Environmental and economic sustainability of crack mitigation in reinforced concrete with SuperAbsorbent polymers (SAPs)
Davide di Summa, Jose Roberto Tenorio Filho, Didier Snoeck, Philip Van den Heede, Sandra Van Vlierberghe, Liberato Ferrara and Nele De Belie
Abstract: Due to the increasing awareness and sensitivity towards the environmental and economic sustainability issues, the concrete industry has to deliver innovative solutions, in terms of materials, products and structural concepts, to achieve higher durability of engineering feats in real service scenarios. The inclusion of SuperAbsorbent Polymers (SAPs) into the concrete mix, can not only stimulate the autogenous crack healing, but is also able to reduce the shrinkage cracking through internal curing. In this paper, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis have been performed to assess both the ecological and economic profile, in real scale, of conventional reinforced concrete structures, made with concrete containing SAPs, in comparison to a reference solution without any addition. For this purpose, the corrosion of reinforcement has been regarded as the main degradation mechanism and different corrosion models have been considered and combined with the structural analysis principles to obtain reliable Service Life (SL) estimations. Four different scenarios, with a SL ranging from 50 up to 100 years, have been analyzed to assess the potential benefits of a wall, cast with SAP-containing concrete (Wall_SAP). Both Wall_SAP and a reference wall without SAP (Wall_Ref) are subjected to the concrete cover replacement as main maintenance activity while for the Wall_Ref also the crack filling by means of polyurethane resin is considered as an option (Wall_Resin). The adopted CML impact-assessment method, developed by the Center of Environmental Science of Leiden University, shows the advantage of using SAPs, since the environmental burdens were reduced up to 20% in the case of Fresh Water Aquatic Ecotoxicity impact category in comparison to the reference for the fourth scenario. In this scenario a hemispherical corrosion pit model for the steel bars and a service life of 100 years were taken into account. Furthermore, the economic assessment developed for the same scenario, pointed out for the SAPs based solution, there identified as Wall_SAP_M2_100, a consistent reduction in terms of costs up to 14% if compared to the reference, there named as Wall_Ref_M2_100. The outcomes definitely highlight the potential of the analyzed technology that can fulfil the future needs of the stakeholders involved in the construction sector.
Reference of this article: Davide di Summa, José Roberto Tenório Filho, Didier Snoeck, Philip Van den Heede, Sandra Van Vlierberghe, Liberato Ferrara, Nele De Belie, Environmental and economic sustainability of crack mitigation in reinforced concrete with SuperAbsorbent polymers (SAPs), Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 358, 2022, 131998, ISSN 0959-6526
Affiliations:
Davide Di Summa, José Roberto Tenório Filho, Philip Van den Heede, and Nele de Belie: Ghent University, Department of Structural Engineering and Building Materials, Magnel-Vandepitte Laboratory, Tech Lane Ghent Science Park, Campus A, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 60, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium
Didier Snoeck: BATir, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 50 av F.D. Roosevelt, CP 194/02, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
Sandra Van Vlierberghe: Ghent University, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Krijgslaan 281, S4 9000, Ghent, Belgium
Liberato Ferrara: Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
José Roberto Tenório Filho: SIM vzw, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 48, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The full article can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131998
Durability of self-healing cementitious systems with encapsulated polyurethane evaluated with a new pre-standard test method
Giovanni Anglani, Tim Van Mullem, Jean-Marc Tulliani, Kim Van Tittelboom, Nele De Belie and Paola Antonaci
Abstract: This work reports on the self-healing capabilities of mortar specimens with polyurethane encapsulated in two types of cementitious macro-capsules, by comparison with the performance of mortar specimens using the same healing agent encapsulated in glass capsules, as tested in an inter-laboratory testing campaign following a pre-standard procedure. This comparison was performed with a twofold objective of checking the robustness of such pre-standard procedure for varying types of capsules and testing the effectiveness of a new type of cementitious capsule that has never been used before in durability tests. The testing procedure was developed in the framework of the EU COST Action SARCOS. First, the specimens were pre-cracked via three-point bending followed by an active crack width control technique. Then, the self-healing effect was characterised in terms of water permeability reduction. The cementitious capsules offered equivalent or better performance compared to the glass capsules used in the inter-laboratory testing. The average sealing efficiency for the specimens containing cementitious capsules ranged from 54 to 74%, while for glass macro-capsules it was equal to 56%. It was also observed that when applying the pre-standard procedure to test specimens containing capsules with comparable size and geometric arrangement, the same results were obtained in different repetitions of the test. The results obtained confirmed the possibility to use the cementitious capsules as a valid macro-encapsulation system, offering additional advantages compared to glass capsules. The repeatability of the results corroborated the robustness of the adopted testing procedure, highlighting its potential for further standardisation.
