Innovation and Collaboration at the ACI Concrete Convention

SOURCE: ACI | April 17, 2024

The concrete community has once again reunited at the world’s gathering place for advancing concrete – the American Concrete Institute Concrete Convention. Over 2,500 professionals and students from across the globe gathered at the ACI Concrete Convention in New Orleans, LA, USA. ACI Conventions attract researchers, practitioners, and industry leaders to advance the design, construction, maintenance, and repair of concrete projects.

Through a five-day schedule of educational sessions, networking events, committee meetings, and student competitions, the convention provided 100+ hours of industry-leading concrete knowledge.

The 13th International Workshop on Structural Concrete took place on the first day of the ACI Concrete Convention on March 24th, 2024. Developed by the ACI 318 Building Code Committee, the workshop convenes periodically to bring together international users of ACI 318 and other ACI documents. The workshop disseminates the latest developments and helps ACI understand how its standards and guidelines can better address the needs of its users. Sessions included: Sustainability, Katrina Infrastructure Rebuild, Updates to ACI 318, and more.

ACI also hosted the FRPRCS-16 Symposium. It is co-sponsored by ACI Committee 440 and the International Institute for FRP in Construction (IIFC) for the purpose of advancing the understanding and application of FRP composites in civil infrastructure to serve the engineering profession and society.

During the Opening Session and Keynote Presentation, ACI President Antonio Nanni presented the presidential gavel to incoming ACI President Michael J. Paul. Nanni also presented the newly elected ACI Fellows and Honorary Members. ATwenty-eight teams from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Indonesia, Poland, and Chile submitted projects for judging in this year’s competition sponsored by ACI Committees S801 Student Competitions Committee, 238-Workability of Fresh Concrete Committee, 238- A Student Workability Committee, and Baker Concrete.

The undergraduate university teams focus on workability and rheological properties of cement-based materials.  Teams are challenged to create a mortar mixture with optimum flowability and stability.  Cash prizes were awarded ranging from $750 USD, $500 USD, and $250 USD for first, second, and third prizes respectively.

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