Arizona Chapter American Concrete Institute News

First highway segment in U.S. wirelessly charges electric heavy-duty truck while driving

Beth Britt — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:25:18 GMT

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — For the first time in the U.S., a roadway has wirelessly charged an electric heavy-duty truck driving at highway speeds, demonstrating key technology that could help lower the costs of building electrified highways for all electric vehicles to use.

The experimental highway segment tests a patent-pending system designed by Purdue University engineers. The segment, built by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), is a quarter-mile stretch on U.S. Highway 52/U.S. Highway 231 in West Lafayette. Purdue researchers demonstrated the wireless charging system this fall using an electric semitractor provided by Cummins.

The team also partnered with AECOM; White Construction, Inc.; and PC Krause and Associates, Inc. on developing and implementing various parts of the system.

“With this breakthrough system, Purdue has shown that powering large commercial vehicles wirelessly is not just technically feasible but could be a practical and scalable solution for real-world highway transportation,” said Nadia Gkritza, a Purdue professor of civil and construction engineering and agricultural and biological engineering.

The demonstration is part of a multistage research project that Purdue and INDOT began in 2018. In addition to its funding from INDOT through the Joint Transportation Research Program at Purdue, the project is affiliated with a fourth-generation National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center called Advancing Self-sufficiency through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification (ASPIRE).

“INDOT is proud to partner with Purdue on this project,” said INDOT Commissioner Lyndsay Quist. “While there is still more to explore, we are seeing what the future could hold for heavy-duty EV charging and transportation.”

The Purdue system demonstrates “dynamic wireless power transfer,” with “dynamic” referring to vehicles in motion. A few other states and countries have also begun testing roads designed to enable dynamic wireless power transfer. But making this possible for highways — and particularly for semis and other heavy-duty vehicles — is a unique challenge. Because vehicles travel so much faster on highways than city roads, they need to be charged at higher power levels.

The Purdue-designed wireless charging system works at power levels much higher than what has been demonstrated in the U.S. so far. Using the test segment in West Lafayette, this system delivered 190 kilowatts to a truck traveling at 65 miles per hour.

“To put that in perspective, 200 kilowatts are on the scale of about a hundred homes,” said Steve Pekarek, Purdue’s Edmund O. Schweitzer, III Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Why design electrified highways for trucks first?

By accommodating the higher power needs for heavy-duty vehicles, the Purdue design is also able to support the lower power needs of other vehicle classes.

“This is a system designed to work for the heaviest class of trucks all the way down to passenger vehicles,” said Aaron Brovont, a research assistant professor in Purdue’s Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Since trucking contributes the most to U.S. gross domestic product compared to other modes of freight transportation, lowering costs for heavy-duty electric trucks could help attract more investment into electrifying highways that all vehicle classes would share. If electric heavy-duty trucks could charge or stay charged using highways, their batteries could be smaller in size and they could carry more cargo, significantly reducing the costs of using EVs for freight transportation.

Electrified highways could also allow the batteries of passenger cars to be smaller.

“Two of the big barriers to electric vehicle adoption, at least to the public, are range anxiety — ‘Oh, my gosh, where am I going to charge the battery on this car?’ — and the second thing is cost,” said John Haddock, a professor in Purdue’s Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering. “And a lot of that cost in electric vehicles is driven by the size of the battery packs that they have to have in order to get you that 250-to-300-mile range. With this system, you’d be able to drive your vehicle down the road and it would charge the battery.”

Highways that charge EVs like a smartphone

The system Purdue researchers designed allows highway pavement to provide power to EVs similarly to how smartphones use magnetic fields to wirelessly charge when placed on a pad.

“Transferring power through a magnetic field at these relatively large distances is challenging. And what makes it more challenging is doing it for a heavy-duty vehicle moving at power levels thousands of times higher than what smartphones receive,” said Dionysios Aliprantis, a Purdue professor of electrical and computer engineering.

The team installed transmitter coils in specially dedicated lanes within the concrete pavement. The coils send power to receiver coils attached to the truck’s underside.

“Cummins is proud to play a role in this initiative by successfully adapting a prototype Class 8 battery-electric truck to integrate with Purdue’s high-power dynamic wireless power transfer system,” said John Kresse, chief technology engineer at Cummins. “The on-road testing went exceptionally well, thanks to strong collaboration between our teams. With its high power and promising cost structure, this technology represents a practical, and potentially game-changing, solution for the future of on-highway commercial transportation.”

Other wireless EV charging efforts are also using transmitter and receiver coils, but they haven’t been designed for the higher power levels that heavy-duty trucks need. The Purdue-designed coils accommodate a wider power range — larger vehicles wouldn’t need multiple low-power receiver coils on the trailer to charge from the road, which has been proposed to meet the high-power demands. Instead, in the Purdue design, a single receiver coil assembly is placed under the tractor, greatly simplifying the overall system.

Purdue researchers have also designed the transmitter coils to work within concrete pavement, which often carries the heaviest traffic even though it only makes up 20% of the U.S. interstate system. The Indiana Department of Transportation embedded these Purdue-designed coils before covering them with concrete highway pavement. The coils transmit power to receiver coils attached to the underside of an electric heavy-duty truck. (Purdue University photo/Kelsey Lefever)

Most real-world deployments of wireless pavement charging in the U.S. are led by members of ASPIRE. Purdue is a founding member of ASPIRE, and Gkritza is the campus director of ASPIRE’s Purdue location.

