Abstract
The success of self-healing cementitious materials relies on their ability to repeatedly heal over the lifetime of the material. Vascular networks have a distinct advantage over other self-healing techniques whereby the healing agent in the network can be routinely replenished. The aim of this study was to develop a multiuse vascular network that can be reused over the lifetime of a structure to enable repeated self-healing events in cementitious materials. The feasibility and self-healing efficacy of novel two-dimensional (2D) vascular networks in concrete beams were tested on laboratory-scale specimens before being trialed in situ on larger, structural-scale elements. The vascular networks were formed via linear interconnecting hollow channels filled with a healing agent that is delivered to zones of damage under an externally supplied pressure. This technique was reproducible at large scale and channels were refilled over a test period of 6 months. Of the two healing agents used in this study, sodium silicate (SS) proved easier to handle and supply into the vascular network, but cyanoacrylate (CA) offered greater strength recovery (up to 90%) in a relatively short time scale. The presence of flow networks in the cover concrete tended to act as a crack initiator and this was particularly evident in the larger-scale specimens. Nevertheless, the potential to enhance and enable multiscale healing in cementitious materials has been demonstrated.
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Data Availability Statement
All data created during this research are openly available from the Cardiff University data archive at https://doi.org/10.17035/d.2020.0107901898.
Acknowledgments
Financial support from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for the Resilient Materials for Life (RM4L, EP/02081X/1, 2017-2022) program grant and Materials for Life (M4L, EP/K026631/1, 2013-2016) grant is gratefully acknowledged. Special recognition is given to Matthieu Goujon, EDF intern student, for his support in carrying out the preliminary experiments and to Martins Pilegis for assistance with the 3D-printed materials and site trial work.
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Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33 • Issue 7 • July 2021
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 31, 2019
Accepted: Dec 15, 2020
Published online: May 4, 2021
Published in print: Jul 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Oct 4, 2021
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