<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="https://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
  <channel>
    <title>Transport Research International Documentation (TRID)</title>
    <link>https://trid.trb.org/</link>
    <atom:link href="https://trid.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=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" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
    <description></description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
    <image>
      <title>Transport Research International Documentation (TRID)</title>
      <url>https://trid.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle.jpg</url>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/</link>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Feedstock Energy Reporting in the Paving and Other Related Industries</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/1494814</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Feedstock energy is the combustible energy content in a material. This study aims to critically evaluate the reporting of feedstock energy in life cycle assessments (LCAs), environmental product declarations (EPDs), product category rules (PCRs) and other sources. A comprehensive analysis of the consistency in nomenclature and definitions relating to feedstock energy and other related energy terms, and the consistency in reporting of feedstock energy use in various sectors was carried out by reviewing scientific reports, articles, tools and standardization documents. The main industry of interest was paving but other related industries were researched for comparative purposes and consistency. Relevant industries were identified such as, construction, roofing, wood, flooring, and plastics. A detailed inventory was compiled mainly for the United States, but also using representative documents from other countries. Although there may be some consistency in definitions of feedstock energy and related terms, there is little consistency in how they are reported and/or compiled in EPDs, PCRs and LCAs. Feedstock energy allocation may be considered as either a material or an energy resource. This causes differing units (energy versus mass) and uncertainty as to whether total primary energy includes or does not include materials that have energy content available for use. With these allocation and reporting options being used without harmonization, the possibility for double counting from EPDs may exist. Additionally, feedstock energy is seen to be allocated to different processes, or products in different reports. Future efforts at harmonization, especially in EPD reporting, are recommended.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 Mar 2018 12:30:20 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/1494814</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Reliable Biomass Supply Chain Design Under Feedstock Seasonality</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/1497099</link>
      <description><![CDATA[While biomass has been recognized as an important renewable energy source which has a range of positive impacts on the economy, environment, and society, the existence of feedstock seasonality and risk of service disruptions at collection facilities potentially compromises the efficiency and reliability of the energy supply system. In this paper, the authors consider design of a reliable supply chain for biomass collection against feedstock seasonality and time-varying disruption risks. They optimize facility location, inventory, biomass quantity, and shipment decisions in a multi-period planning horizon setting. A real-world case in Hubei China is studied to offer managerial insights; it is found that the disruption risk significantly affects both optimal facility locations and the supply chain cost. The computational results also quantify the impacts of feedstock seasonality and failure probability on the optimal supply chain configuration and the total cost.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 Feb 2018 09:24:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/1497099</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A two-stage chance-constrained stochastic programming model for a bio-fuel supply chain network</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/1490962</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This study presents a two-stage chance-constrained stochastic programming model that captures the uncertainties due to feedstock seasonality in a bio-fuel supply chain network. The chance-constraint ensures that, with a high probability, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) will be utilized for bio-fuel production. To solve their proposed optimization model, the authors use a combined sample average approximation algorithm. The authors use the state of Mississippi as a testing ground to visualize and validate the modeling results. The authors' computational experiments reveal some insightful results about the impact of MSW utilization on a bio-fuel supply chain network performance.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 02 Jan 2018 10:38:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/1490962</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Inter-batch and inter-feedstock variability of an acid modified bitumen</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/1413017</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Fourteen samples of an acid modified bitumen for asphalt manufacture (known as M1000) were tested according to Australia's national paving-grade bitumen specification and using Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) protocols. Testing was conducted two, three and four years after manufacture. The 14 samples represented a number of batches of bitumen of identical type and grade manufactured over a six-month period. All batches were manufactured in Australia from imported feedstock (blends of refined crude oil). Six samples were manufactured from one feedstock and the remaining eight from a different feedstock. Inter-batch/intra-feedstock variability of compliance properties at the time of release was low (4–16%). For most of the test parameters (including viscosity, penetration and creep compliance), there were significant differences for the samples manufactured from the two different feedstocks (p-values .06–<.01). The difference between samples from different feedstocks was magnified by accelerated ageing and by pretest storage time. For example, the average 17% difference in viscosity after accelerated ageing measured at the time of release had increased to an average 82% difference four years later. It is recommended that the Australian specification be modified to protect consumers from unintended variability in performance resulting from unknown changes in imported feedstocks. The tests showed that the current bitumen specification's focus on viscosity is unable to discriminate between feedstocks, resulting in significant differences in bitumen ageing, stress sensitivity and high temperature (above 64°C) response to shear stress. The MSCR test is recommended as a performance-based assessment for bitumen response to shear stress at high temperature.