Autogeneous healing and chloride ingress in cracked concrete

B. Šavija, E. Schlangen
Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands

An experimental study of the influence of autogeneous healing on chloride ingress in cracked concrete is presented. In the study, two concrete mixtures (a Portland cement mix and a blast furnace slag mix), two healing regimes (submerged and fog room regime), two cracking ages (14 and 28 days), and multiple crack widths are used as parameters. An adapted Rapid Chloride Migration testing procedure is used after the healing period to assess the effectiveness of healing. It was found that small bending-type (i.e. tapered) cracks can heal fully, and larger cracks partially under tested conditions. The obtained results provide a good starting point for further study of the influence of autogeneous or self-healing on concrete durability.

Key words: Concrete, cracking, autogeneous healing, durability, marine environment