Headquartered at Utah State University, ASPIRE integrates academia, scientific research, and real-world tests and deployments across more than 400 members from 10 partner universities: Purdue, the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Auckland in New Zealand, Colorado State University, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Cornell University, and the University of Utah. These universities are joined by more than 70 industry, government and nonprofit members across all sections of the electric transportation ecosystem, as well as community partners and advisors.

“This achievement reflects how our growing ecosystem connects public agencies, private industry and academic research to turn electrification goals into reality, demonstrating the kind of collaboration that strengthens the foundation for scaling intelligent electrified transportation systems nationwide,” said Don Linford, ASPIRE’s director of industry and ecosystem engagement at Utah State University.

Developing the industry standard for building electrified highways

The team’s system has also been part of further testing to help develop industry standards for dynamic wireless power transfer. The hope is that these standards would encourage the industry to adopt the technology, which is a critical step needed for roadway operators and departments of transportation in each state to consider investing in infrastructure enabling EVs to charge while driving. The researchers additionally plan to demonstrate their design for a variety of vehicle classes, including light-duty passenger cars and trucks.

ERectangular receiver pads are visible in the lane that an electric truck equipped with receiver coils would use to charge as it drives. (Purdue University photo/Kelsey Lefever)

In April, the Purdue team received the Technology Innovation Award at the IEEE PES Energy and Policy Forum Innovation Showcase for their work on this system.

“This project is a flagship example of a successful public-private partnership, positioning Purdue and ASPIRE for long-term leadership in electrified transportation,” Gkritza said. “It’s also been a remarkable ‘lab-to-life’ learning experience for our students — an opportunity to see how fundamental research can translate into real-world infrastructure.”

The researchers have disclosed their innovation to the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization, which has applied for a patent on the intellectual property. Industry partners interested in developing or commercializing the work should contact Matt Halladay, senior business development manager and licensing manager, physical sciences, at mrhalladay@prf.org about track codes 2022-ALIP-69682, 2024-PEKA-70401 and 2024-PEKA-70402.

The Secret to Ultra-Strong, Crack-Resistant Concrete is Hiding at the Nanoscale

Beth Britt — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:42:59 GMT

A recent study has shown that adding a small amount of zinc peroxide nanoparticles (ZP-NP) can significantly enhance the strength, density, and durability of lightweight foamed concrete.

Study: Comprehensive evaluation of mechanical, durability, and microstructural properties of foamed concrete with zinc peroxide nanoparticles. Image Credit: Contentino/Shutterstock.com

Published in Scientific Reports, the research explores how ZP-NP can address the longstanding limitations of traditional foamed concrete, namely, its low compressive strength and high porosity, by examining improvements in its mechanical, thermal, and microstructural properties.

Nanotechnology’s Role in Improving Foamed Concrete

Foamed concrete is a lightweight material made by introducing a foaming agent into a cement-based mix, creating air voids that give it excellent thermal insulation and reduced weight. These characteristics make it useful across various construction applications.

However, its benefits come with trade-offs. High shrinkage, cracking, and limited mechanical strength have long been challenges. Nanotechnology, especially the use of highly reactive, high-surface-area particles like zinc peroxide nanoparticles, offers a potential solution here. ZP-NP can accelerate hydration, refine the pore structure, and boost both mechanical performance and long-term durability.

Experimental Design and Testing Procedures

To test ZP-NP’s effectiveness, researchers created five concrete mixes: a control and four others with increasing ZP-NP content (1 %, 2 %, 3 %, and 4 %). All used Ordinary Portland Cement, fine sand, distilled water, a protein-based foaming agent, and ZP-NP, with consistent binder-to-sand (1:1.5) and water-to-binder (0.50) ratios. Nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed using ultrasonic methods.

Concrete samples were cured in water and tested at 7, 28, and 56 days for various properties:

Workability (slump and setting time)
Mechanical strength (compressive, flexural, and splitting tensile)
Dry density and porosity
Thermal properties (conductivity and heat capacity)
Drying shrinkage
Microstructure, analyzed through SEM and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP)

Key Findings: Performance Boost with Optimal Dosage

The results were clear, and ZP-NP was found to have a noticeable effect on nearly every property tested.

Workability slightly decreased with higher nanoparticle content, as slump values dropped modestly from 25.10 mm in the control to 24.00 mm at 4 % ZP-NP. However, setting times shortened, with the 4 % mix showing a 20 % faster initial set attributed to accelerated hydration triggered by the nanoparticles.

When it came to strength, the 2 % ZP-NP mix stood out as the optimal formulation. At this concentration, compressive strength increased to 5.89 MPa at 56 days, compared to just 4.21 MPa in the control. Splitting tensile and flexural strengths followed a similar pattern, each rising by over 60 %. Beyond 2 %, however, performance dropped off, likely due to the agglomeration of excess nanoparticles, which created weak points within the concrete matrix.

Density improved across all nanoparticle-enhanced mixes, while porosity declined. The 2 % mix showed a 6.66 % reduction in total porosity, along with the lowest drying shrinkage of all samples. Thermal conductivity also increased with ZP-NP, peaking at 2 % before tapering slightly at higher concentrations. Meanwhile, specific heat capacity decreased, suggesting enhanced insulation potential due to the denser matrix.

Microstructural analysis reinforced these findings. SEM images revealed a more compact, uniform internal structure in the nanoparticle-modified concrete, with smaller and better-distributed pores. MIP results further confirmed reduced pore volume and improved refinement, all contributing to the observed gains in strength and durability.

Implications for Construction

While the study didn’t focus on specific applications, the improvements suggest that ZP-NP-modified foamed concrete could be better suited for more demanding use cases. With its improved strength, lower shrinkage, and better thermal behavior, this material could be particularly valuable in precast elements, insulation panels, or components designed for humid or variable environments.