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 27 Jul 2016 09:49:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/1413017</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Locating and Designing a Biorefinery Supply Chain under Uncertainty in Navarre: A Stochastic Facility Location Problem Case</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/1370546</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The need for renewable energy sources is quickly growing in order to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, Navarre, a European region located in Northern Spain is, currently, a global leader in the production and use of renewable energy. Actually, more than 80% of its electricity production comes from renewable sources (mainly wind and water). Then, having the purpose of increasing the renewable energy sources diversification, the region aims to locate a biorefinery plant which mainly serves Northern Spain. Locating decisions are considered strategic, immobilizing a large amount of resources and involving an important group of industrial actors. Therefore, they initially show a significant impact on investment costs, and later, on the operating costs when the facility is already running. This location activity has also important environmental influence due to the usual performance of the biorefinery, involving also the transportation and logistic activities because of the supply chain procurement. Once the biorefinery has been located, another problem arises: the design of the supply chain with its classical operational decisions: which crops are going to be harvested, when they are going to be collected and how one should transport the feedstock to the biorefinery. Apart from this, dealing with farms production is always dealing with uncertainty. Thus, climate and weather, competitors and alternate uses, are key factors which influence the availability of biomass. For that reason, uncertainty must be taken into account in order to avoid stockouts that allow the optimization of the total expected cost. Moreover, estimated feedstock availability is crucial to determine the optimal plant size. Therefore, the results provide not only the best location of the biorefinery from the economic point of view, but also the variation on feedstock disposal that eventually the biorefinery could intake along with its final size.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Oct 2015 12:36:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/1370546</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Regional Economic Analysis of Feedstock Production and Procession in Pacific NW -- Expected Economic Impact</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/1363850</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will use feedstock production data to develop a regional economic analysis focused on the biofuel industry. The project team's regional (computable general equilibrium (CGE)) models will inform policy recommendations regarding the most efficient use of our resources given current technology and prices. For example, in the case of biodiesel, price information that will determine its economic viability in a given region includes: the price of oilseed produced in the region, the imported oilseed price, the imported price of other alternative feedstocks for biodiesel like palm oil, the regional price of biodiesel, the regional price of ordinary diesel, and the net return of other crops in the region with which oilseeds must compete.  The project team will simulate the supply response of a given biofuel (in this case biodiesel) to different combinations of the above-noted prices.  General equilibrium models are very well suited for this kind of simulation analysis; only by conducting this kind of simulation can the economic viability of a particular biofuel be determined under a broad range of economic conditions. The project team will also examine the issue of possible subsidies to farmers and biofuel producers that may be necessary to make in-state biofuel production competitive with other alternatives. The economic benefits to each state generated by multiplier effects from the biofuel program, and the economic implications of those changes for household welfare, will also be measured. CGE analysis is particularly adept at measuring the productivity changes in feedstock production and biofuel refining that are likely to be necessary in order to make biofuels competitive with fossil fuels.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2015 01:01:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/1363850</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Using Crude Glycerin in High Forage Diets - A Way to Improve the Profitability of Biodiesel Production</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/1363821</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This team estimates that confined beef cattle fed in Texas could consume all the glycerin resulting from 3 billion gallons of biodiesel production capacity if it were included at 10% of the diet. This allows for the development of a market that could grow six times the current level of biodiesel production. While most preliminary research has focused on replacing corn with crude glycerin, this project investigates replacing forage with crude glycerin. Replacement of forage is logical for three reasons: First, in vitro digestibility data suggests that the volatile fatty acid profile resulting from glycerin fermentation more closely matches the fermentation of forage than corn. Secondly, forage is difficult to manage for many confined animal feeding operations, so replacing forage with glycerin would be pragmatically beneficial to beef cattle producers. Finally, potential development and growth in cellulosic ethanol production may displace forage sources previously used for livestock production thereby increasing the cost of forage in beef cattle diets.