Reference of this article: Anglani, G., Van Mullem, T., Tulliani, JM. et al. Durability of self-healing cementitious systems with encapsulated polyurethane evaluated with a new pre-standard test method. Mater Struct 55, 143 (2022).
Affiliations:
Giovanni Anglani and Paola Antonaci: Department of Structural, Geotechnical and Building Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy
Tim Van Mullem, Kim Van Tittelboom and Nele De Belie: Magnel-Vandepitte Laboratory, Department of Structural Engineering and Building Materials, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, Tech Lane Ghent Science Park, Campus A, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 60, B-9052, Gent, Belgium
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The full article can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-021-01818-3
Reservoir-Vascular Tubes Network for Self-Healing Concrete: Performance Analysis by Acoustic Emission, Digital Image Correlation and Ultrasound Velocity
Eleni Tsangouri, Corentin Van Loo, Yasmina Shields, Nele De Belie, Kim Van Tittelboom & Dimitrios G. Aggelis
Abstract: A novel linear reservoir-vascular tubes network is presented in this work and the design efficacy is explored by testing concrete beams loaded on bending and by assessing their damage healing and mechanical recovery. The healing system is composed of additively manufactured polymer components that appear equally effective compared to conventional ceramic tubes since the 3D printed polymer-tubes instantly break upon cracking. It is shown that bulk reservoirs embedded into concrete can deviate cracks and detrimentally affect the concrete’s resistance to failure. The crack formation and re-opening is monitored by acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC) concluding that initial brittle cracking is shifted after healing to a pseudo-ductile crack re-opening with extended post-softening. The sealed cracks show significant strength and toughness recovery (i.e., above 80% of the original value) escorted also by an ultrasound pulse velocity (UPV) increase (up to 126% relative to the damage state) after a healing intervention. The work critically reports on obstructions of the current design: (i) the network tubes are clogged although the agent was flushed out of the network after healing and as a result re-healing is unattainable; and (ii) vacuum spaces are formed during casting underneath the network tubes, due to limited vibration aiming on the tubes’ tightness, but also due to inefficient aggregates settlement, leading to a strength decrease. This work calls attention to the impact of vascular networks design and performance on a complex cracks network and fracture zone development. .
