The use of additive manufacturing in self-healing cementitious materials: A state-of-the-art review
Zhi Wan, Yading Xu, Shan He, Erik Schlangen, and Branko Šavija
Abstract: This paper presents a state-of-the-art review on the application of additive manufacturing (AM) in self-healing cementitious materials. AM has been utilized in self-healing cementitious materials in three ways: (1) concrete with 3D-printed capsules/vasculatures; (2) 3D concrete printing (3DCP) with fibers or supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs); and (3) a combination of (1) and (2). 3D-printed capsules/vascular systems are the most extensively investigated, which are capable of housing larger volumes of healing agents. However, due to the dimension restraints of printers, most of the printed vasculatures/capsules are in small scale, making them difficult for upscaling. Meanwhile, 3DCP shows great potential to lower the environmental footprint of concrete construction. Incorporation of fibers and SCMs helps improve the autogenous healing performance of 3DCP. Besides, 3D-printed concrete with hollow channels as the vasculature could further improve the autonomous healing and scalability of self-healing cementitious materials. Finally, possible directions for future research are discussed.
Reference of this article: Zhi Wan, Yading Xu, Shan He, Erik Schlangen, Branko Šavija, The use of additive manufacturing in self-healing cementitious materials: A state-of-the-art review, Developments in the Built Environment, Volume 17, 2024, 100334, ISSN 2666-1659,
Affiliations:
Zhi Wan, Yading Xu, Shan He, Erik Schlangen, and Branko Šavija: Microlab, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
The full article can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dibe.2024.100334
Investigation of Membrane Emulsification for the Scaled Production of Microcapsules for Self-sealing Cementitious Systems
Claire Riordan, Dave Palmer and Abir Al-Tabbaa
Abstract: Capsule-based self-sealing in cementitious systems is an advantageous methodology which has the potential to decrease water ingress and thus enhance a system’s durability and extend its lifespan. If capsule-based self-sealing is to be considered as an industrial solution, production must be scaled while capsule quality and batch reproducibility are maintained. In this study, polyurethane-shelled microcapsules containing a commercially available water repellent agent were produced using membrane emulsification equipment, supplied by Micropore Technologies, followed by interfacial polymerisation. Production was scaled across three different cross-flow membrane emulsification devices, the AXF-1, the AXF-3, and the AXF-4, increasing production output to a maximum of 850 L/hr of capsule suspension. Following production, capsules were characterised, measuring average size and size distribution, as well as integrated into a cementitious matrix. The results highlight the key parameters that govern capsule size, the versatility of the equipment, and the consistent quality of capsules produced. It is hoped that this scaled production of capsules will help to develop the commercial viability of capsule-based self-sealing cementitious systems.
Reference of this article: Investigation of Membrane Emulsification for the Scaled Production of Microcapsules for Self-sealing Cementitious Systems Claire Riordan, Dave Palmer and Abir Al-Tabbaa MATEC Web Conf., 378 (2023) 02010
Affiliations:
Claire Riordan, Dave Palmer and Abir Al-Tabbaa: Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK
Dave Palmer: Micropore Technologies Ltd, Wilton Centre, Redcar, TS10 4RF, UK
Corresponding author:
The full article can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/202337802010
Towards a Conscious and Far-Sighted Construction Market Through the Use of Sustainability Indexes
Davide di Summa, Esteban Camacho, Liberato Ferrara, & Nele De Belie
Abstract: The ever-changing needs of the end user in the construction industry, together with the increasing awareness about the great influence of the sector on the worldwide sustainability, require some tools to be employed by the stakeholders to drive the market towards conscious and appropriate choices. An example in this regard are advanced cement-based materials that, either by partially replacing cement with supplementary cementitious materials and virgin aggregates with recycled ones or by increasing durability, are generating interest in the market thanks to their potentially better environmental performance. Therefore, besides the sustainability analyses such as the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) ones, some recent literature already tackled the problem proposing a more immediate evaluation approach represented by a series of indexes which are focused on the ecological and structural (generally, the compressive strength) performance of the material. To this end, from a comprehensive perspective, in this work two indexes are proposed able to include a wider range of environmental performances besides the costs and the durability characteristics. One is aimed to determine the suitability of using certain cementitious materials, encompassing the aforesaid parameters for the cubic meter scale. A second one is aimed to define the best mix design to be used to build certain structures (or components). For such purpose, the case of precast panels made with Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) is here addressed, to assess the consistency of such indexes, upgrading from the material scale to the product scale.
