Abstract
This research is sought to characterize the stimulated autogenous healing of fiber-reinforced mortars that incorporate healing agents such as crystalline admixtures, expansive agents, and geomaterials. The effects of the healing materials on mechanical performance and water permeability were evaluated experimentally. Furthermore, microscopic and microstructural observations were conducted to investigate the characteristics and physical appearance of healing products within healed cracks. Test results are presented herein regarding index of strength recovery (ISR), index of damage recovery (IDR) and index of dissipation energy gain (IDEG) in relation to crack healing, and reduction of water flow rate. The self-healing capability of the mortars was greater in terms of resisting water flow rather than recovering mechanical performance likely because water flow depends on surface crack sealing, whereas mechanical performance depends on bonding capacity as well as full-depth healing of cracks; thus, mechanical performance may further be improved after longer healing duration.
Highlights
Cracking is unavoidable during the service life of concrete structures
An objective of the present study was to assess the effect of stimulated autogenous healing on the recovery of the mechanical performance of cracked fiber-reinforced mortars including healing agents such as crystalline admixtures, expansive agents, and geomaterials. e recovery of mechanical performance was studied in terms of index of strength recovery (ISR) and index of damage recovery (IDR)
We propose a new assessment technique based on the index of dissipation energy gain (IDEG)
Summary
Cracking is unavoidable during the service life of concrete structures. Cracking arises as a part of structural degradation from causes such as volumetric changes, hydration heating, and severe environmental stress. Various self-healing techniques have been developed and applied to extend the service life of concrete structures and reduce CO2 emissions; such self-healing can overcome cracking and more generally enhance mechanical performance and durability [2, 3]. E mechanism of autogenous healing in concretes including various mineral admixtures was examined by Ahn and Kishi [22] through water permeability testing and microstructural study by means of SEM and XRD. An objective of the present study was to assess the effect of stimulated autogenous healing on the recovery of the mechanical performance of cracked fiber-reinforced mortars including healing agents such as crystalline admixtures (sodium carbonate and calcium stearate), expansive agents (calcium sulfoaluminate admixture), and geomaterials. The recovery rates of mechanical performance and watertightness were compared with respect to the initial crack widths and the self-healing agents used. Full-depth crack healing is required in order to achieve better mechanical performance recovery
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