What’s especially notable is that these gains were achieved without sacrificing the core benefits of foamed concrete, including its light weight and insulating capacity. By optimizing nanoparticle content, particularly around the 2 % mark, engineers may be able to expand the use of foamed concrete into areas where it was previously unsuitable.

Where Research Goes From Here

This study provides strong evidence that zinc peroxide nanoparticles, when carefully dosed, can significantly enhance the mechanical and durability properties of foamed concrete. The 2 % concentration appears to be the sweet spot, delivering gains across all major performance metrics without triggering the drawbacks associated with overuse.

Future research should explore how this modified concrete performs under real-world conditions, including exposure to freeze-thaw cycles, chemical attack, and long-term loading. There’s also room to examine how other types of nanoparticles compare to ZP-NP in similar formulations, and whether these enhancements remain cost-effective at scale.

Journal Reference

Mydin, M.A.O., &. et al. Comprehensive evaluation of mechanical, durability, and microstructural properties of foamed concrete with zinc peroxide nanoparticles. Sci Rep 15, 41777. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-25683-0, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-25683-0

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.

Written by

Muhammad Osama

Muhammad Osama is a full-time data analytics consultant and freelance technical writer based in Delhi, India. He specializes in transforming complex technical concepts into accessible content. He has a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering with specialization in AI & Robotics from Galgotias University, India, and he has extensive experience in technical content writing, data science and analytics, and artificial intelligence.

Self-Healing Concrete optimized with AI

Beth Britt — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:09:41 GMT

Researchers have used AI to develop self-healing concrete that can repair cracks before they become potholes, potentially reducing road maintenance and carbon emissions. By using machine learning to analyze material interactions, scientists are creating stronger, more sustainable concrete with recycled additives, offering a promising solution for durable infrastructure and climate impact reduction.

Full Story: BGR (2/9)

AI Predicts Concrete Strength with High Accuracy, Study Finds Download PDF Copy

Beth Britt — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:09:05 GMT

A recent study demonstrated that AI can help accurately predict the compressive strength of concrete incorporating supplementary cementitious materials, with the gradient-boosted tree model achieving over 94% accuracy. By analyzing data from 5,373 concrete formulations, researchers identified key factors affecting strength and highlighted AI's potential to optimize sustainable concrete mix designs while reducing reliance on costly physical testing.

Full Story: AZoBuild (2/12)

Call for interior non-air entrained concrete floor slab mix designs

Beth Britt — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 16:02:03 GMT

Call for interior non-air entrained concrete floor slab mix designs

Participate in the AI Revolution. ASCC, ACI 302, and the ACI Foundation invite the submittal of concrete mix designs for an interior slab mix study that will include AI analysis. Learn more about the intent and outcome of the study.

ACI President Michael Paul stresses importance of Concrete Industry Mentorships

Beth Britt — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 19:50:26 GMT

ACI President Michael Paul stresses importance of concrete industry mentorships

In this month's President's Memo, ACI President Michael Paul discusses the importance of mentorships in our industry, and the endless opportunities for young members to become involved through resources like the ACI Foundation, ACI Chapters, ACI Conventions, and the Emerging Leaders Alliance.

Survey reveals mixed outlook for construction sector

Beth Britt — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 19:57:08 GMT

Survey reveals mixed outlook for construction sector

The 2024 Marcum National Construction Survey indicates a cautiously optimistic outlook for the construction industry. Federal funding from key legislative acts is poised to boost growth, but challenges remain, including economic and political uncertainty, a significant shortage of skilled labor and financial hurdles because of higher interest rates.

Full Story: Concrete Products (8/12)

NASA Engineer studies cement production with lunar soil

Beth Britt — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 19:54:52 GMT

NASA engineer studies cement production with lunar soil

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are exploring innovative construction methods to save on the cost of sending materials from Earth. NASA flight engineer Matthew Dominick is examining how microgravity affects cement production with an experiment that includes mixing simulated lunar soil and other materials and incubating the mixture in a thermos.

Full Story: Space Daily (8/13)

Free EBooks and Resources

Beth Britt — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 16:05:29 GMT

FREE EBOOKS AND RESOURCES

Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors

3D -Printed concrete reefs bolster Omani marine life

Beth Britt — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 16:03:59 GMT

3D-printed concrete reefs bolster Omani marine life

Telecommunication company Omantel and 3D-printing startup Innotech have partnered to 3D-print concrete artificial reefs to increase sea life. The initiative, with goals that include promoting sustainable fishing, aligns with Oman Vision 2040, an economic and social plan from the Omani government.

Full Story: VoxelMatters (8/5)

How to take advantage of energy project tax credits

Beth Britt — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 19:44:55 GMT

How to take advantage of energy project tax credits

Construction businesses can avail themselves of a 30% investment tax credit on clean energy projects offered under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 if they meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements. Shawn Daray and Marisa Del Turco examine the requirements and responsibilities in detail.

Full Story: Construction Business Owner (7/24)

Transit project uses low-carbon concrete to cut Emissions

Beth Britt — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 19:41:25 GMT

Transit project uses low-carbon concrete to cut emissions

The Montreal metro Blue Line Extension project, managed by AECOM, incorporates sustainability best practices by using low-carbon concrete and shotcrete mixtures for its 6-kilometer tunnel and five new underground stations. The project is part of the Envision verification framework and aims to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions, with studies showing an 80% reduction for cast-in-place tunnel linings and a 36% reduction for prefabricated segmental linings.