Reference of this article:di Summa, D., Camacho, E., Ferrara, L., De Belie, N. (2023). Towards a Conscious and Far-Sighted Construction Market Through the Use of Sustainability Indexes. In: Ilki, A., Çavunt, D., Çavunt, Y.S. (eds) Building for the Future: Durable, Sustainable, Resilient. fib Symposium 2023. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 349. Springer, Cham.
Affiliations:
Davide di Summa, and Nele De Belie: Department of Structural Engineering and Building Materials, Magnel-Vandepitte Laboratory, Ghent University, Tech Lane Ghent Science Park, Campus A, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 60, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
Davide Di Summa,and L. Ferrara: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy
Esteban Camacho: RDC Research and Development Concretes, Calle Conde Altea 52, pta 3, 46005, València, Spain
The full article can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32519-9_86
LCA assessment related to the evolution of the earthquake performance of a strategic structure
D. di Summa, A. Marcucci, M. Nicolò, F. Martignoni, A. Carrassi, L. Ferrara, & N. De Belie
Abstract: Several buildings and infrastructures, located in urban areas, are identified as strategic in the case of an earthquake event. This is the case of a water treatment plant which is currently built in Genoa, Italy, and which has been assessed for the scope of this research. Since the structure has been designed following the seismic design prescriptions, this work aims to provide a preliminary assessment of how the degradation mechanisms do affect its earthquake response. To this purpose, both chloride attack and carbonation are taken into account as main degradation mechanisms. Moreover, due to the importance of the water treatment plant, to develop a realistic Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis, the earthquake resistance of the structure and its evolution over time as a function of the aforesaid degrad- ation mechanisms, have been accounted as Serviceability Limit State to estimate the frequency of the maintenance activities needed in a timeframe of 100 years.
Reference of this article:Biondini, F., & Frangopol, D.M. (Eds.). (2023). Life-Cycle of Structures and Infrastructure Systems: PROCEEDINGS OF THE EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON LIFE-CYCLE CIVIL ENGINEERING (IALCCE 2023), 2-6 JULY, 2023, POLITECNICO DI MILANO, MILAN, ITALY (1st ed.). CRC Press. eBook ISBN 9781003323020 pages 1169–1176
Affiliations:
Davide di Summa, and Nele De Belie: Ghent University, Department of Structural Engineering and Building Materials MagnelVandepitte Laboratory, Tech Lane Ghent Science Park, Campus A, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 60, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium
Davide Di Summa, A. Marcucci, M. Nicolò, F. Martignoni, A. Carrassi and L. Ferrara: Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
The full article can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003323020-143
How to better exploit the use of LCA analysis for Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) through a constitutive law which integrates chloride and sulfate attack
D.di Summa, F. Soave, M. Davolio, S.M.J. Al-Obaidi, L. Ferrara & N. De Belie
Abstract: Structural applications of advanced cementitious materials such as Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) have been already assessed in harsh exposure conditions with presence of chlorides or sulfates. Nevertheless, the limited availability of design standards has not favoured so far a widespread use of these materials. Moreover, previous studies employed a constitutive model only partially representative of the real behavior of such materials when exposed to aggressive conditions. Therefore, this work, employing a “scenario dependent” constitutive law, estimates the serviceability limit state in correspondence of which it is needed to carry out the maintenance activities and investigates, through the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, the ecological and economic profile of a UHPC water basin structure subjected to chloride and sulfate attack. The CML impact assessment method has been employed for the specific purpose to compare such structure to one made with ordinary reinforced concrete (ORC) using as system boundary the A1-B7 stages indicated in EN 15804.
Reference of this article:Biondini, F., & Frangopol, D.M. (Eds.). (2023). Life-Cycle of Structures and Infrastructure Systems: PROCEEDINGS OF THE EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON LIFE-CYCLE CIVIL ENGINEERING (IALCCE 2023), 2-6 JULY, 2023, POLITECNICO DI MILANO, MILAN, ITALY (1st ed.). CRC Press. pages 3094–3101
Affiliations:
Davide di Summa, and Nele De Belie: Ghent University, Department of Structural Engineering and Building Materials MagnelVandepitte Laboratory, Tech Lane Ghent Science Park, Campus A, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 60, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium
Davide Di Summa, F. Soave, M. Davolio, S.M.J. Al-Obaidi and Liberato Ferrara: Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
The full article can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003323020-377