Feasibility study of a passive smart self-healing cementitious composite

Abstract

The basic concept of a passive smart-healing cementitious composite has been demonstrated, in the laboratory, to be feasible. The basic elements of this smart material include the sensors and actuators in the form of controlled microcracks and hollow glass fibers carrying air-curing chemicals. Controlled microcracking is offered by a strain-hardening engineered cementitious composite developed previously. The mechanisms of sensing and actuation are revealed through in situ environmental scanning electron microscopy observations. The self-healing effectiveness is confirmed by measurement of the elastic modulus of the composite. The elastic modulus is found to regain its original value in a repeat loading subsequent to damage in a first load cycle.