Full Story: Tunnelling Journal(7/23)

Guidelines for Using FRP dowels in Concrete Pavement

Beth Britt — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 19:39:39 GMT

Upcoming Webinar - NEx Webinar Series: Guidelines for Using FRP Dowels in Concrete Pavement

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) dowels are lightweight, noncorroding, and appear to be promising alternatives to conventional metal dowel bars. Much research on FRP dowel materials, design, and behavior has been conducted since the 1980s, including evaluation of the performance of several demonstration projects after 20 or more years of service. This research and long-term field experience have contributed to recent interest in the increased use of FRP dowels in highway pavements. This webinar will describe current thinking concerning physical and mechanical requirements (material properties) for FRP dowels, and concepts for designing load transfer systems using FRP dowels to provide joint behavior and pavement performance similar to those of pavements with solid metal dowels. The construction and performance of selected FRP-dowelled pavement construction projects will be presented, and newer specifications for using FRP dowels will be described. This webinarwill be presented by Mark Snyyder and Peter Taylor on August 21 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT.

CONCRETE INNOVATION

A look at Concrete Supply's new ready-mixed facility in S.C.

Concrete Supply Co. has opened a ready mixed concrete plant in Spartanburg, S.C., to replace a 1960s-era facility. The new plant, rated at 300-yd./hour, is situated near major interstates and features two Con-E-Co LoPro 12RS models. The project included a collaboration with Intermont Group for a rail spur and cement terminal.

Full Story: Concrete Products (7/23)

Update to ACI 301-16 Specifications for Structural Concrete

Beth Britt — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 14:52:19 GMT

ACI 318-14 Building Code references ACI 301-16 which is the Specification for Structural Concrete. This code requires certified finishers. Please be sure your project specifications are up to date! Certified finishers add quality and value to your projects. Here is how the revised code reads:

ACI 301-16 5.3.4.1. Finisher Qualifications - Unless otherwise specified, at least one finisher or finishing supervisor shall be a certified ACI Flatwork Concrete Finisher/Technician or a certified ACI Flatwork Technician or equivalent.

For more information regarding this issue, you can contact the National Institute thru: www.concrete.org or this local office at: 480-966-2213 or email us at: azaci@outlook.com

2017 Bowling Tournament

Beth Britt — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 19:32:38 GMT

Thanks to ALL our Sponsors: Sundt Construction, SRMG, CEMEX, BASF, Brycon Construction, CalPortland, Hardrock Concrete Placement, Ninyo & Moore, Euclid Chemical, GCP Applied Technologies and ABC Polymer! You guys ROCK! Special thanks to Hardrock and Brycon for donating door Prizes!

A message from the President - Building the Global Concrete Community

Beth Britt — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 18:56:25 GMT

The topic of relevance is a core aspect of ACI's strategic plan. Actually, the first task assigned to new ACI Board of Direction members is to read Race for Relevance by Harrison Coerver and Mary Byers. Questions about relevance impact all standards development organizations (SDOs) like ACI.

In a world driven by a superfast technology train, how can SDOs be as impactful tomorrow as they have been in the past? Isn't it easier to find a quick (and free) answer on Google, YouTube, or Wikipedia, rather than purchase and dive into hundreds of pages of codes and standards?

The new dynamics of unpredictable technology change prompted ACI in 2015 to assign a task group the mission of developing an outlook for ACI in 2030. The result was ACI Vision 2030, which identified the megatrends in the world and our industry and recommended responses and actions ACI should take to maintain its relevance in the future.

In discussing the current and future roles of ACI, we need to consider data, information, and knowledge and the relationships between them. The following chain from Making Sense of Data and Information (Elsevier, 2007) explains it best:

Let's apply this to the data, information, and knowledge developed around properties of concrete production and supply. As shown in the table below, data are finite descriptions of the concrete delivered to the project, and information includes the application and the interpretation of the data. Knowledge results from the processing of the information as needed to manage or enhance the project schedule, cost, and quality.

ACI has been developing consensus-based documents to equip the concrete industry with the tools to structure the data, transform it into useful and reliable information, and finally, and most importantly, model the information to develop consensus and universally trusted knowledge. While data is precise, information can take different shapes or forms, whereas useful knowledge must be based on consensus for it to be a universally accepted agent for improvement. Because of its rigorous consensus-based system, ACI provides a unique platform to build trusted and assured knowledge, something that Internet search engines fall short of guaranteeing.

Having random information does not necessarily lead to correct knowledge. Knowledge implies deep understanding of data and information, experience in using and developing them, prior research, and continuous validation. This is exactly what our volunteers and staff bring to the industry. And that is how our Institute brings tremendous value in different critical areas of concrete construction, whether that value is life safety, durability, or constructibility.

While this noble mission will surely survive the test of time, as validated by ACI Vision 2030, it may still not address tomorrow's requirements. The industry also needs quick access, smart and customized information, and direct answers—not just consensus-based documents, as valuable as they will always be.

ACI has over 200,000 Facebook followers and around 60,000 members on its LinkedIn page, with most of our 21,000 active members participating. There are huge numbers of people on ACI social media channels who are not only seeking information, but also yearning to enhance their knowledge of concrete and its applications.

ACI is therefore evolving from disseminating consensus-based knowledge to empowering a global concrete community, able to successfully address the challenges of concrete construction. Assuming this new responsibility will maintain ACI as one of the most relevant associations on concrete and its uses.

Khaled W. Awad, Current ACI President

ACI Assumes Sole Operation of Adhesive Anchor Installer Certification

Beth Britt — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 16:15:46 GMT

News Detail

The American Concrete Institute Assumes Sole Operation of Adhesive Anchor Installer Certification Program

07/13/2017

Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute steps down as formal cosponsor

The American Concrete Institute (ACI) has announced accepting sole operation of the Adhesive Anchor Installer certification program after working jointly with the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) as a formal cosponsor for more than five years.

