The Grainger College of Engineering
Illinois Center for Transportation

New ICT-IDOT reports

1/17/2022 McCall Macomber

Illinois Center for Transportation is pleased to announce the publication of reports from the following Illinois Department of Transportation-sponsored projects, in order of publication.

R27-197: Characterization of the Bond Strength of Textured Epoxy-coated Reinforcement Bars (Phase 2)
Jayme Schiff and Dan Tobias, Illinois Department of Transportation
Bassem Andrawes, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Epoxy-coated steel reinforcing bars with a smooth surface, left, have been successfully used to reduce the amount of corrosion in bridge decks across the U.S. Epoxy-coated steel reinforcing bars with a roughened or textured surface, right, may further increase the resiliency and durability of bridge decks and prove to be the next step in the evolution of epoxy-coating technology.
Epoxy-coated steel reinforcing bars with a smooth surface, left, have been successfully used to reduce the amount of corrosion in bridge decks across the U.S. Epoxy-coated steel reinforcing bars with a roughened or textured surface, right, may further increase the resiliency and durability of bridge decks and prove to be the next step in the evolution of epoxy-coating technology.

Steel reinforcing bars — bars placed in concrete to strengthen bridges — can experience excessive corrosion if unprotected and cracks form in a bridge deck, allowing water and deicing salts to reach them.

Epoxy-coated bars with a smooth surface have been used to increase reinforcing bars’ resistance to corrosive materials, but these bars do not bond as well to concrete as uncoated or black bars. As such, bridges that employ smooth-surfaced epoxy-coated bars may experience more cracking than those that employ black bars. Researchers can now add texture or roughen the epoxy surface of coated bars, which not only protects the bars from corrosion, but also improves the composite action between the concrete and steel.

This report explores the performance of black reinforcing bars as well as epoxy-coated bars with smooth or textured surfaces. The researchers develop a method to assess the roughness of reinforcing bars on-site, which will help increase the lifespan of bridges as well as reduce repair costs and measures.

R27-217: Taxation of Ride-hailing
Chuck Abraham, Illinois Department of Transportation
Lewis Lehe, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The use of ride-hailing services has grown in recent years, potentially reducing transit ridership in cities and increasing congestion. To offset these costs, policymakers can tax ride-hailing trips to meet future revenue needs, including those for public transit.
The use of ride-hailing services has grown in recent years, potentially reducing transit ridership in cities and increasing congestion. To offset these costs, policymakers can tax ride-hailing trips to meet future revenue needs, including those for public transit.

Ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft increased in popularity before the COVID-19 pandemic, a trend that will likely resume once we return to pre-pandemic behavior. Here researchers examine the history of ride-hailing services and their taxation. They also survey states’ use of ride-hailing taxes, the types of laws used to implement them, and advantages and disadvantages of implementation strategies.

The researchers also provide recommendations for Illinois’ elected officials and policymakers to help them implement ride-hailing taxes and avoid common pitfalls and costly missteps.