Design of polymeric capsules for autonomous healing of cracks in cementitious materials

Now, most of the capsules used to contain polymeric healing agents in self-healing concrete, are made of glass. However, glass capsules cannot be mixed in concrete and are therefore placed manually into the moulds during concrete casting in laboratory tests. This represents a major drawback for an eventual industrialisation. In this study,...

Numerical modelling of autogenous healing and recovery of mechanical properties in ultra-high performance concrete

Cracks, caused by shrinkage or external loading, reduce the durability of concrete structures as aggressive substances can easily enter in the capillary network of the cementitious matrix. Natural ‘autogenous’ healing ability of concrete by further hydration or precipitation has been studied experimentally for many years. Autogenous healing of...