Development and testing

Concrete with properties to repair itself –

The development of cementitious materials exhibiting properties to heal or seal, respectively, cracks is an actual topic, while autogenous healing mechanisms – in regard to fractures with water penetrating through them – were intensively investigated earlier (Yang et al. 2009; Edvardsen 1996; Jooß 1999). Some of the mechanisms are the expansion of the cementitious matrix, post-hydration or carbonization of cement via the formation of calcium carbonate. However, it is known that only small cracks can be healed by these autogenous healing mechanisms and other techniques are required (Van...

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Issue 07/2015 Jonkers

Dutch microbiologist develops self-healing bio-concrete

Concrete buildings and other structures that are able to close and self-heal stress-induced cracks are no longer utopia but can soon become reality, thanks to an invention by the Dutch microbiologist...

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Issue 08/2010 Active waterproofing for concrete

Unique concrete admixture

Once the concrete has been used up in building in areas being in contact with ground and water, no matter whether the waterproof concrete basement system applied is a „black, white or brown tank“,...

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Issue 02/2018 The new DafStb WP Code of Practice:

Concept, notes, and recommendations for design and technical execution

In the past, concrete constructions impermeable to water were primarily designed with restricted crack width, with the objective of enabling self-healing of the designed separating cracks. However,...

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Issue 01/2019 DOLOMITE MICROFLUIDS

Cambridge researchers developing self-healing concrete

Researchers at the University of Cambridge (Department of Engineering’s Geotechnical and Environmental Research Group) are using microencapsulation technologies developed by Dolomite Microfluidics to...

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Issue 02/2018

Suitability of integral waterproof concrete construction for high use category structures

When it comes to the design and construction of waterproof concrete structures, this lesson in humility* (A.R. Dykes, Scottish Branch, Institution of Structural Engineers/1946) should guide us...

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