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2015 01:00:47 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/1363821</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Influence of Fuel Injection System and Engine-Timing Adjustments on Regulated Emissions from Four Biodiesel Fuels</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/1337120</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The use of biofuels for transportation has grown substantially in the past decade in response to federal mandates and increased concern about the use of petroleum fuels. As biofuels become more common, it is imperative to assess their influence on mobile source emissions of regulated and hazardous pollutants. This assessment cannot be done without first obtaining a basic understanding of how biofuels affect the relationship between fuel properties, engine design, and combustion conditions. Combustion studies were conducted on biodiesel fuels from four feedstocks (palm oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and coconut oil) with two injection systems, mechanical and electronic. For the electronic system, fuel injection timing was adjusted to compensate for physical changes caused by different fuels. The emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and partial combustion products were compared across both engine injection systems. The analysis showed differences in NOx emissions based on hydrocarbon chain length and degree of fuel unsaturation, with little to no NOx increase compared with ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel for most conditions. Adjusting the fuel injection timing provided some improvement in biodiesel emissions for NOx and particulate matter, particularly at lower engine loads. The results indicated that the introduction of biodiesel and biodiesel blends could have widely dissimilar effects in different types of vehicle fleets, depending on typical engine design, age, and the feedstock used for biofuel production.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2015 11:23:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/1337120</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Alternative binders for the production of bituminous materials</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/1299655</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The need for alternative binders as a result of increasing asphalt demand, prices, and coking technology started off this presentation. The motivation for alternative binders is as follows: 1) to enhance binder properties; 2) to reduce dependence on crude oil; 3) to improve the use of underutilized resources to supplement petroleum-based asphalt; 4) to produce more environmentally friendly binders (reduced volatile organic compound (VOC)); and 5) to produce colored asphalt. The following is indicated by a review of the research that has been conducted within the past ten years on alternative binders (bio-binders): 1) based on the feedstock and processing methods, the physio-chemical properties of the bio-binders can vary significantly; 2) compared to bio-binders derived from bio-mass with high lipid content, bio-binders derived from lignocellulosic bio-mass have higher viscosity range; 3) compared to petroleum-based binders, and regardless of feedstock source, bio-binders show significantly lower temperature susceptibility; 4) regarding viscous behavior, the temperature range is usually lower for bio-binders than petroleum-based (bitumen) binders; 5) the high temperature performance grade for bio-binders is typically close to those of bitumen binders: 6) depending on the feedstock type and processing method, the low temperature performance grade could vary significantly from bituminous binders; 7) based on their feedback source and processing methods, susceptibility of bio-binder to ultraviolet and oxidative aging varies. If lighter compounds (aldehydes and ketones) are removed, the storage stability of bio-binders could be improved.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 24 Feb 2014 17:00:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/1299655</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>U.S. Federal Agency Models Offer Different Visions for Achieving Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) Biofuel Volumes</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/1281006</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Annual volume targets for domestic renewable transportation fuel consumption through 2022 are set by the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) in the U.S. Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), but it allows for flexibility in the types of biomass used for biofuels and where and how they are grown. How the agricultural and forestry sectors can produce sufficient biomass  to meet these targets is described in spatially explicit feedstock scenarios developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Here the authors compare the models used to generate these scenarios and their underlying assumptions on crop yields, feedstock prices, biofuel conversion efficiencies, land availability, and other critical factors. Key differences are found by the authors in the amount of land devoted to different biomass sources and their geographic distribution, most notably for perennial grasses. In order to set research funding priorities and establish regulation, these different visions of land use and management for bioenergy in the U.S. are currently being used. In order to have an accurate assessment of the potential economic and environmental impacts of RFS2, as well as for optimal design of future energy and agricultural policy, understanding the key assumptions and uncertainties that underlie these scenarios is important.