Invited Lecture to the First International Conference on Self Healing Materials Victor C. Li
18-20 April 2007, Noordwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands
Victor C. Li
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2125
In this lecture we survey recent research in the promotion of autogenous self-healing in concrete materials. The conditions required for robust self-healing are reviewed.
Findings from a series of experimental research conducted on the self-healing of a concrete material with intrinsically tight crack width are summarized. Specifically, the experimental methods used to examine healing, the environmental treatment of the specimens, and the nature of self-healing are presented. The current knowledge suggested that robust self-healing can be achieved, provided that the concrete material have the ability to limit crack width to below 50 micron. With tight crack width, autogenous self-healing both in the sealing as well as mechanical sense appear assured under a wide variety of commonly encountered environmental conditions typical of transportation infrastructure. Additional research directions to attain a
“crack-free” concrete material through robust self-healing are identified.
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