Ain Shams Engineering Journal 10 (2019) 23–32

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Ain Shams Engineering Journal

journal homepage: www.sciencedirect.com

Macro mechanical properties of self healing concrete with crystalline

admixture under different environments
T. Chandra Sekhara Reddy ⇑, A. Ravitheja
GPR Engineering College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The civil research community has been attracted to concrete with self-healing properties since they are
Received 8 May 2017 an intelligent solution for sustainable infrastructures with long duration. The present study is analyzing
Revised 27 September 2017 the self- healing capability of early age and structural cracks in concrete by using crystalline admixture as
Accepted 10 January 2018
self-healing agent under four different exposure conditions by assessing the regained mechanical prop-
Available online 26 December 2018
erties of concrete. Physical (morphological) and chemical composition of the hardened pastes, were stud-
ied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The
Keywords:
analysis showed that for all exposure conditions the compressive strength and split tensile strength of
Self-healing concrete
Early age cracks
the tested concrete with crystalline admixture (CCA) samples regains after early age and structural
Structural cracks cracks. This is due to substantial increase in the calcite content which is evident from SEM-EDS and
Crystalline admixture FTIR analysis.
Ó 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-
nd/4.0/).

1. Introduction
Cracking in concrete structures not only reduces designed ser-
vice life but also causes corrosion of steel bar due to weathering
action. Some kind of human intervention is required to inspect
and repair the cracks in concrete. In some cases, however, it is dif-
ficult for engineers to access damaged sites for repair work because
of their location and/or environmental conditions. Examples of
above scenario are underground structural members, walls of
Abbreviations: WI2, Specimen pre cracked at 2nd day and cured in water
immersion; WC2, Specimen pre cracked at 2nd day and cured in water contract;
WD2, Specimen pre cracked at 2nd day and cured in wet-dry; AE2, Specimen pre
cracked at 2nd day and cured in air exposure; WI28, Specimen pre cracked at 28th
day and cured in water immersion; WC28, Specimen pre cracked at 28th day and
cured in water contract; WD28, Specimen pre cracked at 28th day and cured in wet-
dry; AE28, Specimen pre cracked at 28th day and cured in air exposure; CCA,
Concrete with Crystalline admixture; CA, Crystalline admixture; SEM-EDS, Scanning
electron microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy; FTIR, Fourier
transform infrared spectroscopy.
⇑ Corresponding author at: Civil Engineering Department, GPR Engineering
College, Kurnool 518007, Andhra Pradesh, India.
E-mail address: tcsreddy61.ce@gprec.ac.in (T. Chandra Sekhara Reddy).
Peer review under responsibility of Ain Shams University.
Production and hosting by Elsevier
tanks storing highly toxic waste and radioactive waste disposal
facilities. The ability of a material to repair itself with only a little
or almost no external help to regain its desirable mechanical prop-
erties after it has incurred damage or degradation is attributed as
its self-healing property [1]. Biological entities like bones, muscles
and trees, have the ability of self-healing [2].
The use of self-healing materials undoubtedly represents an
innovative and cutting edge issue for sustainable civil engineering
industry. The requirement of unexpected maintenance and repair
can be eliminated for a standard prolonged duration of time result-
ing in creation of better and more sustainable civil infrastructure
by using building materials with self-healing properties [3]. Most
of the research work for self-healing materials have been concen-
trated on cracks closing and regaining their durability and strength
based mechanical properties.
Autogenous healing and autonomous/engineered healing are the
two self-healing modes of concrete. The natural and intrinsic ability
to self-heal the small cracks in concrete owing to its composition is
termed as autogenous healing. Hydration of cement and calcium
carbonate precipitation is the dominant cause for autogenous heal-
ing. There are other modes for execution of this process too. An engi-
neered healing process developed for enhancing the self-healing
properties of a concrete element is termed as autonomous healing.
Autonomous/engineered healing divided as ’passive’ and ’active’
modes. Activating the mechanism by human intervention is active
mode and without human intervention is passive mode [4–10].

