Bioinspired fabrication of reconfigurable elastomeric cementitious structures using self-healing mechanical adhesives interfaces

Abstract

Modern construction technologies are in high demand of new highly customizable and easy-to-assemble structural materials with enhanced mechanical performance and the capability to self-repair autonomously. This article describes the simple and cost-effective manufacturing of Self-Healing Elastomeric/Cementitious/Mechanical Adhesive Structures (SECMAS). SECMAS are comprised of cementitious bricks joined by mechanical adhesive interfaces and organized in nacre-inspired, brick-and-mortar structures. This scalable staggered design provides SECMAS with the capability to concentrate the formation and propagation of cracks along the mechanical adhesive interfaces, which efficiently distribute loading forces and accommodate deformation. The periodic distribution of elastomeric reinforcing layers inside the SECMAS facilitates its elastic self-recovery after severe deformation, restoring the interlocking of the mechanical adhesive interfaces and enabling SECMAS to autonomously recover their original mechanical properties at room temperature. Moreover, the rapid recovery of the mechanical adhesive interfaces enables repeated self-healing under cycling bidirectional loading forces. The modular structure of SECMAS and their easy-to-assemble and easy-to-disassemble mechanical adhesive interfaces facilitates the rapid exchange of damaged components for new ones, enlarging service life. Furthermore, the simple and scalable design rules derived for the construction of SECMAS facilitate their rapid reconfiguration into a variety of self-repairing structural elements, promoting sustainable construction.