021) Tech Brief
2020PEM Test for Workability: The VKelly TestOne-Pager
2020PEM Test for Workability: The Box TestOne-Pager
2020PEM Test for Cold Weather (Freeze-Thaw Durability): Super Air Meter (SAM) TestOne-Pager
2020PEM Test for Transport: ResistivityOne-Pager

Project Details

Work areas for this project are as follows:

  • Deployment of new, cost-effective designs, materials, recycled materials, and practices to extend the pavement life and performance and to improve user satisfaction—with a focus on concrete recycling and the use of industrial waste or byproducts in concrete pavement mixtures
  • Reduction of initial costs and life-cycle costs of pavements, including the costs of new construction, replacement, maintenance, and rehabilitation—with a focus on strategies and technologies for rehabilitation and maintenance
  • Deployment of accelerated construction techniques to increase safety and reduce construction time and traffic disruption and congestion—with a focus on the use of performance engineered concrete mixtures for accelerated construction without compromising durability
  • Deployment of engineering design criteria and specifications for new and efficient practices, products, and materials for use in highway pavements—with a focus on further development and implementation of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) PP 84-17 specification for Performance Engineered Concrete Mixtures
  • Deployment of new nondestructive and real-time pavement evaluation technologies and construction techniques—with a focus on technologies for construction quality assurance and quality control
  • Effective technology transfer and information dissemination to accelerate implementation of new technologies and to improve life, performance, cost effectiveness, safety, and user satisfaction—with a focus on partnering with state departments of transportation (DOTs) and industry to advance these innovative technologies
Project Details
STATUS

Completed

PROJECT NUMBER

DTFH6113D00009, TO 0001

START DATE

08/07/17

END DATE

07/31/20

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, CP Tech Center
SPONSORS

Federal Highway Administration

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Peter Taylor

Director, CP Tech Center

About the research

This project is a task order under the main Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)-sponsored project, “Technical and Support Services for the FHWA Construction Management Team.”

Whether a highway pavement is constructed using concrete or asphalt, the structure will deteriorate over time because of traffic loading and environmental factors. Technologies such as thin overlays, micro surfacing, slurry seals, and chips seals are some pavement preservation treatments applied to asphalt pavements. Technologies such as full depth patching, partial depth patching, dowel bar retrofitting/ cross-stitching, and diamond grinding are some pavement preservation treatments applied to concrete pavements. These treatments can be very effective in extending the performance life of pavements if applied at the right time on the right project with quality construction and materials.

The Every Day Counts Four (EDC-4) Pavement Preservation “How” initiative accelerates the national deployment of underutilized proven technologies and techniques to construct quality pavement preservation treatments with quality materials. This includes the use of sustainable quality materials and methods, construction equipment, and assuring a quality workforce to construct these surface treatments.

The objective of this task order is to assist in the peer-to-peer exchange of lead state and exploring state, to exchange knowledge about how to effectively implement Pavement Preservation “How”. The focus of the exchange will be based upon the concepts, capabilities, and applications of constructing pavement preservation treatments with quality materials for transportation agencies, contractors, consultants, and FHWA staff.

The objectives of the task order are:

  1. Develop and maintain a database of lead states approach, strategies, and strengths for Pavement Preservation “How” for the life of this task order;
  2. Identify the needs and desires of exploring states to learn how to implement Pavement Preservation “How”. Align the exploring agency needs with a lead agency strength. Organize, facilitate, and accompany a peer-to-peer exchange between the two agencies;
  3. Develop tech briefs for each peer-to-peer exchange that contain example guiding documents, specifications, work flows, and lessons learned to help other states adopt quality construction and materials for pavement preservation;
  4. Review and update the current Pavement Preservation Checklist series;
  5. Develop a modernized version of the Pavement Preservation Checklist series to include a smart phone app; and
  6. Produce and embed brief videos demonstrating the key components of each checklist treatment.
Project Details
STATUS

Completed

PROJECT NUMBER

Proposal #: 693JJ319D000020, TOPR #: HIF200061PR

START DATE

04/01/20

END DATE

12/23/22

FOCUS AREAS

Infrastructure

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, BEC, CTRE
SPONSORS

Federal Highway Administration

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Justin Dahlberg

Director, BEC

Co-Principal Investigator
Brent Phares

Bridge Research Engineer, BEC

About the research

This project is a task order under the main Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)-sponsored project, “Infrastructure Research and Technology Deployment Program.”

This Guide provides bridge engineers and owners with general information and typical details to help standardize orthotropic steel deck (OSD) bridge design/fabrication to make it more competitive. This document does not intend to set a national standard but to help inform the effort through reduced parametric variations.

OSD bridges can be either closed- or open-rib systems, and this Guide begins with background information regarding OSD bridge design.

General considerations with respect to OSD bridges are discussed, followed by specific instructions for closed- and open-rib systems including rib geometry, size, and fabrication methods. Suggestions for deck plate selection are provided followed by a discussion of wearing surface types and selection considerations. Lastly, suggestions for floorbeam/diaphragm design are provided.

Throughout the document, short summaries on the performance of several in-service OSD bridges are provided.

Project Details
STATUS

In-Progress

PROJECT NUMBER

Proposal #: 693JJ319D000020, TOPR #: HIF190026PR

START DATE

03/02/20

END DATE

06/01/25

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, CTRE
SPONSORS

Federal Highway Administration

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Omar Smadi

Director, CTRE

About the research

This project is a task order under the main Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)-sponsored project, “Infrastructure Research and Technology Deployment Program.”

The FHWA’s transportation performance program and transportation asset management program represent major advancements for the stewardship of the nation’s highway system. The transportation asset management plans provide the first nationwide, consistent, and comprehensive summation of how state departments of transportation (DOTs) intend to manage the condition and performance of the National Highway System (NHS). Simultaneously, FHWA Transportation Performance Management (TPM) efforts have generated valuable performance measures and targets for safety, freight movement, traffic congestion, and the condition and performance of interstate and non-interstate NHS pavements and bridges.

This task order proposal allows for further advancement by providing additional guidance and training on how to better link asset management, transportation performance management, and performance-based planning and programming. To date, state DOTs may have developed their asset management plans in relative isolation from their long-range plans, in part because the development cycles for the two plans have not yet overlapped. Also, there has not been enough time for the gap analyses, risk assessments, or investment strategies to influence short-term transportation programs, which often are updated biennially.

This team will produce for the FHWA useful guidance documents and training that illustrate how performance-based planning and performance management enhance asset management. With this guidance and training, the potential of asset management, performance-based planning, and transportation performance management can be enhanced and be better aligned into a seamless way of doing business in DOTs.

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