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2018.01.005
2090-4479/Ó 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
24 T. Chandra Sekhara Reddy, A. Ravitheja / Ain Shams Engineering Journal 10 (2019) 23–32
It is observed that a lot of work has been done on to improve the
self-healing capability in concrete, i.e. the use of microencapsu-
lated healing agents, super absorbent polymers (SAPS), sealing
materials in brittle tubes, shape memory alloys, bacterial concrete
and the use of crystalline admixtures [11–30]. Crystalline admix-
tures (CA) is permeability decreasing mixture which have hydro-
philic properties. The behavior of these products is still partially
unknown: in fact, the ACI TC 212 report states that the concrete
compounds reacting with CA are tricalcium silicates, while other
authors [31] indicate calcium hydroxide as the reactive. The quan-
titative assessment of crack sealing/healing on the recovery of
engineering properties of concrete still needs a much deeper inves-
tigation. Most of the surveyed studies focused on the variation of
water permeability and only very few among them analyzed the
effects on recovery of mechanical properties, in case evaluated by
means of non-destructive techniques. It was anyway pointed out
that recovery in signal transmission was not as spectacular as that
in permeability [32–36]. In recent studies, it is reported that
delayed hydration was the main process in young concrete and
carbonation was more relevant for older concrete. Still with refer-
ence to the autogenous healing process, the use of different addi-
tions such as fly ash or blast furnace slag and their increase of
the delayed hydration enhances self-healing capacity of concrete
[37–42]. The presence of crystalline additive in concrete improves
its self-healing properties. Immersion in water improves the higher
self-healing properties, for higher crack widths especially, as
expected. [31,43–46].
1.1. Research significance
The mechanical parameters and crack closing ability are taken
as healing properties for analyzing the influence of crystalline
admixture as a self-healing property enhancer. The results of this
analysis is obtained as the performance parameters of healing of
early age and structural cracks. Exposure to four different environ-
mental conditions are done and comparative study is done by
investigating them.
The range of widths of the cracks were between 0.10 and
0.40 mm for all the four cases. By varying the combination of
experimental parameters, the healing property’s efficiency limits
were analyzed. New perspectives on the use of crystalline admix-
tures as self healing agents in engineering applications where
water tightness is a key factor.
2. Experimental program and methodology
2.1. Experimental program
Self-healing capability of the concrete is assessed by elevated
strength regain capability of cracked specimens after healing. The
crack width between 0.2 and 0.4 mm is maintained.
As the most shrinkage cracks occurs few days after casting, pre
cracking is fixed at 2 days for early age cracks. Most of the struc-
tural cracks occur in the service life hence pre cracking is fixed at
28 days for structural cracks. The strength healing capability of
concrete with 1.1% of CA is studied under different environmental
exposures like water immersion (WI), water contact (WC), wet-dry
(WD) and air exposure (AE) by assessing regained mechanical
properties.
This study includes assessment of regained mechanical proper-
ties due to self healing specimens under different exposures and
strength properties of control concrete and crystalline admixture
concrete specimens. Concrete cubical moulds of size 150mm3w-
erecast for the determination of compressive strength of concrete
and split tensile strength of concrete is determined by casting
cylinder of size 150 mm
300 mm. In the first 24 h the samples
were allowed to be in the steel mould at ambient condition.
Total 10 group of specimens were cast. Two groups are used for
improvement of strength characteristics without CA and with CA,
four groups are used for early age cracks self-healing study and
remaining four groups are used for structural cracks self-healing
study under four exposure conditions respectively.
2.2. Materials and mix proportions
In this present work fiber reinforced concrete has been used.
Fibers can be an excellent counter action against crack causing
forces during both the pre-cracking period and post-cracking per-
iod [47,48]. This can be done since the emphasis of this study is
to improve the healing properties of the specimens. To suppress
the cracks from branching excessively the quantity of steel fiber
was fixed at 40 kg/m3. This is with adherence to the criterion of
controlling crack openings. The materials used in the CCA as shown
in Table 1.
2.3. Experimental methodology
Four stages of methodology adopted for studying the effects of
self-healing of concrete samples:
1. Determination of mechanical properties of normal concrete and
concrete with crystalline admixture (CA) at 28 days.
2. Creation of control damage in the specimens
(a) Early age cracks
(b) Structural cracks
3. Exposure simulation
4. Evaluation of the regained mechanical properties
2.3.1. Creation of control damage in the specimens
Cube and Cylindrical specimens were pre cracked at the age of
2 days for early age cracks and 28 days for structural cracks [49],
inducing a controlled damage by means of a compression test
and splitting test (Fig. 1). The crack width measurement employing
the calibration ruler of optical micrometer while conducting the
compression and splitting test obtains crack dimensions accurately
with the range of 0.2–0.4 mm.
Four environmental exposures created for early age and struc-
tural after pre cracking of specimens were studied in order to
determine the effect of humidity on the self-healing capability of
the cracked specimens.
1. Water immersion (WI): Immersion in tap water continuously
2. Wet-dry cycles (WD): Immersion in tap water for 3.5 days and
air exposure for others 3.5 days.
3. Water contact (WC): A layer of water about 2 cm on one sur-
face, Additional water was supplied to maintain the water layer.
4. Air exposure at laboratory conditions (AE): Storage of the spec-
imens in normal atmospheric air conditions.
2.3.2. Evaluation of the regained mechanical properties
Since the self-healing properties are projected to increase, a cor-
responding increase in the value of stiffness and cracking loads are
expected from the stage of initial loading to reloading. First crack-
ing load lapsing recovery (R) was employed to calculate the
improvement in self-healing strength using Eq. (1) given below.
P healed
R¼ C