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 27 Jan 2014 10:45:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/1281006</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A spatially explicit techno-economic model of bioenergy and biofuels production in California</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/987486</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This study presents a spatially explicit techno-economic Bioenergy Siting Model (BSM) of the bioenergy production system in California. The model describes the bioenergy system in terms of facility siting and size, conversion technology, feedstock profile, and feedstock supply chain configuration for the year 2015. The BSM expands upon previous bioenergy siting work by optimizing the system using spatially explicit feedstock supply curves, multiple potential conversion technologies and geographically determined bioenergy demand. We present sensitivity analysis demonstrating the effect of market and policy change scenarios. The model couples transportation network analysis using a geographic information system with a mixed integer-linear programming optimization model. Scenario results show total biomass resource utilization between 18 and 25 million dry tons annually at biofuel prices from $2.20 to $4.00/gallon of gasoline equivalent.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 29 Nov 2010 07:39:10 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/987486</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Examining the benefits of using bio-CNG in urban bus operations</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/920083</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Public service fleets offer an attractive option for introducing new renewable fuels on a large scale, which allow for the reduction of both greenhouse gas emissions and exhaust air pollutants. This study examines the use of biomethane (bio-CNG) and compressed natural gas for part of the bus fleet in Dublin, Ireland. The emissions produced from the 2008 fleet based at one of the city's seven bus depots are compared to use of new diesel and bio-CNG buses. The optimum feedstock for bio-CNG production in Ireland was then investigated, as well as the quantity of feedstock needed to produce the required bio-CNG to fuel the bus fleet examined. As expected the results showed a substantial decrease in all exhaust emissions from the use of bio-CNG buses compared the 2008 fleet. Grass silage was chosen as the optimum feedstock for production of bio-CNG in Ireland.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:37:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/920083</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Developing the Potential of Hazelnuts as a Feedstock for Biodiesel and Other Oleochemicals in the Northeast</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/914231</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project investigated the tree-seed, hazelnut, as a potential feedstock for biodiesel. Calculated yields per hectare are estimated to be 0.89 tonnes of oil (compared to 0.5 tonnes per hectare for soybean) based on production in the North Western US. Production in the Northeast has been limited by the disease, Eastern Filbert Blight (EFB). At the conclusion of this project, 15 superior hazelnut genotypes (clones) that showed the greatest potential for kernel and oil production in the northeast were selected from more than 200 adapted disease-resistant plants growing in field nurseries at Rutgers. The genotypes identified in the program represent the most improved, EFB resistant, cold-hardy plants adapted to the northeast with the highest likelihood to yield economically valuable amounts of oil.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:58:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/914231</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A Biofuel Screening Program for Grass Feedstocks: Diversity, Physiological Traits and Compositional Characteristics for Optimal Yield</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/914233</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objectives of this study were collection and performance evaluation of a broad range of monocultures and mixed stands of grass species and cultivars grown at multiple locations, on a range of soil types and under different fertilizer regimes, incorporating a variety of harvesting dates. Results to date show significant differences in the cell wall composition (monosaccharides) and insoluble cellulose content among the grass species, as well varieties within species.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:58:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/914233</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Derivation of Crop Residue Feedstock Supply Curves Using Geographic Information Systems</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/896219</link>
      <description><![CDATA[In order to better understand the economic feasibility of ethanol production in Washington State, this study uses geographic information systems (GIS) to analyze the availability, collection and transportation costs of agricultural crop residue for cellulosic ethanol processing. The GIS Network Analyst extension toolset is employed to map and spatially analyze the crop residue available within given distances/haul zones for 12 eastern counties. Using census feature classification codes, driving speed limits were assigned to all road segments to calculate haul times to a specific biorefinery location. The feedstock farm gate cost, transportation costs, resource availability and geographic distribution were incorporated to derive feedstock supply curves. A sensitivity analysis is conducted incorporating a range of diesel prices to examine how variation in transportation costs affects the feedstock delivered costs.  Findings suggest that depending on the processing plant capacity and transportation distances, transportation costs may significantly influence the delivered cost of the feedstock.  Smaller capacity processing plants appear to be less sensitive to increasing diesel prices in terms of delivered feedstock costs.  Larger capacity plants require longer feedstock haul distances.   These results have implications for determining optimal processing plant size.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2009 07:50:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/896219</guid>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>