FY 2002 Performance Report

Improved identification with Superpave gyratories compliance issues.

Funded by NCHRP, in partnership with the TRB.

Updated information on the design of crumb rubber asphalt.

The contractor had a health setback, which will delay completion of the project.

New tool for assessing modified binder’s compatibility with the Superpave binder spec.

Funded by NCHRP, in partnership with
the TRB.

New tool for assessment of storage stability of modified binders.

Funded by NCHRP, in partnership with the TRB.

More meaningful assessment of concrete paving mixtures workability.

Some delays in fabrication have pushed back testing by 2-3 months.

Improved performance of PCCP.

Contract was revised to add software refinements and an expand product delivery effort (workshops and technical support). Work is 92 percent complete.

Guidelines for improved PCCP Curing.

A draft final report has been completed and is under review.

State-of-the-art petrographic manual
for PCC.

Adding new techniques, including scanning electron microscope analysis.

Research designs which consider recycled aggregate.

Principal investigator is no longer with the contractor. This may delay delivery of the final report.

Enhanced quality and uniformity of State QA specifications.

Project is 95 percent complete; final reports are being prepared.

Enhanced understanding of the freeze-thaw durability of concrete having “marginal” air contents.

Laboratory testing delayed by equipment problems.

Make LTPP database available to the public. Two data releases completed during FY 2002 (In Jan. and July).

The January 2002 data is available at the LTPP customer support office.

Develop a new procedure to evaluate close-loop equipment.

Report completed and awaiting publication and 508 conversion.

Improved WIM technology.

The WIM specifications and guideline are available on the LTPP Web page.

Study of State DOTs using the new axle load spectra procedures.

Report completed and is under technical and editorial review.

Improve the understanding of PCCP joint and crack load transfer.

Report completed and awaiting publication and 508 conversion.

To determine accuracy and factors affecting virtual weather stations.

Report completed and awaiting publication and 508 conversion.

Tools for mechanistic design of pavements.

Alpha systems for JSLAB & Vesyss pavement models available for use in designing pavements.

Methods for evaluating and mitigating PCC warping.

Proof of concept study; conference paper (Best Paper Award); software development.

Provide consistent accurate design guidance.

Developed in cooperation with Western Resource Center (WRC).

Maximize the design and performance benefits of advanced steels.

Performance properties of HPS provide significant advantages in resistance to critical fracture not presently accounted for in design guidance.

Provide design guidance to AASHTO.

Critical input to design protocol for curved steel structures.

Analyze the effectiveness of new generation concrete structural materials.

Documenting the performance improvements obtained through the use of high performance concrete.

Experiments to account for debris in the pier scour equation.

Start was deferred to accommodate other requirements for the hydraulics flume.

Verified durability of aluminized coatings for metal pipe.

Proposed provisions provided to the Office of Bridge Technology. Also, presentation made at AASHTO Culvert Committee Meeting.

Provide design guidance for standard culvert inlets used by highway agencies.

Completed experiments on stepped down culvert diameters in series. Currently testing prefabricated versus cast-in-place (CIP) culvert inlets and multiple barrel hydraulics.

Provide more realistic coefficient for calculating wind load.

This study is slightly delayed due to rehabilitation of the wind tunnel and the slow fabrication and delivery of tapered models.

Provide new tool for simulation and analysis of wind effects on bridges.

This study has been put on hold due to budget cuts and limited access to the principal investigation.

Tool to assist State bridge engineers in assessing loss estimation of earthquake damage.

A computer program was completed and a report published. This tool has been calibrated and validated by a demonstration project (Northridge earthquake case study).

Provide recommended seismic design specifications for highway bridges.

Recommended seismic design specifications completed and proposed to AASHTO. More work required to adopt the specifications.

Provide design and retrofit guidance for the use of micropiles.

Particularly critical technology for retrofit of existing structures and structures with limited access for equipment.

Provide a more user-friendly compaction test method.

A means of accurately measuring construction compaction of soil without the need for a nuclear device.

Provide coating assessment tools to resident bridge engineers.

Supplies a tool for conveniently assessing the condition of a coating on steel and provides options for repair.

Tools to rapidly survey concrete decks for deficiencies.

System delivered; testing completed; report 99 percent complete.

Technology to prevent failures due to corrosion or tendon fracture.

Prototype sensors built and tested; patent application being completed.

Develop automated ultrasonic methods for quality assurance.

Field testing is currently ongoing.

Provide basis for effective bridge preventive maintenance and preservation.

WebNBI query system active and in use by FHWA HQ and field bridge engineers and planning staff.

Provide logical basis for prioritizing limited resources to protect scour in critical bridges.

Presented the concept at the 2002 Annual TRB meeting. Logic has been coded as an extension of the HYRISK model and is being evaluated by two Resource Centers. The HYRISK model is keyed to the NBI database and is currently being revised to include a switch between data based on 1995 and 2002 coding guides.

Technology for detecting delamination in bridge members.

System built; field testing underway.

Technical assistance for inspection of post tensioned.

Ongoing consultation and project development

Techniques to evaluate impacts of toxic spills.

Model for dispersion of exhaust gases and toxic gases from chemical spills or terrorist attacks; applicable to complex urban sites and tunnels. Report printed.

Improved pavement measurements made at highway speeds.

Determine accelerometer requirements for inertial profilers at speeds from 15 to 70 miles per hour.

Improved analysis and design of PCC pavements.

Software analysis package being developed.

National refinement of Superpave binder specifications to fully capture the benefit of modified binders.

Funded by NCHRP, and the TRB Superpave Mix/Aggregate and Binder Expert Task Group (ETG).

New tool to improve the quality and performance of asphalt pavements.

Funded by Revenue Aligned Budget Authority (RABA); requested by AASHTO.

Product intended to increase pavement service life.

Congressionally-directed research activity.

National Superpave binder spec. refinement to capture fully the benefit of modified binders.

Pooled fund study TPF-5(019) in partnership with the TRB Superpave Binder ETG.

Expanded fundamental knowledge of asphalt and modified asphalts.

Congressionally-directed research activity.

Improve performance of PCCP.
Prism testing began in July 2002.

Lengthy delay in testing due to equipment problems.

Web-based software to efficiently optimize concrete mix proportioning and achieve multiple performance criteria.

Web site is online at http://ciks.cbt.nist.gov/cost/

Technology field testing for imaging defects in concrete.

Ongoing field testing to evaluate capabilities of the method.

Validation of proposed changes to the Superpave binder spec.

Funded by NCHRP and the TRB Superpave Binder and Mix/Aggregate ETG. National refinement of Superpave to fully capture the benefit of modified binders.

Role of FHWA in In-Vehicle Information

Revised completion date due to delayed startup by contractor. Percent complete remains the same because only 50 percent was received to date.

Reported by Bob Ferlis in Operations R&D Projects and Services report.

See listing in Operations section.

Shown on Operations R&D Projects and Services report.

See listing in Operations section.