The ACI Foundation has approved funding for three new research projects designed to improve concrete construction practices, strengthen durability standards, and support innovation across the global construction industry.

The initiatives focus on standardizing concrete surface finish measurements, harmonizing durability design criteria for chemical exposure, and advancing innovative reinforcement systems that could improve seismic resilience and support construction automation.

The first project, Metrics to Measure the Different Surface Finishes in ACI 347.3R-13, aims to establish objective and measurable methods for evaluating formed concrete surfaces.

Currently, assessing architectural concrete finishes can be subjective, leading to inconsistencies between project specifications and completed work. The research will develop quantifiable metrics that can be used in contracts, specifications, and quality control processes. The resulting framework will help align guidance across multiple ACI committees and provide contractors, formwork suppliers, and owners with a standardized way to compare specified finishes with final construction results.

The second project, Durability Design for Mitigating Chemical Attack: Toward Unified Prescriptive and Performance-Based Criteria, is being conducted through a collaboration between Durability Engineers and The University of Texas at Austin.

The research seeks to unify durability design practices used to protect concrete infrastructure from aggressive chemical environments. By developing consistent prescriptive and performance-based criteria, the project aims to harmonize guidance across several ACI committees responsible for durability, environmental exposure, and infrastructure performance.

The outcome could provide engineers and designers with more reliable methods for extending the service life of concrete structures while improving consistency across industry standards.

The third project focuses on developing a Framework for Auxetic Reinforcement Systems to Enhance Confinement and Ductility in Concrete Members.

Auxetic materials behave differently from conventional materials by contracting laterally when subjected to axial loads, increasing confinement within concrete elements. Researchers will evaluate this innovative reinforcement approach to determine its potential to improve structural ductility, reduce steel congestion, and enhance seismic performance.

The technology could also support automated construction methods, robotic fabrication, and additive manufacturing processes. Findings from the research may contribute to future updates of ACI standards, including reinforcement detailing and fiber-reinforced concrete guidance.

According to the ACI Foundation, these projects support its mission to advance materials, design methodologies, and construction practices that improve safety, resilience, and efficiency.

By funding collaborative research in durability, standardization, and automation, the Foundation is helping create practical solutions that can benefit engineers, contractors, infrastructure owners, and end users while supporting the future evolution of concrete design and construction standards worldwide.

Industry professionals interested in the specific details and ongoing progress of these research projects should visit the ACI Foundation Research Project Portal for more information.

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