TREC research addresses complex transportation problems by drawing on multiple disciplines, including engineering, planning, economics and design, from across the Portland State University campus. Use the search box at right to search for a specific project.

Research Highlights

Bridge Seismic Retrofit Feasibility Case Study Utilizing Ductile Fuses

Peter Dusicka
In an effort to increase the seismic resiliency of our transportation network, a performance centric retrofit measure has been developed as part of State funded research and evaluated through to large scale laboratory setting. With an eye toward implementation, this technology transfer proposal aims to conduct a feasibility study on incorporating this retrofit measure with a recently developed ductile fuse technology and applying the retrofit to a real bridge case study. The intent is to… Read More

Bridge Pile Foundations Subjected to Liquefaction-Induced Lateral Spreading

Arash Khosravifar
The overall goal of this research is to improve the seismic safety and resiliency of highway bridges in the Pacific Northwest during earthquakes. Past earthquakes have shown that liquefaction-induced lateral spreading can be a major cause of collapse for pile foundations. Bridge engineers generally agree that pile foundations must be designed for: (a) lateral spreading loads caused by liquefaction of soils adjacent to piles, and (b) inertial loads during shaking resulting from the… Read More