Behaviour of Pre-Cracked Self-Healing Cementitious Materials under Static and Cyclic Loading

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Civil Engineering
• Sustainable Construction

Background:

• Concrete infrastructure durability is challenged by damage, necessitating advanced repair solutions.
• Capsule-based self-healing materials offer autonomous repair to extend service life and enhance sustainability.
• Assessing mechanical and durability performance post-repair is crucial for real-world application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally investigate the mechanical behavior of self-healing mortars with capsule-based repair systems.
• To analyze the influence of capsule properties and specimen characteristics on healing efficiency.
• To quantify the recovery of mechanical performance under static and cyclic loading conditions.

Main Methods:

• Mortars incorporating cementitious tubular capsules with a polyurethane repairing agent were prepared.
• Mechanical behavior was assessed under static and cyclic loading conditions.
• Healing effectiveness was evaluated based on load-bearing capacity recovery and fatigue life.

Main Results:

• Self-healing mortars achieved a maximum load recovery index exceeding 40% under static loading.
• Specimens subjected to cyclic loading demonstrated over 10,000 cycles to failure.
• Effective repair was observed even at peak cyclic forces up to 70% of the healed sample's capacity.

Conclusions:

• Capsule-based self-healing significantly enhances concrete's mechanical performance after damage.
• Optimizing capsule production, coating, and distribution improves healing efficiency.
• These findings support the use of self-healing concrete for more durable and sustainable infrastructure.