[Farmington Hills, MI] – June 3, 2026 – The ACI Foundation Board of Trustees has approved funding for three vital research projects that will advance concrete industry practices, align ACI technical documents on durability and support innovation. These research projects support significant improvements in durability, automation, and standardization across the global construction sector.

The first funded project, Metrics to Measure the Different Surface Finishes in ACI 347.3 R-13, seeks quantifiable methods for architectural specifications and contracts. The goal is to remove the subjectivity associated with evaluating formed concrete surfaces, which will benefit formwork suppliers and finishers. It will also ensure consistency across documents managed by ACI Committee 117, ACI Committee 301, and ACI Committee 347, giving industry professionals a measurable way to compare specified finishes to the actual final product. A request for proposal is posted for the first phase of the project.

The second research project, Durability Design for Mitigating Chemical Attack: Toward Unified Prescriptive and Performance-Based Criteria, is a collaboration between Durability Engineers and the University of Texas at Austin. The partnership balances research innovation with realistic engineering practice. The research will bring consistency to various design practices and exposure classifications. The goals are to create unified prescriptive and performance-based criteria that industry can use to protect infrastructure from aggressive environments. The work will harmonize durability guidance across ACI Committee 201, ACI Committee 201J, ACI Committee 321, ACI Committee 350, ACI Committee 350C, and ACI Committee 515.

The third project focuses on a Framework for Auxetic Reinforcement Systems to Enhance Confinement and Ductility in Concrete Members. This research will validate a novel concrete confinement method for the purpose of enabling automation and improving project efficiency, enhancing seismic resilience, and laying the groundwork for potential codification. The innovation project aligns with ACI’s mission to advance materials and design methodologies that enhance the safety, resilience, and efficiency of concrete structures. The resulting data could impact a wide range of construction types and lead to research for other applications.

The third project focuses on a Framework for Auxetic Reinforcement Systems to Enhance Confinement and Ductility in Concrete Members. This research will validate a novel concrete confinement method. Explores novel materials that contract laterally under axial load to actively increase confinement. The system aims to reduce steel congestion, enhance seismic resilience, and enable compatibility with automated, robotic, and additive manufacturing processes. The findings are expected to inform future updates to ACI 544 and influence sections of ACI 318 related to reinforcement detailing.

“We are proud to support research that will help to align and unify ACI guidance, as well as support ACI’s mission to advance materials and design methodologies,” said Ann Masek, ACI Foundation Executive Director. “By funding these collaborative, necessary and innovative projects, the ACI Foundation is supporting efforts to deliver practical benefits for professionals and end users for a safer, more resilient built environment.”

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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The ACI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports a wide range of research and educational initiatives that contribute to keeping the concrete industry at the forefront of technological advances in material composition, design, and construction. We engage with industry partners, invest in students and research, share knowledge, and provide programs to encourage innovation and new technology. The American Concrete Institute established the ACI Foundation in 1989 to promote progress, innovation, and collaboration in the industry.

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