Tuesday, October 13, 2026 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM, 213-214
Technical session to honor the significant and long career with ACI and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that centered around concrete materials and repair of concrete. The technical session will be conducted in collaboration with Jim's colleagues at the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. The session will highlight Jim's impact on ACI, ACI 546, TAC, TRRC. Jim was also instrumental in developing collaboration between ACI and ICRI regarding repair work.
Learning Objectives:
(1) Understand the Army Corps of Engineers applied research to concrete repair practice;
(2) Describe how the concrete repair field developed at ACI and ICRI to the industry it is today;
(3) Learn the basics of durability of concrete repair materials;
(4) Identify laboratory studies that are used to evaluate concrete repair work.
From Research to Practice: Jim McDonald’s Influence on Concrete Infrastructure
Presented By: Stephanie Woods
Affiliation: Garver LLC
Description: James E. (Jim) McDonald’s career left a significant mark on the concrete industry through his technical contributions, professional service, and commitment to improving engineering practice. Drawing on selected projects and initiatives from his time at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), formerly the U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station (WES), this presentation highlights Jim’s role in translating research into practical solutions for concrete infrastructure. Particular emphasis is placed on his work under the Repair, Evaluation, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation (REMR) Research Program, which helped shape concrete practice within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and contributed to broader advances in concrete infrastructure stewardship.
The presentation also considers the continued relevance of Jim’s work, as current efforts build on that foundation through the use of modern materials, repair technologies, and evaluation methods. In addition to his technical accomplishments, Jim played an important role in advancing the profession through active engagement with organizations such as ACI and the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI). His technical leadership and commitment to professional collaboration continue to influence concrete engineering and practice today.
Jim McDonald – The Legacy of His Work
Presented By: Fred Goodwin
Affiliation:
Description: Jim was an icon for the concrete repair industry. As a protégé of Bryant Mather and founding member of ICRI, his contributions are still being felt after his passing. This portion of the session will cover his work, philosophy, and leadership for the concrete and concrete repair industry.
Enduring Impact of Jim McDonald on our Industry: Concrete Repair Compatibility
Presented By: Benoit Bissonnette
Affiliation: Laval University
Description: This presentation intends to honor James E. McDonald’s pioneering role in establishing repair compatibility as a fundamental principle of durable concrete repair. Through his rigorous leadership and decades of service in ACI and ICRI, Jim strongly contributed to reframe concert repair a problem of interaction between new and existing materials rather than simple material strength. His work helped shaping modern concrete repair in a genuine engineering discipline.
Learning Objectives:
(1) Learn ACI’s approach and development of concrete repair guides, codes and specifications for the repair industry;
(2) Understand the research to develop test methods to assess performance of concrete repair materials;
(3) Understand Jim McDonalds’s influence on ICRI and its development, approach, and influence on the concrete repair field;
(4) Learn the benefits of a proper evaluation, determining causes of deterioration, and development of repair methodologies in concrete repair.
Repair of Dams and other Heavy Civil Structures
Presented By: Peter Emmons
Affiliation: Structural Technologies
Description: This presentation will discuss the aspects of repairing concrete and civil structures. This will include monolithic joint repair and general concrete repair. A particular interest will be the discussion of concrete repair materials and the properties that will create long-term performance.