Evaluation of the Self-healing Capability of Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete with Nano-Particles and Crystalline Admixtures by Means of Permeability

Abstract

Self-healing is the capability of a material to repair its damage autonomously. Ultra-High-Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) has potentially higher self-healing properties than conventional concrete because of its lower water/binder content and controlled microcracking due to the high fiber content. This work uses a novel methodology based on the permeability to evaluate autogenous self-healing of UHPFRC and enhanced self-healing, incorporating several additions. To this purpose, one UHPFRC was selected and modified to include alumina nanofibers in 0.25% by the cement weight, nanocellulose (nanocrystals and nanofibers), in a dosage of 0.15% by the cement weight, and 0.8–1.6% of a crystalline admixture. The results obtained show that the methodology proposed allows the evaluation of the self-healing capability of different families of concrete mixes that suffered a similar level of damage using permeability tests adapted to the specific properties of UHPFRC.