Self-healing capability of concrete with crystalline admixtures in different environments

The aim of this study is analyzing the self-healing effect of a crystalline admixture in four types of environmental exposure comparing with a reference concrete. Healing was studied by means of permeability tests on cracked specimens and physical closing of the crack was observed by optic microscope and quantified through crack geometrical parameters. The studied crack openings were under 300 pm and the time set for healing was 42 days. The results show a different healing behavior depending on the exposure and the presence of the crystalline admixture, demonstrating that the presence of water is necessary for the healing reactions. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.