Now that the certification program is available to the industry at more than 40 locations, and has been in operation for more than five years, CRSI has reduced their active involvement to refocus on other industry issues.

“CRSI was instrumental in bringing this program to ACI and participating in its development and launch,” said John Nehasil, ACI Managing Director of Certification. “Their highly-visible involvement, along with anchor manufacturers and ACI, demonstrated industry solidarity at a crucial time. ACI now has program operation well in hand, and is in a solid position to operate, promote, and expand the AAI program without the need for CRSI to continue their commitments as a formal cosponsor.”

The C680 – Adhesive Anchor Installer Certification committee currently maintains a representative member from CRSI to monitor developments in program content and operation.

ACI certification staff has begun the process of adjusting program materials to reflect the change, and notifying program stakeholders.

An Adhesive Anchor Installer is an individual who has demonstrated the ability to read, comprehend, and execute instructions to properly install adhesive anchors in concrete. The Adhesive Anchor Installer must also demonstrate possession of the knowledge to properly assess ambient conditions, concrete condition, materials, equipment, and tools for installing adhesive anchors and determine when it is appropriate to proceed with installation of an adhesive anchor or when additional guidance from a supervisor/foreman/project engineer is needed.

For more information on this and other ACI Certification programs, visit www.concrete.org/certification

A message from the President: ACI and the World

Beth Britt — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 15:21:51 GMT

ACI is incorrectly perceived sometimes as a U.S.-focused association, or more generally as a North American Institute. It is very true that the American Concrete Institute, as the name and the history suggest, has strong roots in the United States and North America, but it is equally true that ACI is a global organization.

The facts and numbers corroborate this.

The ACI 318 Building Code is adopted, either directly or as a main reference, in the national code of more than 30 countries, representing around 45% of the world gross domestic product (GDP) and 30% of the world population.

Our Institute has around 21,000 members, including corporate and sustaining members. Out of these, 30% are from outside the United States, and ACI also has just over 3600 international student members in more than 30 countries.

ACI has a total of 43 international chapters in 31 countries. In parallel, ACI has 39 international agreements with regional partners in six continents.

In addition to ACI chapters involved in certification, the Institute has 17 international local sponsoring groups organizing ACI certification programs in more than 20 countries. ACI certification has been recognized as an essential tool to assess the competence of concrete professionals, even in some countries that adopt different standards than ACI and ASTM International.

All these numbers clearly underline the global influence of ACI. Still, given the pace of concrete construction around the world, especially in Asia, it is fair to say that the Institute must be even more present internationally to fulfill its mission of disseminating knowledge globally and achieve the vision where "everyone has the knowledge needed to use concrete effectively to meet the demands of a changing world."

How? There are several initiatives currently underway at ACI aiming to increase our global clout. I am confident we will start seeing some results very soon. At the ACI Concrete Convention and Exposition – Spring 2017 in Detroit, I cited three targets for 2021 that should reflect increased international engagement for ACI in the next 5 years. They are called the 100,000, 10,000, and 1000 milestones.

By the end of 2021, ACI will have 100,000 student members around the world. Students and Young Professionals define the very future of the Institute. Being able to attract them is an insurance for ACI relevance. Not all civil engineering students end up in concrete construction but for those who will, ACI must be the preferred platform for professional networking and career development. We will work with ACI chapters around the world to encourage local and regional student competitions and develop a career support center for young professionals.

Secondly, by 2021, 10,000 projects around the world will be linked to the ACI Manual of Concrete Practice (MCP), the Institute's largest knowledge source. This resource is still so untapped nationally and internationally. We will find innovative ways to communicate to the world the technical, practical, and commercial value of the tremendous intellectual capital our volunteers bring to ACI.

The MCP is invaluable for every concrete construction project. The wealth of information that it encompasses can undoubtedly help address the challenges and opportunities concrete presents around the world. We will design different tools and means to make the ACI MCP accessible to projects, with hands-on guidance provided by ACI staff and intelligent workflow solutions available in ACI publications.

Finally, the third goal is that by the end of 2021, ACI will process 1000 international certification exams every month. This is around 10 times what the Institute does today. By recognizing the local standards of different nations and regions in ACI certification programs, ACI will become the global enabler for assessing the competence of technicians, inspectors, quality control managers, and other levels of concrete practitioners and professionals.

These are hard numbers, in every sense of the word. But with the energy and dedication of ACI staff and volunteers, these milestones can become very achievable targets in 5 years.

Khaled W. Awad

Specification for Hot Weather Concreting ACI 305.1-14

Beth Britt — Mon, 29 May 2017 19:51:16 GMT

Hot Weather Concreting—Methods for Success

04/28/2017

Injection of liquid nitrogen into concrete truck

As a global leader in advancing concrete knowledge, ACI’s goal is to keep concrete industry professionals up to date with the latest information.

For example, here’s a recent exchange from ACI’s Q&A section:

Q. “What are the ACI building code requirements for placing concrete in a tropical climate? Some people in our office say we should specify a maximum permissible concrete temperature of 90 ºF (32 ºC). Others say a temperature higher than 90 ºF (32 ºC) is allowable if the concrete contains a set-retarding admixture.”

A. ACI 301-16 “Specifications for Structural Concrete” and ACI 305.1-14 “Specification for Hot Weather Concreting” limit the maximum concrete temperature to 95 °F (35 ºC) at the time of discharge. This limit is for general types of hot weather construction such as pavements, bridges, and buildings, not mass concrete.

