A review of the mechanical behavior of substitution materials in self-healing concrete

Abstract

Concrete is one of the most durable and long lastly used construction materials. Cracks are formed in concrete due to low tensile strength. These cracks are providing a pathway for the liquids and gases in the environment to enter into the concrete. Because of these gases and liquids, not only the concrete gets affected but corrosion of steel also happens. The durability and service life of structures decreases. Nowadays, repair, rehabilitation, and maintenance of structures are expensive and time-consuming. The cracks which are present in the concrete cannot get repaired by these actions. To improve the durability of structures by the healing of cracks, self-healing mechanism is the one which was used for many decades. This mechanism can be taken from the stimulus of biological systems. Along with healing, improving the strength is also important. This paper outlines most of the studies related to self-healing of concrete. The methods and tests used for assessing self-healing are reviewed.