Novel active crack width control technique to reduce the variation on water permeability results for self-healing concrete

2019 ◽  
Vol 203 ◽  
pp. 541-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Van Mullem ◽  
Elke Gruyaert ◽  
Brenda Debbaut ◽  
Robby Caspeele ◽  
Nele De Belie
Keyword(s):  
Water Permeability ◽  
Crack Width ◽  
Control Technique ◽  
Self Healing

scholarly journals Development of an improved cracking method to reduce the variability in testing the healing efficiency of self-healing mortar containing encapsulated polymers

2018 ◽  
Vol 199 ◽  
pp. 02017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Van Mullem ◽  
Kim Van Tittelboom ◽  
Elke Gruyaert ◽  
Robby Caspeele ◽  
Nele De Belie
Keyword(s):  
Crack Width ◽  
Control Technique ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Concrete Cracking ◽  
Crack Control ◽  
Control Techniques ◽  
Healing Efficiency ◽  
Flow Test ◽  
Equivalent Reduction ◽  
External Intervention

Concrete cracking can result in a significant reduction of the durability and the service life due to the ingress of aggressive agents Self-healing concrete is able to heal cracks without external intervention, thereby mitigating the need for manual repair. In the assessment of the healing efficiency of self-healing concrete the to-be-healed crack width is an important parameter and different researchers have emphasised that the variability of the crack width significantly hampers an accurate assessment of the healing efficiency. With two new crack control techniques the variability of the crack width was reduced in order to decrease the variability on the calculated healing efficiency. This paper reports on the application of these techniques for the assessment of self-healing mortar containing encapsulated polyurethane. The healing potential was investigated by looking at the degree of sealing using a water flow test setup. It was observed that by using a crack control technique the variability on the crack width can indeed be reduced. Nonetheless, this does not translate in an equivalent reduction on the variability of the healing efficiency. This indicates that other factors contribute to the variability of the healing efficiency.

scholarly journals Crack Width Estimation of Mortar Specimen Using Gas Diffusion Experiment

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 3003
Author(s):  
Do-Keun Lee ◽  
Min-Hyuk Lim ◽  
Kyung-Joon Shin ◽  
Kwang-Myong Lee
Keyword(s):  
Water Permeability ◽  
Crack Width ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
The Self ◽  
Diffusion Experiment ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Diffusion Test ◽  
Mortar Specimen

Maintenance of structures using self-healing concrete technologies has recently been actively studied. However, unlike the technological development of self-healing concrete, research focused on evaluating the self-healing performance is insufficient. Although water permeability experiments are widely used, the reliability of the test results may be reduced due to the viscosity of water and the possibility of elution of material inside the specimen. In this study, we propose a gas diffusion test for estimating the crack width and eventually for application to evaluation of the self-healing performance. The results verified that the proposed method can be effectively applied to the estimation of crack width.

scholarly journals Application of GGBFS and Bentonite to Auto-Healing Cracks of Cement Paste

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
J J Ekaputri ◽  
M S Anam ◽  
Y Luan ◽  
C Fujiyama ◽  
N Chijiwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cement Paste ◽  
Surface Crack ◽  
Crack Width ◽  
Healing Process ◽  
Crack Depth ◽  
The Self ◽  
External Loading ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Carbonation Reaction ◽  
Granulated Blast Furnace Slag

Cracks are caused by many factors. Shrinkage and external loading are the most common reason. It becomes a problem when the ingression of aggressive and harmful substance penetrates to the concrete gap. This problem reduces the durability of the structures. It is well known that self – healing of cracks significantly improves the durability of the concrete structure. This paper presents self-healing cracks of cement paste containing bentonite associated with ground granulated blast furnace slag. The self-healing properties were evaluated with four parameters: crack width on the surface, crack depth, tensile strength recovery, and flexural recovery. In combination with microscopic observation, a healing process over time is also performed. The results show that bentonite improves the healing properties, in terms of surface crack width and crack depth. On the other hand, GGBFS could also improve the healing process, in terms of crack depth, direst tensile recovery, and flexural stiffness recovery. Carbonation reaction is believed as the main mechanism, which contributes the self-healing process as well as the continuous hydration progress.

scholarly journals Self-Healing Biogeopolymers Using Biochar-Immobilized Spores of Pure- and Co-Cultures of Bacteria

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jadin Zam S. Doctolero ◽  
Arnel B. Beltran ◽  
Marigold O. Uba ◽  
April Anne S. Tigue ◽  
Michael Angelo B. Promentilla
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Crack Width ◽  
Ultrasonic Pulse ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Weak Effect ◽  
Bacterial Cultures ◽  
Healing Agent ◽  
Optimum Response ◽  
Maximum Crack ◽  
Cultured Bacteria

A sustainable solution for crack maintenance in geopolymers is necessary if they are to be the future of modern green construction. This study thus aimed to develop self-healing biogeopolymers that could potentially rival bioconcrete. First, a suitable healing agent was selected from Bacillus subtilis, B. sphaericus, and B. megaterium by directly adding their spores in the geopolymers and subsequently exposing them to a large amount of nutrients for 14 days. SEM-EDX analysis revealed the formation of biominerals for B. subtilis and B. sphaericus. Next, the effect of biochar-immobilization and co-culturing (B. sphaericus and B. thuringiensis) on the healing efficiencies of the geopolymers were tested and optimized by measuring their ultrasonic pulse velocities weekly over a 28-day healing period. The results show that using co-cultured bacteria significantly improved the observed efficiencies, while biochar-immobilization had a weak effect but yielded an optimum response between 0.3-0.4 g/mL. The maximum crack width sealed was 0.65 mm. Through SEM-EDX and FTIR analyses, the biominerals precipitated in the cracks were identified to be mainly CaCO3. Furthermore, image analysis of the XCT scans of some of the healed geopolymers confirmed that their pulse velocities were indeed improving due to the filling of their internal spaces with biominerals. With that, there is potential in developing self-healing biogeopolymers using biochar-immobilized spores of bacterial cultures.

