Experimental Evaluation of Self-Healing Concrete's Performance Properties

Abstract

Due of its resilience, toughness, and affordability relative to other construction materials, concrete is the most commonly utilized engineering material in construction. Concrete's main flaw is that it has a low tensile strength, which makes microcracks more likely to form and spread, resulting in weaker construction. These tensile stresses may result from expanding chemical reactions, plastic shrinkage, or tensile loading. Concrete becomes more susceptible to harmful environmental factors due to its higher propensity for cracking, which also reduces strength. The entry of toxic substances through these fissures may cause concrete to deteriorate chemically and may also cause steel reinforcing to corrode. This corrosion causes fracture damage to increase, which reduces the strength and stiffness of concrete buildings. The deterioration of reinforced concrete results in significant maintenance costs for both the concrete and the reinforcement. The goal of the current study is to create a self-healing concrete that, upon setting, repairs cracks caused by a variety of factors, reducing the need to find and fix interior damage without outside assistance.