100 ð1Þ
P Virgin
C
where Phealed
C and P Virgin
C are the critical loads at fracture for the
healed and virgin specimen respectively.
 T. Chandra Sekhara Reddy, A. Ravitheja / Ain Shams Engineering Journal 10 (2019) 23–32 25

Table 1
Mix proportions of CCA concrete.

Material Cement(Kg) W/C Gravel (Kg) Gravel (Kg) Sand (Kg) Steel fibers (Kg) Crystalline admixture (Kg)
(20–12.5 mm) (12.5–4.75 mm)
CCA 425.5 0.45 599 599 656.5 40 4.68

Fig. 1. Pre-cracking process of concrete specimen.

3. Results and discussion
3.1. Compressive strength
Compressive strength was used to evaluate whether the mate-
rial was able to recover some of its strength after acquiring some
minor damage. The samples were then left to heal for 42 days.
Compressive strength of concrete with CCA shows an 11.457%
increase in strength compared to normal concrete which is attrib-
uted to the filling of voids by CASAH and calcite content. Com-
pressive strength of concrete with early age cracks cured for
42 days in WI2, WC2, WD2 and AE2 has decreased by 7.18%,
4.47%, 15.29% and 36.07% compared with compressive strength
of CCA after 28 days curing due to insufficient calcite formed
inside the crack. The strength between the crack surface and
new calcite is most likely weaker compared CCA matrix as shown
in Fig. 2. Compressive strength of CCA with structural cracks
cured for 42 days in WI28 and WC28 has increased by 13.98%
and 7.72% compared with compressive strength of CCA after
28 days and WD28 and AE28 has decreased by 9.79% and 23.82%
compared with compressive strength of CCA after 28 days shown
in Fig. 3. Results of the recovery of compressive strength can be
attributed to the self-healing of these pre existing micro cracks,
due to hydration of anhydrous particles of cement and especially
by the activating effect of the crystalline admixture, on the sur-
faces of these micro cracks. This is determined as a percentage
of gain of mechanical properties for WI28 and WC28. Compressive
strength recovery of CCA after healing of early age and structural
cracks with respect to compressive strength of CCA in WI, WC,
WD, AE is 90–115%,85–110%,75–95% and 55–80% respectively
are shown in Fig. 4. It could be noted that CA in the concrete
should be added in optimum proportions, considering their reac-
tivity and filling of cracks s desired for improving the autogenous
self-healing capacity.

Fig. 2. Compressive strength of CCA after early age cracks healing under different exposures.
26 T. Chandra Sekhara Reddy, A. Ravitheja / Ain Shams Engineering Journal 10 (2019) 23–32

Fig. 3. Compressive strength of CCA after structural cracks healing under different exposures.

Fig. 4. Percentage compressive strength recovery of CCA after early age and structural cracks healing under different exposures.

3.2. Split tensile strength analysis 3.3. Load displacement curve

Split tensile strength with CA after 28 days curing in water is
increased 35% when compared to normal concrete. Split tensile
strength of concrete with early age cracks cured for 42 days in WI2-
WC2, WD2 and AE2 has decreased by 14.43%, 25.98%, 26.50% and
50.13% compared with Split tensile strength of CCA after 28 days
curing. Split tensile strength of CCA structural cracks cured for
42 days in WI28 has increased by 2.88% compared with split tensile
strength of CCA after 28 days and WD28, WC28 and AE28 has
decreased by 3.67%, 16.83% and 26.02% compared with Split tensile
strength of CCA after 28 days Figs. 5 and 6. Split tensile strength
recovery CCA after healing of early age and structural cracks with
respect to split tensile strength of CCA in WI, WC, WD, AE is 80–
105%, 70–100%,70–90% and 45–80% respectively are shown in Fig. 7.
High deformation capacity and energy dissipation capacity are a
paramount requirement for concrete materials used in structural
application as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. It is observed that the incor-
poration of CA in concrete results increased in deformation capac-
ity of concrete which is due to the formation of hydrated products
at larger scale. It can be observed that the healed concrete under
exposure for 2 days and 28 days pre crack has regained its defor-
mation capacity.
It is therefore, deduced that crystalline admixture inclusion
results formation of hydrated products at larger scale. These
hydrated products heal the shrinkage cracks and pores in concrete
matrix. The hydrated products also enhance the load carrying
capacity and strain capacity of concrete.
 T. Chandra Sekhara Reddy, A. Ravitheja / Ain Shams Engineering Journal 10 (2019) 23–32 27

Fig. 5. Split tensile strength of CCA after early age cracks healing under different exposures.