Reference of this article: Tsangouri, E.; Van Loo, C.; Shields, Y.; De Belie, N.; Van Tittelboom, K.; Aggelis, D.G. Reservoir-Vascular Tubes Network for Self-Healing Concrete: Performance Analysis by Acoustic Emission, Digital Image Correlation and Ultrasound Velocity. Appl. Sci. 2022, 12, 4821
DOI: 110.3390/app12104821
Keywords: concrete; self-healing; cracking; vascular network; reservoir; acoustic emission; digital image correlation; ultrasound pulse velocity
Affiliations:
Eleni Tsangouri, Corentin Van Loo, Dimitros G Aggelis:Department Mechanics of Materials and Constructions (MeMC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Yasmina Shields, Tim Van Mullem, Nele De Belie & Kim Van Tittelboom: Magnel-Vandepitte Laboratory, Department of Structural Engineering and Building Materials, Faculty of
Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 60, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The full article can be found here: https://doi.org/10.3390/app12104821
Effects of bacteria-embedded polylactic acid (PLA) capsules on fracture properties of strain hardening cementitious composite (SHCC)
Shan He, Shizhe Zhang, Mladna Lukovic and Erik Schlangen
Abstract: Strain hardening cementitious composite (SHCC) is a special class of ultra-ductile material which has autogenous self-healing capability due to its intrinsic tight crack widths. To further improve its healing ability, healing agent (HA) can be incorporated in SHCC, enabling it also the autonomous self-healing mechanism. In this study, the effects of adding bacteria-embedded polylactic acid (PLA) capsules on the mechanical properties of SHCC with different amounts of HA (i.e., 1.25%, 2.5%, 5% by weight to binder) were investigated. Experiments were conducted to examine the composite performance, matrix properties and single fiber pullout behavior of the SHCCs, followed by microscopy characterization of the fiber/matrix interface microstructure. Results show that the inclusion of the PLA-HA up to 5% by weight to binder influenced the tensile performance (i.e., tensile strength and ductility) of SHCC only to a very small extent but significantly reduced the average residual crack widths. The inclusion of HA at a high dosage (5%) increased the crack tip toughness (Jtip) of the matrix by lowering elastic modulus and increasing fracture toughness. Single fiber pullout results show that the fiber/matrix bond properties were enhanced by the addition of the HA, which can be attributed to the formation of a denser interfacial transition zone (ITZ) with less calcium hydroxide crystals as revealed by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs. The improved bond properties led to higher fiber bridging complementary energy and thus partially sustained the tensile strain capacity as verified by the micromechanical model.
Reference of this article: Shan He, Shizhe Zhang, Mladna Lukovic and Erik Schlangen (2022), Effects of bacteria-embedded polylactic acid (PLA) capsules on fracture properties of strain hardening cementitious composite (SHCC) , Engineering Fracture Mechanics, Volume 268, Elsevier, ISSN 0013-7944
Affiliations:
Shan He, Shizhe Zhang and Erik Schlangen: Microlab, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CN Delft, the Netherlands
Mladena Lukovic: Concrete Structures, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CN Delft, the Netherlands
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The full article can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2022.108480
Understanding the Impacts of Healing Agents on the Properties
of Fresh and Hardened Self-Healing Concrete: A Review
Harry Hermawan, Peter Minne, Pedro Serna & Elke Gruyaert
Abstract: Self-healing concrete has emerged as one of the prospective materials to be used in future constructions, substituting conventional concrete with the view of extending the service life of the structures. As a proof of concept, over the last several years, many studies have been executed on the effectiveness of the addition of self-healing agents on crack sealing and healing in mortar, while studies on the concrete level are still rather limited. In most cases, mix designs were not optimized regarding the properties of the fresh concrete mixture, properties of the hardened concrete and self-healing efficiency, meaning that the healing agent was just added on top of the normal mix (no adaptations of the concrete mix design for the introduction of healing agents). A comprehensive review has been conducted on the concrete mix design and the impact of healing agents (e.g., crystalline admixtures, bacteria, polymers and minerals, of which some are encapsulated in microcapsules or macrocapsules) on the properties of fresh and hardened concrete. Eventually, the remaining research gaps in knowledge are identified.
Reference of this article: Hermawan, H.; Minne, P.; Serna, P.; Gruyaert, E. Understanding the Impacts of Healing Agents on the Properties of Fresh and Hardened Self-Healing Concrete: A Review. Processes 2021, 9, 2206.
DOI: 10.3390/pr9122206
Keywords: self-healing concrete; crystalline admixture; bacteria; microcapsules; macrocapsules; fresh properties; hardened properties
Affiliations:
Harry Hermawan, Peter Minne & Elke Gruyaert: Department of Civil Engineering, Materials and Constructions, Ghent Technology Campus, KU Leuven, Gebroeders De Smetstraat 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Pedro Serna: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Del Hormigón (ICITECH), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera S/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The full article can be found here: https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9122206 or you can download the document here