Addressing the need for standardization of test methods for self-healing concrete: an inter-laboratory study on concrete with macrocapsules

Tim Van Mullem, Giovanni Anglani, Marta Dudek, Hanne Vanoutrive, Girts Bumanis, Chrysoula Litina, Arkadiusz Kwiecień, Abir Al-Tabbaa, Diana Bajare, Teresa Stryszewska, Robby Caspeele, Kim Van Tittelboom, TullianiJean-Marc, Elke Gruyaert, Paola Antonaci & Nele De Belie

Abstract: Development and commercialization of self-healing concrete is hampered due to a lack of standardized test methods. Six inter-laboratory testing programs are being executed by the EU COST action SARCOS, each focusing on test methods for a specific self-healing technique. This paper reports on the comparison of tests for mortar and concrete speci-mens with polyurethane encapsulated in glass macrocapsules. First, the pre-cracking method was analysed: mortar specimens were cracked in a three-point bending test followed by an active crack width control technique to restrain the crack width up to a predefined value, while the concrete specimens were cracked in a three-point bending setup with a displacement-controlled loading system. Microscopic measurements showed that with the application of the active control technique almost all crack widths were within a narrow predefined range. Conversely, for the concrete specimens the variation on the crack width was higher. After pre-cracking, the self-healing effect was characterized via durability tests: the mortar specimens were tested in a water permeability test and the spread of the healing agent on the crack surfaces was determined, while the concrete specimens were subjected to two capillary water absorption tests, executed with a different type of waterproofing applied on the zone around the crack. The quality of the waterproofing was found to be important, as different results were obtained in each absorption test. For the permeability test, 4 out of 6 labs obtained a comparable flow rate for the reference specimens, yet all 6 labs obtained comparable sealing efficiencies, highlighting the potential for further standardization.

Reference of this article: Tim Van Mullem, Giovanni Anglani, Marta Dudek, Hanne Vanoutrive, Girts Bumanis, Chrysoula Litina, Arkadiusz Kwiecień, Abir Al-Tabbaa, Diana Bajare, Teresa Stryszewska, Robby Caspeele, Kim Van Tittelboom, Tulliani Jean-Marc, Elke Gruyaert, PaolaAntonaci & Nele De Belie (2020) Addressing the need for standardization of test methods forself-healing concrete: an inter-laboratory study on concrete with macrocapsules, Science andTechnology of Advanced Materials, 21:1, 661-682,
DOI: 10.1080/14686996.2020.1814117

Self-healing concrete research in the European projects SARCOS and SMARTINCS

Nele De Belie, Kim Van Tittelboom, Mercedes Sánchez Moreno, Liberato Ferrara and Elke Gruyaert

Abstract: Self-healing concrete and preventive repair of structures will slow down the development of cracks and/or arrest the ingress of aggressive agents. When the cracks are closed or a decrease in crack width is achieved, this will be associated with improved durability of the structure. This paper describes the literature review and inter-laboratory comparison carried out within the COST Action CA15202 (SARCOS), as well as the research planned within the recently started International Training Network SMARTINCS.

Reference of this article: De Belie, N., Van Tittelboom, K., Sánchez Moreno, M., Ferrara, L., Gruyaert, E. (2020). Self-healing concrete research in the European projects SARCOS and SMARTINCS. Plenary keynote lecture. RILEM Spring Convention, University of Minho,  Guimarães, Portugal,  9-10 March 2020. (In press).

As Riccardo Maddalena and Diane Gardner report, self-healing concrete represents an environmentally-friendly choice, for increasing the service life of a structure, and reducing its overall maintenance and the subsequent usage of concrete.