23 Mar 2026

Experimental Evaluation of Corroded Steel Beams Retrofitted with Fiber-Reinforced Polymers

Abstract: Corrosion represents one of the main threats to steel structures working in harsh conditions. It compromises the safety and integrity of marine structures, reducing their lifespan and increasing their maintenance cost. Recent studies investigated the use of fiber-reinforced polymers to repair corroded steel structures; however, these studies showed unmatured debonding behavior, stopping short of examining the impact of these repairs on the ductility of different steel elements. In this study, we conduct a series of full-scale experimental tests to investigate the impact of chemical corrosion on steel beams as well as the impact of repairing the beams using carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP) and basalt fiber–reinforced polymer (BFRP) in enhancing the beams’ structural performance. Corrosion, introduced to the beams’ tension flange and web elements, is used to establish a baseline dataset that captures the impact of repairs on corroded steel surfaces. The results show that the reduction of the flange and web section lowers the beams’ yielding load by 10% and 1%, respectively, compared with a beam with a full cross section. CFRP and BFRP patches can partially restore the corroded beams’ ductility; however, the fracture of the CFRP patches reduces the beam strength by 31% compared with its ultimate strength.

18 Mar 2026

An Updated Irwin Sensor for Measurement of Surface Shear Velocity

Abstract: Accurate and efficient collection of field data related to aeolian processes is critical for improving wind erosion predictions and related management decisions. The Irwin sensor has been used in numerous wind tunnel and field studies to indicate surface shear velocity. However, the sensitivity of the sensor makes them difficult to maintain in a range of environmental conditions. This study presents a new generation of Irwin sensor incorporating updated electronics, battery operation, wireless data transmission, and streamlined field deployment and removal. A total of 20 sensors were manufactured and calibrated in a wind tunnel at the Engineer Research and Development Center. A subset of the sensors was calibrated using a PI-SWERL, which confirmed the two calibration methods converge on similar values for flat smooth test surfaces. The updated sensors were installed around a mesquite shrub at the Jornada Experimental Range, New Mexico, USA from February to July 2023. We found that initial data from the sensors accurately captured spatial patterns of surface shear velocity surrounding the shrub. The improvements to the sensor reduced workload for both deployment and maintenance, and reduced disturbance at the field site. We discuss potential opportunities to use the improved sensor network in a range of geomorphological research areas including quantifying aeolian sediment transport, building and parameterizing wind erosion models that incorporate spatial dependencies, and improving predictive tools for landform change.

25 Feb 2026

AIS Analysis of Waterway Utilization Based on Vessel Type and Class

Abstract: The purpose of this technical note (TN) is to provide an overview of a method used to classify waterway segments based on remotely-sensed vessel traffic on those waterway segments. Vessel traffic was evaluated using data from Automatic Identification System (AIS) broadcasts, which originate at transceivers onboard vessels and can be received by terrestrial shore sites or satellites. AIS is used by most ocean-going commercial vessels, while use by inland vessels varies according to domestic regulations.

18 Feb 2026

Mesh Convergence Study of Adaptive Hydraulics (AdH) Version 5.9

Abstract: This report details performance and convergence tests of the Adaptive Hydraulics (AdH) v5.9 software suite on the Engineer Research and Development Center ONYX Cray X40/50 supercomputer. In particular, the performance of a recently developed monolithic model coupling AdH framework between the Richards equation for variable groundwater and surface water flows or for overland sloped conditions is studied. The effort is part of a quality assurance test of a recently restructured version of AdH. The report also includes a scalability analysis of AdH on a Cray system.

18 Feb 2026

Publications of the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center : Appendix J : FY25 (October 2024–September 2025)

Abstract: Each year, the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) publishes more than 200 reports through the Information Technology Laboratory’s Information Science and Knowledge Management (ISKM) Branch, the publishing authority for ERDC. Annually since 2017, ISKM has compiled a list of the previous fiscal year’s publications. This Appendix J to the original collection includes ERDC publications issued October 2024 through September 2025. The publications are grouped according to the technical laboratories or technical program for which they were prepared, and the preface includes procedures for obtaining ERDC reports. Through this compilation, online distribution, and physical collections, ISKM continues to support ERDC, the Army, and the nation.

