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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.