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Abstract
Self-healing concrete has the potential to optimise traditional design approaches; however, commercial uptake requires the ability to harmonize against standardized frameworks. Within EU SARCOS COST Action, different interlaboratory tests were executed on different self-healing techniques. This paper reports on the evaluation of the effectiveness of proposed experimental methodologies suited for self-healing concrete with expansive mineral additions. Concrete prisms and discs with MgO-based healing agents were produced and precracked. Water absorption and water flow tests were executed over a healing period spanning 6 months to assess the sealing efficiency, and the crack width reduction with time was monitored. High variability was reported for both reference (REF) and healing-addition (ADD) series affecting the reproducibility of cracking. However, within each lab, the crack width creation was repeatable. ADD reported larger crack widths. The latter influenced the observed healing making direct comparisons across labs prone to errors. Water absorption tests highlighted were susceptible to application errors. Concurrently, the potential of water flow tests as a facile method for assessment of healing performance was shown across all labs. Overall, the importance of repeatability and reproducibility of testing methods is highlighted in providing a sound basis for incorporation of self-healing concepts in practical applications.
Highlights
Cracking in concrete is a common sight, resulting from mechanical loading or deformation-induced stresses during its service life
Three types of expansive minerals, magnesium oxide (MgO), bentonite, and hydrated lime, were used in this interlaboratory study to produce a composite mix of healing additives to be added, supplementing part of the cement
To was similar on each crack face further assess the variation in apparent strength at the time of shipping (7 days), ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) tests were conducted on both prisms and cylinders for the REF and ADD series for each batch
Summary
Cracking in concrete is a common sight, resulting from mechanical loading or deformation-induced stresses during its service life. These cracks may not directly compromise the integrity of the structure, they can significantly accelerate its degradation. Cracks can create direct paths for ingress of aggressive agents into the concrete, resulting in corrosion of the reinforcing steel and limiting the service life. To ensure the designed service life and remediate the defects of the structure, repair actions need to be undertaken. Those repair regimes tend to be costly, time-consuming, impractical, and often untimely due to the remote location of the defects in the structure. It has been estimated that half of the annual EU construction budget is allocated to the repair of existing structures [1], whilst an exponential growth of demand of concrete repairs exists [2]
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