Hot weather concreting is defined by ACI as “one or a combination of the following conditions that tends to impair the quality of freshly mixed or hardened concrete by accelerating the rate of moisture loss and rate of cement hydration, or otherwise causing detrimental results: high ambient temperature; high concrete temperature; low relative humidity; and high wind speed.”

Various adverse effects on the properties and serviceability of concrete are brought on by hot weather. Just one of those is the effect on strength—concrete mixed, placed, and cured at elevated temperatures normally develops higher early strengths than concrete produced and cured at lower temperatures.

To connect to ACI International's website to see more on this document, click here

New updates to the Manual of Concrete Practice

Beth Britt — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 12:59:59 GMT

The MCP Online contains all new committee standards and reports released throughout the year. The most recently added include:

330.2R-17 Guide for the Design and Construction of Concrete Site Paving for Industrial and Trucking Facilities

544.9R-17 Report on Measuring Mechanical Properties of Hardened Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

347.2R-17 Guide for Shoring/Reshoring of Concrete Multistory Buildings

241R-17 Report on Application of Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials in Concrete

562M-16 Code Requirements for Assessment, Repair, and Rehabilitation of Existing Concrete Structures and Commentary (metric)

201.2R-16 Guide to Durable Concrete

121.1R-16 Guide to Quality Management Auditing in the Concrete Industry

ITG-9R-16: Report on Design of Concrete Wind Turbine Towers

374.3R-16: Guide to Nonlinear Modeling Parameters for Earthquake-Resistant Structures

345.1R-16: Guide to Maintenance of Concrete Bridge Members

World of Concrete 2017 Register Now!

Beth Britt — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 17:30:59 GMT

YOU CAN’T COMPETE WITH THE REAL THING This is World of Concrete—a firm foundation for the entire concrete and masonry industries and the first and most important annual international event of the year. It’s everything you need and nothing you don’t. Put in four high-efficiency, low-cost, smart-work days at WOC 2017 and you’ll see your bang/buck ratio go through the roof.

2017 WOC Exhibit Hall Hours
Tuesday, January 17-Thursday, January 19
9:30 am -5:00 pm
NEW! Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Exhibits Only $70 by 12/1/16; $85 after 12/1/16
Exhibits Only Spouse $70 by 12/1/16; $85 after 12/1/16
Shuttle Bus (If NOT booking hotel through WOC Housing) $30 by 12/1/16; $40 after 12/1/16
WOC 3-Hour Seminars $145 by 12/1/16; $175 after 12/1/16
WOC 90-Minute Seminars $105 by 12/1/16; $135 after 12/1/16
WOC 4-Hour Certification Seminars $190 by 12/1/16; $225 after 12/1/16
Super Pass 1 $425 by 12/1/16; $550 after 12/1/16 (Incl. FREE Exhibits-Only)
Super Pass 2 $425 by 12/1/16; $550 after 12/1/16 (Incl. FREE Exhibits-Only)
Super Pass 3 $525 by 12/1/16; $650 after 12/1/16 (Incl. FREE Exhibits-Only)

2017 WOC Education Program Hours:
Monday, January 16 (Pre-show Education all day)
WOC 3-Hour Seminars: 8:00 am - 11:00 am; 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
WOC 4-Hour Certification Seminars: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm; 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
WOC 90-Minute Seminars: 8:30 am - 10:00 am; 10:30 am - 12:00 pm;
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm; 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Tuesday, January 17 - Thursday, January 19
WOC 3-Hour Seminars: 8:00 am - 11:00 am
WOC 4-Hour Certification Seminars: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm; 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
WOC 90-Minute Seminars: 8:30 am - 10:00 am; 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Friday, January 20
WOC 3-Hour Seminars: 8:00 am - 11:00 am
WOC 90-Minute Seminars: 8:30 am - 10:00 am

Something for everyone:
WOC will once again feature special product and action areas, including The Producer Center, a marketplace of materials, equipment, demos, and seminars for concrete producers; Material Handling, offering trucks, excavators and more for material delivery, distribution, concrete placement, and earth moving; Concrete Repair & Demolition, housing a display of surface preparation equipment, scarifying, grinding, sawing equipment, and other demolition products; World of Masonry, showcasing products, tools, information, and technology for masonry professionals; Technology for Construction, featuring the newest products and tools for the commercial construction industry from top information technology and systems providers; and Concrete Surfaces & Decorative showcasing the popularity of decorative concrete for both commercial and residential applications. Precast was launched in 2016 and highlights the latest products and technologies in the precast/prestressed sector.

NEW FOR 2017
Concrete Masonry (North Hall)
This area showcases everything for the producers of concrete masonry (block, segmental retaining wall units, veneer, slabs, pavers, and more.)
• Admixtures
• Equipment & Supplies
• Pigments

Concrete Reinforcement (North Hall)
Features the leaders in concrete reinforcement showcasing reinforcement bending, cutting, straightening, and fabricating machinery.
• Reinforced positioners & locators
• Epoxy-coated, steel, glass fiber, galvanized bar
• All types of reinforcement accessories

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING WOC:
See it all in one place. Find everything you need to win more jobs, make more money and streamline your business.
Get connected. Make new contacts and strengthen your industry connections.
Work smarter. Learn how to work leaner, get the safety training and courses you need in today's economy.
Get hands-on. See, touch and test the latest products under real-world, jobsite conditions.
Find new opportunities. Capitalize on the trends that will drive future markets and provide opportunities to profit.
Get your questions answered. Attend expert-led seminars for the new skills, practical solutions and creative strategies to improve your business.

