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Microcracking in Concrete

Microcracking in Concrete

Microcracking in concrete refers to the tiny cracks that can form within the material even before any external load is applied. These microcracks typically occur at the interface between the coarse aggregate and the hydrated cement paste, often as a result of differential volume changes prompted by variations in stress-strain behavior, as well as thermal and moisture movement. Initially, these microcracks remain stable and do not grow substantially until the concrete is stressed to about 30...

Hydration of Cement

Hydration of Cement

Hydration of cement is a chemical reaction between cement particles and water. This process occurs primarily through two mechanisms: through-solution and topochemical. In the through-solution process, anhydrous compounds dissolve into their constituents, hydrates form in the solution, and then precipitate from the supersaturated solution. The topochemical process involves solid-state reactions at the cement particle surface. The through-solution process dominates the topochemical process at the...

Porosity in Cement Paste

Porosity in Cement Paste

The porosity of concrete is a measure of the void spaces within its structure. These spaces impact its strength and durability significantly. When water and cement interact, a chemical reaction called hydration creates a semi-solid paste. This paste includes combined water, making up approximately 23% of the cement's dry mass, and gel water, which fills minuscule voids known as gel pores, accounting for about 28% of the cement gel volume.
The balance of water to cement in the mix is...

Soundness of Cement

Soundness of Cement

The soundness of cement refers to the ability of cement paste to retain its volume after setting. Unsound cement can lead to expansion and structural damage due to the presence of free lime, magnesia, and calcium sulfate. Free lime hydrates very slowly, expanding and causing unsoundness, which is difficult to detect because it intercrystallizes with other compounds. Magnesia also reacts with water, forming crystals that can disrupt the cement's structure. Calcium sulfate can create...

Pore Size Distribution

Pore Size Distribution

In concrete, the pore size distribution significantly influences the material's properties. Capillary pores, markedly larger than gel pores, form a vast network within partially hydrated cement paste, reducing the concrete's strength and increasing its permeability. This heightened permeability leads to a greater risk of damage from environmental factors like freeze-thaw cycles and chemical attacks, with the extent of vulnerability also being tied to the water-to-cement ratio.
Adequate...

Creep in Concrete

Creep in Concrete

Creep refers to the time-dependent increase in strain under a sustained load, excluding other time-dependent deformations associated with shrinkage, swelling, and thermal expansion in concrete. The primary mechanism behind creep involves the loss of physically adsorbed water from the calcium silicate hydrate within the hydrated cement paste. This process is further exacerbated by concrete's non-linear stress-strain relationship, microcrack development in the interfacial transition zone, and...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 29, 2025

Production and Analysis of Sporosarcina pasteurii Biocement Bricks Using Custom 3D-Printed Molds for Unconfined Compression Tests

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Published on: March 7, 2025

Microcapsule Triggering Mechanics in Cementitious Materials: A Modelling and Machine Learning Approach.

Evan John Ricketts¹, Lívia Ribeiro de Souza², Brubeck Lee Freeman^1,3

¹School of Engineering, Cardiff University, 3-5 The Walk, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)

|April 9, 2024

Summary

This study developed a new method using simulations and machine learning to design better self-healing concrete. It optimizes microcapsules to release healing agents effectively, enhancing concrete

Keywords:

continuum damage modelling design curves finite element modelling interfacial properties machine learning microcapsules microfluidics neural networks self-healing concrete triggering mechanics

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Last Updated: Jun 29, 2025

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Micro-masonry for 3D Additive Micromanufacturing

Micro-masonry for 3D Additive Micromanufacturing

Published on: August 1, 2014

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Civil Engineering
Chemical Engineering

Background:

Self-healing cementitious materials utilize microcapsules containing healing agents to autonomously repair cracks.
A key challenge is optimizing microcapsule properties for survival during concrete mixing and controlled rupture at crack sites.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop an integrated numerical modeling and machine learning approach for tailoring acrylate-based microcapsules for self-healing concrete.
To connect tailored microcapsule properties to their performance in cementitious environments for improved self-healing concrete systems.

Main Methods:

Microfluidics was used to produce microcapsules with varied shell thickness, strength, and cement compatibility.
Continuum damage mechanics modeling simulated capsule behavior and cracking.
Machine learning (artificial neural network) was trained on simulation data to predict triggering behavior.

Main Results:

A parametric study identified key properties governing microcapsule rupture versus matrix failure.
The machine learning model generated design curves relating microcapsule properties (strength, toughness, interfacial bond) to fracture propensity.
The framework successfully linked tailored microcapsule properties to their performance in cementitious matrices.

Conclusions:

The integrated approach provides a pathway for designing robust self-healing concrete systems.
Optimized microcapsules enhance the autonomous crack sealing and structural integrity restoration capabilities of concrete.