Development of Self-Healing Concrete Using Synthetic Fiber Reinforcement

International Journal of Civil Engineering

© 2025 by SSRG - IJCE Journal

Volume 12 Issue 12

Year of Publication : 2025

Authors : Soleen Jaber Ahmad Al-Hasan, Balamuralikrishnan R, Mohammad Moosa

10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V12I12P116

How to Cite?

Soleen Jaber Ahmad Al-Hasan, Balamuralikrishnan R, Mohammad Moosa, "Development of Self-Healing Concrete Using Synthetic Fiber Reinforcement," SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 12,  no. 12, pp. 170-179, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V12I12P116

Abstract:

Weathering of concrete happens while it is put to use, impacting its durability as well as its load-carrying capacity. In this investigation, the impact of the addition of synthetic fibers to concrete would be on the water permeability of concrete due to crack formation. In a previous investigation, it has been suggested that these fibers can control the width of cracks that form in concrete and can also close existing micro-cracks (instances of sizes between 0.1mm and 0.3mm), in addition to crack widths. A total of 24 cube samples were prepared using standard mix proportions, having an equal amount of cement content for all specimens, but varying quantities of synthetic fibers (20g, 30g, and 40g). In addition, these specimens were subjected to compressive load to obtain visible cracks after 21 days of curing time for all specimens. After an additional Seven-Day cure for the already formed specimens, they were subjected to water permeability tests to measure the ability of crack closure of specimens through measurement of the depth of water penetrated into the sample. Water permeability was found to be the least (amounting to 16mm of water penetrated in specimens containing 20g of synthetic fibers). An increase was seen in specimens containing 30g of synthetic fibers (amounting to an increase of 18mm of water penetrated). A substantial amount of water penetrated (amounting to 22mm of water penetrated), resulting from specimens having higher amounts of synthetic fibers (40g). There can be an inference drawn that an excess of synthetic fibers can reduce workability of cement paste, resulting in higher strength (harder or more brittle), yet poor ability to resist water seepage into its matrix.

Keywords:

Synthetic fibre, Self-healing, Crack formation, Water permeability, Hydration behaviour.

References:

[1] Daisuke Homma, Hirozo Mihashi, and Tomoya Nishiwaki, “Self-Healing Capability of Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Composites,” Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 217-228, 2009.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[2] Senot Sangadji, and Erik Schlangen, “Self-Healing of Concrete Structures: Novel Approach using Porous Network Concrete,” Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology, vol. 10, no. 5, pp. 185-194, 2012.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[3] Hirozo Mihashi, and Tomoya Nishiwaki, “Development of Engineered Self-Healing and Self-Repairing Concrete: State-of-the-Art Report,” Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology, vol. 10, no. 5, pp. 170-184, 2012.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[4] Victor C. Li, and Emily Herbert, “Robust Self-Healing Concrete for Sustainable Infrastructure,” Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 207-218, 2012.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[5] Ravindranatha, N. Kannan, and M.L. Likhit, “Self-Healing Material: Bacterial Concrete,” International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 656-659, 2014.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[6] M.V. Seshagiri Rao et al., “Bioengineered Concrete: A Sustainable Self-Healing Construction Material,” Research Journal of Engineering Sciences, vol. 2, no. 6, pp. 45-51, 2013.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[7] Tomoya Nishiwaki et al., “Self-Healing Capability of Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composites for Recovery of Water Tightness and Mechanical Properties,” Materials, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 2141-2145, 2014.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[8] Salam Al-Obaidi et al., “Effect of Matrix Self-Healing on the Bond-Slip Behavior of Micro Steel Fibers in Ultra-High-Performance Concrete,” Materials and Structures, vol. 56, no. 9, pp. 1-20, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[9] Sukhoon Pyo et al., “Chloride-Induced Corrosion of Steel Fiber Near the Surface of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete and its Effect on Flexural Behavior with Various Thickness,” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 224, pp. 206-213, 2019.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[10] Mylene M. Vieira et al., “Fibre Corrosion in Uncracked High-Performance Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Composites,” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 312, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[11] Victor Marcos-Meson et al., “Corrosion Resistance of Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete: A Literature Review,” Cement and Concrete Research, vol. 103, pp. 1-20, 2018.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[12] Katsufumi Hashimoto et al., “Tension-Softening Behavior and Chloride ION Diffusivity of Cracked Ultra-High Strength Fiber Reinforced Concrete,” RILEM-fib-AFGC International Symposium on Ultra-High Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC), Marseille, France, pp. 257-264, 2013.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[13] Wonsik Shin, and Doo-Yeol Yoo, “Influence of Steel Fibers Corroded through Multiple Microcracks on the Tensile Behavior of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete,” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 259, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[14] Doo-Yeol Yoo, Wonsik Shin, and Booki Chun, “Corrosion Effect on Tensile Behavior of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Reinforced with Straight Steel Fibers,” Cement and Concrete Composites, vol. 109, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[15] Doo-Yeol Yoo, Wonsik Shin, and Nemkumar Banthia, “Corrosion of Partially and Fully Debonded Steel Fibers from Ultra-High-Performance Concrete and its Influence on Pullout Resistance,” Cement and Concrete Composites, vol. 124, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[16] Doo-Yeol Yoo, Jae Young Gim, and Booki Chun, “Effects of Rust Layer and Corrosion Degree on the Pullout Behavior of Steel Fibers from Ultra-High-Performance Concrete,” Journal of Materials Research and Technology, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 3632-3648, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[17] Victor Marcos-Meson et al., “Mechanical Performance and Corrosion Damage of Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete: A Multiscale Modelling Approach,” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 234, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[18] Victor Marcos-Meson et al., “Durability of Cracked SFRC Exposed to Wet-Dry Cycles of Chlorides and Carbon Dioxide: Multiscale Deterioration Phenomena,” Cement and Concrete Research, vol. 135, pp. 1-191, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[19] Klaartje De Weerdt et al., “Phase Changes in Cementitious Materials Exposed to Saline Solutions,” Cement and Concrete Research, vol. 165, pp. 1-18, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[20] Estefanía Cuenca et al., “Effects of Alumina Nanofibers and Cellulose Nanocrystals on Durability and Self-Healing Capacity of Ultrahigh-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concretes,” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, vol. 34, no. 8, pp. 1-17, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[21] Estefania Cuenca, Valentin Postolachi, and Liberato Ferrara, “Cellulose Nanofibers to Improve the Mechanical and Durability Performance of Self-Healing Ultra-High-Performance Concretes Exposed to Aggressive Waters,” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 374, pp. 1-43, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[22] Marco Davolio et al., “A Methodology to Assess the Evolution of Mechanical Performance of UHPC as Affected by Autogenous Healing under Sustained Loadings and Aggressive Exposure Conditions,” Cement and Concrete Composites, vol. 139, pp. 1-15, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[23] Victor Marcos-Meson et al., “Pull-Out Behaviour of Steel Fibres in Cracked Concrete under Wet-Dry Cycles: Deterioration Phenomena,” Magazine of Concrete Research, vol. 73, no. 16, pp. 843-852, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[24] Victor Marcos-Meson et al., “Pull-Out Behaviour of Hooked-end Steel Fibres in Cracked Concrete Exposed to Wet-Dry Cycles of Chlorides and Carbon Dioxide: Mechanical Performance,” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 240, 2020. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[25] Hu Feng et al., “Pullout Behaviour of Different types of Steel Fibres Embedded in Magnesium Phosphate Cementitious Matrix,” International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 1-17, 2019.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[26] Liberato Ferrara et al., “Experimental Characterization of the Self-Healing Capacity of Cement-based Materials: An Overview,” Proceedings, vol. 2, no. 8, pp. 1-7, 2018.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[27] Minjin Rheu et al., “Systematic Review: Trust-Building Factors and Implications for Conversational Agent Design,” International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 81-96, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[28] Sonia da Silva Vieira, “Transdisciplinary Design: The Environment for Bridging Research Across and Beyond Design as a Discipline,” The Future of Transdisciplinary Design: Proceedings of the Workshop on “The Future of Transdisciplinary Design,” University of Luxembourg 2013, pp. 167-178, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]