Please note: All info is subject to change. During normal show hours, persons 17 years-old and under will be admitted only with parental supervision. THIS RULE IS STRICTLY ENFORCED. Persons 18 years-old and over must register and pay in order to receive a badge. The use of Segway and Segway-type units are prohibited on the show floor unless the Segway is identified with and ADA placard.

USE REGISTRATION CODE A21 to receive discounted rate!

Go to Registration Page

ACI President gives Thanks!

Beth Britt — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 15:20:38 GMT

It has been my honor to represent the American Concrete Institute as its 92nd President during the past year. I have interacted with members from across the Institute and met people from around the world, and they all shared a vision for improving our infrastructure, and the overall quality of life, through the use of concrete.

2015 was a very strong year for ACI, and I am pleased to share with you some key metrics:

More than 2000 people attended The ACI Concrete Convention and Exposition – Fall 2015 in Denver, CO. Attendance has only exceeded 1800 people one time in the past—the 2010 Spring Convention in Chicago, IL;
The publication of ACI 318-14 and the launch of associated educational seminars pushed net income to record levels for the Institute;
The inaugural ACI Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards was extremely successful. More than 40 entries were submitted from ACI chapters around the world and 10 projects were recognized with awards; and
More than 75 individuals and groups contributed to establish an ACI Foundation fellowship in memory of Dan Falconer, long-time ACI staff member.

All of these achievements, and many others, are the result of countless hours from our volunteer members. Thank you for your interest in and commitment to the Institute.

As a member of technical committees for more than 30 years, I was quite familiar with ACI’s reputation as a source of state-of-the-art technical information. The importance of providing unbiased technical information continues to increase with the development of new products and materials. ACI members continue to impress me with their commitment to vetting technical information thoroughly and developing comprehensive design standards to facilitate safe and reliable use of concrete.

I have also been extremely impressed with the ongoing activities within ACI’s educational committees. ACI is moving from in-person seminars related to a single technical document to a suite of online educational options. This change allows concrete professionals to obtain the technical information that they need in a timely fashion and on a schedule that can be accommodated within their busy careers. By all reports, ACI University and the certificate programs have been extremely well received by ACI members, and I look forward to further expansion of options in this area.

"ACI members continue to impress me with their commitment to vetting technical information thoroughly and developing comprehensive design standards to facilitate safe and reliable use of concrete."

Perhaps the thing that surprised me the most was the passion exhibited by ACI members and Chapter members in the area of certification. A severe shortage of workers in the U.S. construction industry is projected within the next 10 years, but through its certification programs ACI is dedicated to ensuring that the concrete workforce of the future is well-trained and ready to move our industry forward. In addition, the development of country-specific certification programs has the potential to improve the quality of concrete construction worldwide.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Past Presidents Jim Wight, Anne Ellis, and Bill Rushing. Each of you has served as a mentor for me. Your advice and insights have been instrumental to me during the past year. Vice Presidents Mike Schneider and Khaled Awad bring new ideas and insights to the executive committee, and I am confident that they will provide strong leadership of ACI. Finally, I want to thank all the ACI staff—an amazing group of dedicated professionals.

Thanks again for this opportunity. I look forward to seeing many of you at the ACI Convention in Milwaukee, WI, this spring.

Sharon L. Wood

Hot Weather Concreting at Denver Convention

Beth Britt — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 19:46:19 GMT

A Performance-Based Approach to Hot Weather Concreting, Part 1 of 2

Tuesday, November 10, 2015 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM, GOVERNOR'S SQUARE 12

This session focuses on new developments, common practices, innovative technologies, and challenges related to design, construction, and performance of concrete in hot weather.
By attending this session, attendees will be able to:
1. Identify options for dealing with placing, finishing, and curing concrete in hot weather;
2. Learn about new ideas and innovative technologies available to improve concrete performance in hot weather;
3. Understand common construction practices and challenges with concrete in hot weather; and
4. Recognize benefits of knowing ways to optimize design and construction of concrete in hot weather.

Model for Early-Age Rate of Evaporation of Cement-Based Materials

Presented By: Mehdi Bakhshi
Affiliation: AECOM
Description: Early-age cracking affects the structural integrity of concrete structures and, if not inhibited, would lead to a reduction in service life. Plastic cracks are observed in the first few hours after placing the concrete, a time period well within the initial stages when the drying process is controlled by the rate of evaporation of concrete surfaces, which is roughly constant and similar to the rate of evaporation from water surfaces. In the absence of a theoretical method, this rate is commonly estimated using a nomograph based on Dalton’s law. A fluid mechanics-based approach for water evaporation based on the boundary-layer theory, mass transfer, diffusion, and convection is presented. A parametric study is conducted on the effect of boundary-layer temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, and evaporation characteristic length on the calculated evaporation rates. Predicted evaporation rates are verified by recent experiments. Results show that given appropriate environmental parameters, evaporation rates can be predicted with a good degree of accuracy.

Dealing with Hot Weather Concrete: Specifications, Materials, Operations and Other Challenges

Presented By: Oscar Antommattei
Affiliation: Kiewit Corp - Kiewit Infrastructure Engineers Co
Description: Placing concrete in hot weather conditions is known to pose unique challenges. Specifications can include restrictive and prescriptive requirements that result in additional challenges to the field operations. Technologies available to the concrete industry facilitate concrete construction in hot weather. Recent developments in admixtures can also be beneficial in improving concrete performance in hot weather. Concrete mixture proportions must be designed to meet specified requirements, but also to properly perform in the field and meet construction demands. This presentation provides fundamental knowledge and experiences to consider for concrete in hot weather.

