SELF-HEALING CONCRETE
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 General introduction:
Concrete is most widely used construction material in the world due to its high
compressive strength. It is used to construct buildings, bridges, roads, etc. However, one
of its major drawbacks it has tendency to develop cracks over time. These cracks can
allow water and moisture, leading to corrosion of reinforcement reduces strength.
To overcome these issues, researchers have developed an innovative materials known
as Self- healing concrete. As the name suggests, self-healing concrete has ability to repair
its own cracks automatically. This concept is inspired by nature and biomimicry.
When cracks form, the self-healing mechanism activates either through chemical
reaction or biological processes like bacterial activity to repair cracks, increases strength
and durability. This reduces maintenance and cost-effective.
1.2 Motivation:
The motivation to develop self-healing concrete arises from a challenge in civil
engineering: crack in concrete structures. Although concrete is strong in compression,
it is prone to cracking in tensile stress, temperature changes, shrinkage, and
environmental factors. These cracks can:
• Reduce structural durability,
• Allow water and chemicals to enter,
• Corrode reinforcement,
• Ultimately lead to costly repair or failure,
1.3 Objectives:
1. To understand the concept of self-healing concrete concept and its working
principals.
2. To explore different self-healing mechanisms such as autogenous, bacterial,
and encapsulated healing.
3. To identify the materials and techniques used in the development of self
healing concrete.
4. To analyze the advantages and limitations of self-healing concrete.
5. To evaluate the performance of self-healing concrete in real life structure and
case studies.
6. To examine the cost-effectiveness and sustainability in modern construction.
1. To assess the future scope.
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SELF-HEALING CONCRETE
1.4 Closure:
Self-healing concrete is a smart type of concrete that can fix its own cracks. Just like how
our body heals a small cut, this concrete repair tiny cracks by tis self. This help the
structure last longer and saves a lot of money on repairs. With more research and
development, self-healing concrete could become a regular part of future construction
and make our buildings stronger and more reliable.
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SELF-HEALING CONCRETE
Chapter 2: Literature
2.1General Literature Review on Self-Healing Concrete
Self-healing concrete is an innovative material designed to repair its own cracks
automatically without external intervention. Numerous researchers have contributed
significantly to the understanding and development of this material. The literature
presents various self-healing mechanisms, including autogenous healing, bacterial
healing, encapsulation techniques, and the use of superabsorbent polymers.
2.2 Autogenous Healing
Autogenous healing refers to the natural ability of concrete to heal small cracks through
continued hydration of cement particles and precipitation of calcium carbonate.
Edvardsen (1999) conducted early work that demonstrated the potential of autogenous
healing under wet conditions, emphasizing that crack widths below 0.2 mm are more
likely to self-heal.
2.3 Bacterial-Based Healing
Jonkers and Schlangen (2008) introduced the concept of microbial self-healing by
embedding specific bacteria (e.g., Bacillus species) and nutrients into the concrete mix.
These bacteria produce calcium carbonate when in contact with water and oxygen,
effectively sealing the cracks. This bio-concrete has been shown to seal cracks up to 0.8
mm wide.
2.4 Encapsulation Techniques
Several studies have explored microcapsules or hollow fibers filled with healing agents.
When cracks occur, these capsules break open and release the healing agent, which
reacts with moisture or other materials to form a seal. Van Tittelboom et al. (2011)
investigated various encapsulation methods and reported improvements in cracksealing
performance and durability.
2.5 Use of Superabsorbent Polymers (SAPs)
SAPs are materials capable of absorbing and retaining large amounts of water. Snoeck
and De Belie (2012) demonstrated that incorporating SAPs in concrete enhances
autogenous healing by keeping cracks moist, thereby promoting hydration and
precipitation processes.
2.6 Fiber Reinforcement in Self-Healing Concrete
Fibers such as polypropylene or steel can control crack width and improve the
effectiveness of healing. Ferrara et al. (2014) combined fiber-reinforced concrete with
healing agents to achieve multiple self-healing cycles, enhancing the concrete’s
durability and mechanical properties.
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2.7 Durability and Long-Term Performance
Recent studies focus on the long-term effectiveness and environmental impact of
selfhealing concrete. Wiktor and Jonkers (2011) reported that bacterial concrete
maintains high healing efficiency even after multiple wet-dry cycles, suggesting its
suitability for sustainable infrastructure.
2.8 Closure
The review of existing literature on self-healing concrete reveals that significant
advancements have been made in understanding and developing materials capable of
autonomously repairing cracks. Various mechanisms—such as microbial activity,
encapsulated healing agents, and autogenous healing—have shown promising results in
enhancing the durability and sustainability of concrete structures. However, challenges
remain in terms of cost-effectiveness, large-scale implementation, and long-term
performance validation. Continued research and field applications are essential to fully
realize the potential of self-healing concrete as a viable solution for modern
infrastructure demands. This literature review lays the groundwork for further studies
aimed at optimizing healing efficiency, improving compatibility with conventional
materials, and integrating smart technologies for real-time monitoring and repair.