29 Jan 2026

A Monolithically Coupled Surface Water and Groundwater Finite Element Model with Fully Implicit Time Stepping Using Adaptive Hydraulics (AdH) v5.0 (KraRE: 21428 (ken)

Abstract: Simulation of surface water and groundwater interaction is becoming increasingly important for the US Army Corps of Engineer Civil Works and Military Missions. This report details the formulation of a monolithic, coupled approach that combines the Richards equation for variably saturated groundwater flow and a diffusive wave approximation for overland flow. The model is implemented with USACE’s Adaptive Hydraulics (AdH) computational framework and is evaluated for several community benchmark problems. The results indicate that the AdH model is stable with performance similar to existing, well-established codes for surface water and groundwater interaction.

13 Jan 2026

Major Freight Corridors in the US: Mapping of Commodity Flows on Waterborne, Rail, and Truck Networks

Abstract: Within the context of complex, interconnected, multimodal transportation, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) provides safe, reliable, efficient, effective, and environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation systems for the movement of commerce, national security needs, and recreation. Understanding the role of waterways within the multimodal transportation system would allow for comprehensive resource allocation, including dredging prioritization. In 2022, approximately 19,810 million tons of goods were transported within, to, and from the US, with truck being the dominant mode for the domestic portion of the trip (64 percent). Relatively recent legislation calls for a multimodal representation of freight, one that facilitates transportation planning and asset management. However, traditional data collection and analysis has focused on single modes, preventing nationwide, multimodal representations of commodity flows. This report presents major commodity corridors within, to, and from the US by combining diverse sources and homogenizing data dimensions. The resulting information and commodity-specific maps help to contextualize waterborne navigation’s role within the broader multimodal transportation system. A key finding from the study indicates that the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana carried in 2019 more volume of freight annually than any other waterway, railroad, or highway segment in the US.

30 Oct 2025

Thermomechanical Material Characterization of Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol Carbon Fiber 30% for Large-Format Additive Manufacturing of Polymer Structures

Abstract: Large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) is used to print large-scale polymer structures. An understanding of the thermal and mechanical properties of polymers suitable for large-scale extrusion is needed for de-sign and production capabilities. An in-house-built LFAM printer was used to print polyethylene terephthalate glycol with 30% short carbon fiber (PETG CF30%) samples for thermomechanical characterization. Thermogravimetric analysis confirmed the samples had 30% carbon fiber by weight. X-ray microscopy and porosity studies found 25% porosity for undried material and 1.63% porosity for dry material. Differential scanning calorimetry showed a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 66°C, while dynamic mechanical analysis found Tg to be 82°C. The rheology indicated that PETG CF30% is a good printing material at 220°C–250°C. Bending experiments showed an average of 48.5 megapascals (MPa) for flexural strength, while tensile experiments found an average tensile strength of 25.0 MPa at room temperature. Comparison with the literature demonstrated that the 3D-printed PETG CF30% had a high Young’s modulus and was of similar tensile strength. For design purposes, prints from LFAM should be considered from a bead–layer–part standpoint. For testing purposes, both material choice and print parameters should be considered, especially when considering large layer heights.

29 Sep 2025

Asset Condition and Probability of Failure Assessment–A Vision for Civil Works: A Document to Guide Collaboration and Innovation for the US Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Asset Management System

Abstract: The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is rapidly improving its asset management system through a variety of research projects and other work efforts that focus on how risk, condition, and probability of failure are conceived, communicated, and used for decision-making across the agency. As these projects move forward, it is critical that USACE defines a long-term vision for condition and probability of failure assessments across the entire asset management system. This Special Report defines that vision with the goal of achieving consensus and buy-in from a variety of participants that will need to buy-in to achieve success. An additional benefit to identifying an end vision for this work is to identify collaborative opportunities and any gaps that must be addressed to achieve it.

29 Sep 2025

State of Practice and Recommendations to Enhance Probability of Failure Estimates for Civil Works Infrastructure Components

Abstract: As the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continues to improve its asset management system, it is imperative that maintenance investments across its wide infrastructure portfolio are maximizing risk reduction. A key component of risk is probability of failure. Presently, USACE estimates probability of failure for asset components in a variety of ways across business lines, activities, and decision spaces. This document explores the variations in the state of practice for probability of failure estimates across USACE and contrasts them with available best practices and methodologies. The review found several key gaps between the state of practice and best practices, including a lack of component failure and life data useful for time-to-failure parameter estimates, a lack of codified definitions of failure, no clear and consistent guidance for probability of failure estimates across business lines or decision spaces, and no methodologies that account for environmental variation at a facility. These gaps are addressed by a research strategy that compares and contrasts several probability of failure calculation methods using presently available data, identifies relevant life data for future collection, and defines a framework for investing in improved probability of failure assessments at facilities.