Specifying, Proportioning and Producing Rapid Strength Concrete with Consideration for Ambient Conditions

Presented By: Boris Stein
Affiliation: Twining Inc
Description: Proper preservation and rehabilitation strategies extend service life of concrete pavements and structures and are essential for enhancing sustainability of concrete transportation infrastructure. The use of rapid strength concrete (RSC) for these purposes allows for minimizing the impact on traffic. Acquired experience suggests that for the best quality and longevity RSC must be designed for: (i) constructability; (ii) required rate of strength gain; (iii) ambient conditions during construction and exposure conditions in-service; (iv) early age volume changes; (v) permeability; and (vi) durability. The paper discusses (i) principles of specifying , proportioning and producing of RSC with consideration for the impact of ambient conditions on constructability and pace of construction, (ii) summarizes laboratory and field data addressing impact of ambient conditions on performance of RSC; (iii) discusses best practices; and (iv) illustrates recommended approaches with case studies of specific projects.

Using Workability Retaining Admixtures in Hot Weather Concreting

Presented By: G Terry Harris
Affiliation: W R Grace & Company
Description: Historically increased dosage rates of Retarding or Extended Set Control admixtures were used to extend slump life in hot weather. Now, workability retaining admixtures allow us to extend the slump life in concrete mixtures without extending the set time significantly. Recently these workability retaining admixtures were used in drill shaft concrete to extend the slump life without excessive retardation.

How Does Hot Weather Placement Impact Transport, Durability, and Performance Specifications

Presented By: W Jason Weiss
Affiliation: Purdue University
Description: High temperature curing (at 50 ± 2 °C) was evaluated in comparison to conventional curing for use in a Nernst-Planck service life prediction model (Stadium®). Curing at 50 °C accelerated the hydration reaction as expected. When the samples were stored in lime water, the microstructure formed at the higher temperature showed an increase in total porosity, chloride diffusion coefficient, and permeability at the same maturity. The impact of these inputs was assessed for service life prediction for the example used here resulted in a prediction of corrosion initiation times that were approximately 30 % earlier than those predicted using samples moist cured at 23 ± 2 °C. The results indicate however that the moisture conditions dramatically impacted the influence of temperature as samples with a higher degree of saturation were more prone to damage caused by high temperatures presumably due to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the water.

To Register: www.concrete.org

Fall 2015 Denver Convention

Beth Britt — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 20:02:01 GMT

Please join other industry professionals for the Bi-Annual Concrete Convention and Expo in Denver, Colorado November 7-12th, 2015. Registration is online with an early bird discount through October 11th. After that date and on site, the cost will increase $100. For the First time there will be an Excellence in Concrete Award banquet representing the winning projects from around the globe for 2015. There will also be a Concrete Sustainability Forum on Wednesday, November 11th where Global experts will update attendees on new, innovative technologies, sustainability assessment systems, and sustainable design from around the world. You won't want to miss this Free Forum when you attend the Convention. Click the link below for more information and registration details.

https://www.concrete.org/events/conventions/currentconvention.aspx

Dodge Construction Forecast

Beth Britt — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 19:44:33 GMT

On August 18, 2015 our Chapter held its annual market forecast meeting to kick off our 2015-16 program year. Cliff Brewis, Vice President Operations at Dodge Data & Analytics gave the presentation. Cliff is a highly accomplished Vice President with a successful track record in sales management, operations, change management, process planning, implementation and public speaking. In over 30 years of management experience there has been a focus on driving continuous improvement, operating within budgets, meeting required objectives and implementing change to improve effectiveness and efficiencies.

He gave a rather steady outlook for growth, at a pace of 3-5%. Attached you can see the data from his presentation.

Dodge 2015 Outlook - ACI.pptx

ACI Releases Two New Standards for Public Review and Comment

(Past member) — Wed, 14 May 2014 17:54:42 GMT

When the American Concrete Institute develops a new Standard, part of the development process includes making the new document available for public review and comment. This is the opportunity for anyone effected by the standard to review the materials and submit their comments to the committee for discussion.

The draft standards listed below are being processed through ACI's ANSI-approved standardization procedure and are currently open for public discussion from May 1st to June 17th. You can view these documents along with instructions and comment forms by going to http://www.concrete.org/Publications/TechnicalDocuments/UpcomingStandards.aspx.

ACI 318 and 318.2	Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary AND Code Requirements for Thin Shells and Commentary
ACI 423.7	Specification for Unbonded Single-Strand Tendon Materials

Discussion should be emailed to Discussion@concrete.org using the comment form for the corresponding draft standard. The comment forms and draft standards are available on the Upcoming Standards Web page.

Due to the volume of comments received, all comments must be submitted via the Comment Form to be considered by the committee. Please type the document number in the subject line. Public discussion and committee responses will be made available at a later time. The draft standard will become an official ACI standard after the discussion period closes and the committee responds to the discussion received.

ACI’s New Logo & Tagline

(Past member) — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 22:44:20 GMT

The American Concrete Institute is pleased to unveil its new logo. This refreshed identity signifies the next step forward in the evolution of the ACI brand and serves as the foundation for consistent design and messaging across all ACI communications. In addition to the logo, the tagline "Always advancing" highlights the fact that everything the Institute does centers on advancing concrete knowledge, technology, construction, and quality, as well as collaboration and professional growth. The new logo was approved unanimously by ACI's Board of Direction, and is the first major update to the Institute's logo since 1964. Read about the new logo, its development, and history of ACI's logos in ACI President Anne Ellis' January Memo.