scholarly journals Effect of crack pattern on the self-healing capability in traditional, HPC and UHPFRC concretes measured by water and chloride permeability

2019 ◽  
Vol 289 ◽  
pp. 01006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Negrini ◽  
Marta Roig-Flores ◽  
Eduardo J. Mezquida-Alcaraz ◽  
Liberato Ferrara ◽  
Pedro Serna
Keyword(s):  
Reinforced Concrete ◽  
Water Permeability ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Water Immersion ◽  
Crack Pattern ◽  
The Self ◽  
Reinforced Concrete Beams ◽  
Multiple Cracks ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
High Performance Fibre

Concrete has a natural self-healing capability to seal small cracks, named autogenous healing, which is mainly produced by continuing hydration and carbonation. This capability is very limited and is activated only when in direct contact with water. High Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete and Engineered Cementitious Composites have been reported to heal cracks for low damage levels, due to their crack pattern with multiple cracks and high cement contents. While their superior self-healing behaviour compared to traditional concrete types is frequently assumed, this study aims to have a direct comparison to move a step forward in durability quantification. Reinforced concrete beams made of traditional, high-performance and ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concretes were prepared, sized 150×100×750 mm3. These beams were pre-cracked in flexion up to fixed strain levels in the tensioned zone to allow the analysis of the effect of the different cracking patterns on the self-healing capability. Afterwards, water permeability tests were performed before and after healing under water immersion. A modification of the water permeability test was also explored using chlorides to evaluate the potential protection of this healing in chloride-rich environments. The results show the superior durability and self-healing performance of UHPFRC elements.

scholarly journals Method for Assessment of Changes in the Width of Cracks in Cement Composites with Use of Computer Image Processing and Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamil Tomczak ◽  
Jacek Jakubowski ◽  
Przemysław Fiołek
Keyword(s):  
Image Processing ◽  
Crack Width ◽  
Healing Process ◽  
Cement Composites ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Initial Image ◽  
Scale Invariant ◽  
Line Segments ◽  
Changes Over Time ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Crack width measurement is an important element of research on the progress of self-healing cement composites. Due to the nature of this research, the method of measuring the width of cracks and their changes over time must meet specific requirements. The article presents a novel method of measuring crack width based on images from a scanner with an optical resolution of 6400 dpi, subject to initial image processing in the ImageJ development environment and further processing and analysis of results. After registering a series of images of the cracks at different times using SIFT conversion (Scale-Invariant Feature Transform), a dense network of line segments is created in all images, intersecting the cracks perpendicular to the local axes. Along these line segments, brightness profiles are extracted, which are the basis for determination of crack width. The distribution and rotation of the line of intersection in a regular layout, automation of transformations, management of images and profiles of brightness, and data analysis to determine the width of cracks and their changes over time are made automatically by own code in the ImageJ and VBA environment. The article describes the method, tests on its properties, sources of measurement uncertainty. It also presents an example of application of the method in research on autogenous self-healing of concrete, specifically the ability to reduce a sample crack width and its full closure within 28 days of the self-healing process.

scholarly journals Superabsorbent polymers to seal and heal cracks in cementitious materials

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 32-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Didier Snoeck
Keyword(s):  
Crack Width ◽  
Autogenous Shrinkage ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Cementitious Materials ◽  
Cementitious Material ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Superabsorbent Polymers ◽  
Concrete Cracking ◽  
Freeze Thaw

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are promising admixtures to improve properties in cementitious materials. Not only useful to mitigate autogenous shrinkage and to increase the freeze-thaw resistance, SAP particles may enhance self-sealing and self-healing in cementitious materials. The self-sealing leads to a regain in water tightness and promoted autogenous healing may prove to be useful to limit repair works caused by concrete cracking. By providing sufficient building blocks for healing, limiting the crack width by means of synthetic microfibers and inducing water by means of SAPs, a smart cementitious material is obtained. This material can be an excellent material to use in future building applications such as tunnel works and ground-retaining structures. This paper gives an overview of the current status of the research on SAPs in cementitious materials to obtain sealing and healing.

scholarly journals Crack-healing in cementitious material to improve the durability of structures: Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 250 ◽  
pp. 03005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan Amer Ali Algaifi ◽  
Suhaimi Abu Bakar ◽  
Abdul Rahman Mohd Sam ◽  
Ahmad Razin Zainal Abidin
Keyword(s):  
Crack Width ◽  
Cementitious Materials ◽  
Cementitious Material ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Crack Healing ◽  
Harmful Substances ◽  
Crack Faces ◽  
Crack Widths ◽  
Long Term Studies

One of the most commonly used materials in the field of construction is concrete. Nevertheless, there are strong inclinations for concrete to form cracks, which would then allow the penetration of both aggressive and harmful substances into the concrete. Subsequently, this will decrease the durability of the affected structures. Thus, the ability for cracks to heal themselves in the affected cementitious materials is in demand to prolong the life of any structure. Autogenous self-healing is one approach to overcome smaller crack widths (macrocracks). Nowadays, crack width-healing is of great importance. Having said that, both polymers and bacteria are the most common approach to enhance autogenous self-healing and bond crack faces. Crack width-healing of up to 0.97 mm was achieved via bacteria-based self-healing. In this paper, the mechanisms of these approaches and their efficiency to heal crack were highlighted. Both bacteria-and polymers-based self-healing are promising techniques for the future. However, long term studies are still required before real applications can be made.

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