SRV499 – BUILT ENVIRONMENT INTEGRATED
RESEARCH
A Paper on
Fire performance and Structural
performance of Self-Healing Concrete
,Table of Content
1 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................ 1
2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 2
3 Background ............................................................................................................................. 3
3.1 Autogenous Healing ......................................................................................................... 4
3.2 Capsule based Healing ..................................................................................................... 5
3.3 Microbial Healing ............................................................................................................ 6
3.4 Shape memory Polymers .................................................................................................. 7
4 Performance evaluation .......................................................................................................... 8
4.1 Fire performances ............................................................................................................. 8
4.1.1 Failure mechanism under fire ................................................................................... 8
4.1.2 Performance of Self-Healing Concrete ..................................................................... 9
4.2 Structural performances ................................................................................................. 11
4.2.1 Mechanical properties ............................................................................................. 11
4.2.2 Durability properties ............................................................................................... 12
5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 14
References ..................................................................................................................................... 15
List of Figures
Figure 1: Performance improvements by self-healing properties (Huang, et al., 2016) ................. 2
Figure 3: Crack sealing performances before and after healing (jaf & Abdulrahman, 2023) ........ 4
Figure 2: Common techniques in self-healing concrete production (Rajczakowska, et al., 2019) 4
Figure 4: Autogenous Self-healing process (Qureshi & Al-Tabbaa, 2020) .................................... 5
Figure 5: Capsule based Self-healing technique (Asadirad, 2015) ................................................. 6
Figure 6: Bacterial based self-healing process (Nodehi, et al., 2022) ............................................ 7
Figure 7: Schematics of a SMP based healing system (Yoon, et al., 2021) .................................... 7
Figure 8: Surface temperature variation of different type of concretes (Ashwij, et al., 2019) ...... 9
Figure 9: Compressive strength variation of bacterial infused concretes at 28 days (Doostkami, et
al., 2022) ....................................................................................................................................... 11
Figure 10: Compressive strength variation of bacterial infused concretes (Ashwij, et al., 2019) 12
ii
, 1 Executive Summary
This paper provides a detailed study into self-healing concrete especially in its fire and structural
performances. Self-healing concrete is a new generation concrete material aimed at increasing the
durability of concrete structures through self-repair of micro cracking. The report outlines the
drawbacks of regular concrete including its vulnerability to cracking and therefore requiring
regular reinforcement, repair and replacement at extra cost. It then goes further into the kinds of
self-healing techniques such as autogenous healing, capsule healing, microbial healing and shape
memory polymers. All above methods are favourable in the sense that they provide different
approaches of improving the concrete’s durability.
The fire resistance of self-healing concrete is also discussed and it is suggested that while self-
healing concrete maintains much of the functionality of normal concrete it is not significantly
better in terms of fire resistance, especially with regard to bacterial treatments. Self-healing agents
enhance the mechanical properties of structures such as the compressive strength and the durability
of the structure against environmental aggressors. Research shows that self-healing concrete
improves the concrete strength, reduces its permeability and increases the service life thus making
it a feasible solution for sustainable construction.
In general, self-healing concrete is a great innovation in construction materials that has showed
an increase in durability and decreased maintenance costs, yet the concrete performance after fire
exposure and after long term usage needs more research.
RESEARCH
A Paper on
Fire performance and Structural
performance of Self-Healing Concrete
,Table of Content
1 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................ 1
2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 2
3 Background ............................................................................................................................. 3
3.1 Autogenous Healing ......................................................................................................... 4
3.2 Capsule based Healing ..................................................................................................... 5
3.3 Microbial Healing ............................................................................................................ 6
3.4 Shape memory Polymers .................................................................................................. 7
4 Performance evaluation .......................................................................................................... 8
4.1 Fire performances ............................................................................................................. 8
4.1.1 Failure mechanism under fire ................................................................................... 8
4.1.2 Performance of Self-Healing Concrete ..................................................................... 9
4.2 Structural performances ................................................................................................. 11
4.2.1 Mechanical properties ............................................................................................. 11
4.2.2 Durability properties ............................................................................................... 12
5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 14
References ..................................................................................................................................... 15
List of Figures
Figure 1: Performance improvements by self-healing properties (Huang, et al., 2016) ................. 2
Figure 3: Crack sealing performances before and after healing (jaf & Abdulrahman, 2023) ........ 4
Figure 2: Common techniques in self-healing concrete production (Rajczakowska, et al., 2019) 4
Figure 4: Autogenous Self-healing process (Qureshi & Al-Tabbaa, 2020) .................................... 5
Figure 5: Capsule based Self-healing technique (Asadirad, 2015) ................................................. 6
Figure 6: Bacterial based self-healing process (Nodehi, et al., 2022) ............................................ 7
Figure 7: Schematics of a SMP based healing system (Yoon, et al., 2021) .................................... 7
Figure 8: Surface temperature variation of different type of concretes (Ashwij, et al., 2019) ...... 9
Figure 9: Compressive strength variation of bacterial infused concretes at 28 days (Doostkami, et
al., 2022) ....................................................................................................................................... 11
Figure 10: Compressive strength variation of bacterial infused concretes (Ashwij, et al., 2019) 12
ii
, 1 Executive Summary
This paper provides a detailed study into self-healing concrete especially in its fire and structural
performances. Self-healing concrete is a new generation concrete material aimed at increasing the
durability of concrete structures through self-repair of micro cracking. The report outlines the
drawbacks of regular concrete including its vulnerability to cracking and therefore requiring
regular reinforcement, repair and replacement at extra cost. It then goes further into the kinds of
self-healing techniques such as autogenous healing, capsule healing, microbial healing and shape
memory polymers. All above methods are favourable in the sense that they provide different
approaches of improving the concrete’s durability.
The fire resistance of self-healing concrete is also discussed and it is suggested that while self-
healing concrete maintains much of the functionality of normal concrete it is not significantly
better in terms of fire resistance, especially with regard to bacterial treatments. Self-healing agents
enhance the mechanical properties of structures such as the compressive strength and the durability
of the structure against environmental aggressors. Research shows that self-healing concrete
improves the concrete strength, reduces its permeability and increases the service life thus making
it a feasible solution for sustainable construction.
In general, self-healing concrete is a great innovation in construction materials that has showed
an increase in durability and decreased maintenance costs, yet the concrete performance after fire
exposure and after long term usage needs more research.
