ACI president Jeffrey W. Coleman says: “Making a contribution is part of making an impact. Do it to support the scholarship recipients, do it to support research so that concrete remains on the cutting edge of technology and do it to support initiatives like the Strategic Development Council – to help the industry adopt new technologies on a more rapid basis. There is nothing more important than to think strategically.”
The ACI Foundation promotes progress and collaboration in the concrete industry through strategic investments in research, scholarships and ideas.
The ACI Foundation's concrete research council selected eight research projects to receive grants this year. These include Behaviour and Design of Concrete Structures under Natural Fires, Reliability Evaluation of ACI 318 Strength Reduction Factor for One-Way Shear and Full-Scale Testing of a New Double-Beam Coupling Beam with a Simplistic Reinforcing Layout.
The institute says the ACI Foundation has provided financial support and mentorship and internship opportunities in the concrete industry to 175 students in the last decade. It has awarded scholarships and fellowships to 20 students in 2020, ACI adds.
The ACI Foundation expects it will be able to use the potential increase in contributions raised through this challenge to fund even more students and research.
The challenge applies to the remainder of Coleman's term as president through March 2021.