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8/3/2020
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In this President's Memo, I would like to address a second area of focus of the ACI Foundation's mission: research. The Concrete Research Council, also known as CRC, has existed since 1989 and has funded more than $2,000,000 in research over that time. Currently, a typical research grant is in the amount of $50,000. Submitted proposals must obtain an endorsement from at least one ACI technical committee. This requirement helps the ACI Foundation provide support for research deemed critical by ACI technical committees through the consensus process in order to broadly support the concrete industry. The ACI Foundation also looks for ways to leverage its research funding by working actively with partner foundations. Through collaborative co-funding, the $2M of research grants that the ACI Foundation, through CRC, has expended to date has contributed to nearly $14M in research. Many significant research projects have been funded. "Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) Tool" is a software tool that provides open-source data to help designers integrate embodied carbon into design. It allows environmental product declarations (EPDs) for concrete and other materials to be compared and helps users find EPDs for concrete mixtures available in their specific market. "Reliability Evaluation of ACI 318 Strength Reduction Factor for One-Way Shear" was funded this year to provide an objective, statistical basis for improving the strength reduction factor for one-way shear, and to propose an appropriate new strength reduction for one-way shear if justified. The CRC also requires funded projects to have an advisory team with at least one member from an endorsing ACI technical committee. In addition to progress reports, a final report is issued and posted on the website and in the ACI abstracts portal. Principal investigators are invited to present their findings to the endorsing technical committee and at ACI sessions. Every year, the ACI Foundation receives more proposals than can be funded. In this past cycle, CRC was able to fund eight research proposals in an amount of $50,000 each. However, over 40 proposals were not awarded grants because funding was limited. Over the last 3 years, the ACI Foundation has been able to fund about 15% of the proposals submitted. There is a true need for more research dollars to continue to advance and innovate for our future. There are a couple of key points I want to emphasize. First, those who are involved with research will immediately recognize that $50,000, while generous, will not fully fund most research projects. Second, each year there are valid proposals that cannot be funded because of limited resources. CRC carefully rates the proposals against published criteria, considers the input of the endorsers, and evaluates the impact research may have on industry to choose the absolute top-ranked proposals. However, there is so much more we could do with additional funding. One final point is the unintended positive consequences of funding research. Many research projects employ graduate or undergraduate assistants who might be introduced to concrete in a hands-on way for the first time ever. I was one such student. In fact, I can say that I am where I am today because in 1976, the Iowa Department of Transportation funded a research project examining the effect of varied entrained-air contents on the fatigue behavior of concrete pavements. I had decided to continue at Iowa State University after my BS degree to obtain an MS in structural engineering. I had a choice between a steel research project and a concrete research project. The two professors were actually lobbying me to join their respective projects. I chose the concrete project and it eventually kindled a lifelong fascination with concrete design, concrete materials, concrete behavior, concrete production and delivery, and concrete construction. As you can see, CRC is funding some exciting work in our industry, but there is so much more we could do with additional funding. Please consider contributing to the ACI Foundation. There are many options to donate. The ACI Foundation conducts an annual funds drive in the fall and offers naming-right opportunities all year long for major gifts. There are also opportunities for planned giving via your estate or trusts or even mandatory retirement plan withdraws. For more information on how to support the ACI Foundation and CRC, contact Ann Masek or Jennifer DeWall at the ACI Foundation, www.ACIFoundation.org. Thank you for all you do to support ACI. Our motto, Always advancing, is made possible by your generous contributions. So for now, work smart and stay safe. Jeffrey W. Coleman American Concrete Institute
In this President's Memo, I would like to address a second area of focus of the ACI Foundation's mission: research. The Concrete Research Council, also known as CRC, has existed since 1989 and has funded more than $2,000,000 in research over that time.
Currently, a typical research grant is in the amount of $50,000. Submitted proposals must obtain an endorsement from at least one ACI technical committee. This requirement helps the ACI Foundation provide support for research deemed critical by ACI technical committees through the consensus process in order to broadly support the concrete industry.
The ACI Foundation also looks for ways to leverage its research funding by working actively with partner foundations. Through collaborative co-funding, the $2M of research grants that the ACI Foundation, through CRC, has expended to date has contributed to nearly $14M in research.
Many significant research projects have been funded. "Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) Tool" is a software tool that provides open-source data to help designers integrate embodied carbon into design. It allows environmental product declarations (EPDs) for concrete and other materials to be compared and helps users find EPDs for concrete mixtures available in their specific market. "Reliability Evaluation of ACI 318 Strength Reduction Factor for One-Way Shear" was funded this year to provide an objective, statistical basis for improving the strength reduction factor for one-way shear, and to propose an appropriate new strength reduction for one-way shear if justified.
The CRC also requires funded projects to have an advisory team with at least one member from an endorsing ACI technical committee. In addition to progress reports, a final report is issued and posted on the website and in the ACI abstracts portal. Principal investigators are invited to present their findings to the endorsing technical committee and at ACI sessions.
Every year, the ACI Foundation receives more proposals than can be funded. In this past cycle, CRC was able to fund eight research proposals in an amount of $50,000 each. However, over 40 proposals were not awarded grants because funding was limited. Over the last 3 years, the ACI Foundation has been able to fund about 15% of the proposals submitted. There is a true need for more research dollars to continue to advance and innovate for our future.
There are a couple of key points I want to emphasize. First, those who are involved with research will immediately recognize that $50,000, while generous, will not fully fund most research projects.
Second, each year there are valid proposals that cannot be funded because of limited resources. CRC carefully rates the proposals against published criteria, considers the input of the endorsers, and evaluates the impact research may have on industry to choose the absolute top-ranked proposals. However, there is so much more we could do with additional funding.
One final point is the unintended positive consequences of funding research. Many research projects employ graduate or undergraduate assistants who might be introduced to concrete in a hands-on way for the first time ever.
I was one such student. In fact, I can say that I am where I am today because in 1976, the Iowa Department of Transportation funded a research project examining the effect of varied entrained-air contents on the fatigue behavior of concrete pavements.
I had decided to continue at Iowa State University after my BS degree to obtain an MS in structural engineering. I had a choice between a steel research project and a concrete research project. The two professors were actually lobbying me to join their respective projects. I chose the concrete project and it eventually kindled a lifelong fascination with concrete design, concrete materials, concrete behavior, concrete production and delivery, and concrete construction.
As you can see, CRC is funding some exciting work in our industry, but there is so much more we could do with additional funding. Please consider contributing to the ACI Foundation. There are many options to donate.
The ACI Foundation conducts an annual funds drive in the fall and offers naming-right opportunities all year long for major gifts. There are also opportunities for planned giving via your estate or trusts or even mandatory retirement plan withdraws. For more information on how to support the ACI Foundation and CRC, contact Ann Masek or Jennifer DeWall at the ACI Foundation, www.ACIFoundation.org.
Thank you for all you do to support ACI. Our motto, Always advancing, is made possible by your generous contributions. So for now, work smart and stay safe.
Jeffrey W. Coleman
American Concrete Institute
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