Fig. 6. Split strength of CCA after structural cracks healing under different exposures.

Fig. 7. Percentage split tensile strength recovery of CCA after early age and structural cracks healing under different exposures.
28 T. Chandra Sekhara Reddy, A. Ravitheja / Ain Shams Engineering Journal 10 (2019) 23–32
Fig. 8. Load-displacement curves of CCA after healing of early age cracks under
different exposures.
Fig. 9. Load-displacement curves of CCA after healing of Structural cracks under
different exposures.
3.4. Stress-strain behaviour
Compression test was conducted by measuring the cylindrical
specimen’s stress strain behavior. The cylindrical specimens of var-
ious compositions that were cured for duration of 28 days were
subjected to compression till they failed. Figs. 10 and 11 show
the stress strain curve of each specimen at various exposure condi-
tions. The test proved that adding of CA to concrete has improved
the strain capacity which is principally attributed to its ductile
behavior.
It is therefore, crystalline admixture in water immersed (WI)
inclusion results in formation of hydrated products at large scale.
The hydrated products also enhance the load carrying and strain
capacity. This proves the increased ductility of crystalline admix-
ture in water immersed (WI). In other exposures show low peak
strain values to their corresponding WC, WD, AE due to the fact
that increased local compressive stresses under loading point
results in overall low compressive strength compared to WI.it
Fig. 10. Stress-strain curves of CCA after healing of early age cracks under different
exposures.
Fig. 11. Stress-strain curves of CCA after healing of structural cracks under different
exposures.
was observed that the healing of cracks increased the stain capac-
ity of concrete in water immersed (WI) conditions.
4. Morphology of healing vicinity
Based on FT-IR and SEM-EDX the characterization of self-
healing material’s microstructure is presented. As clearly pre-
sented in Fig. 12, the initially observable feature of the crack heal-
ing phenomenon was the formation of white crack sealing in
concrete specimens with CCA immersion in water for a period of
42 days. It was observed that WI and WC subjected specimens
have superior healing properties compared to specimens that were
subjected to WD and AE. The closing of cracks was observed even
in WC and AE subjected specimens but to a lesser level compared
to WI and WC specimens. The importance of water for healing pro-
cess is ascertained by the results of this experimental study. Pre
cracked specimens healed by cracks filling with calcium silicate
hydrates and a calcite precipitate. The concrete specimens before
healing and after healing as shown are Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 shows the FT-IR spectra graph. Here infrared bands of
similar nature were observed irrespective of different specimen
types. The presence of portlandite Ca(OH)2 was indicated by
 T. Chandra Sekhara Reddy, A. Ravitheja / Ain Shams Engineering Journal 10 (2019) 23–32
Fig. 12. Self healing of early age and structural cracks under four different exposures.
shallow wide transmittances that followed around the characteris-
tic stretching of H-O-H bond. The presence of carbonate phases
(CO2
3 ) were confirmed in all samples, similar to the study in
[50,51] by the sharp bands around 1424–1430 cm1 and
870 cm1. The 900 and 1418 cm1 stretching vibration confirmed
the presence of sulfate (SO) and hence the existence of ettringite
in the specimen. Such results were similar to that of [52,53]. The
980 cm1 deep banding registered the presence of SiAO bonding
further inferring the possibility of CASAH presence. The
830 cm1 bending is seen as a possibility of CA’s reaction and
adherence to the CASAH as noted by researchers [53,54]. This is
also supported by the observation of high noise effect presence
at low range web number’s signal. In spite of FT-IR based identifi-
cation of inherent self-healing constituents, the role played by CA
as a healing agent was distinctively identified. The complexity
involved in the self-healing properties as a result of CA addition
to cement is obvious from FT-IR analysis. The SEM imaging of sur-
face and results of EDX quantification describes the varying self-
healing properties corresponding to the quantities of CA in the con-
crete mix. Fig. 13 shows the typical microstructural surface mor-
phology of self-healing materials. Only water immersion leads to
Ca rich products on the surface of self-healing specimens like cal-
cite and C-S-H. Below mentioned reactions may be the cause for
self-healing mechanisms:
29
Where Ca2+ are the calcium ions, (CO2 + H2O) represent the
external environment, entering in reaction and forming the cal-
cium carbonate (CaCO3).
Ca2þ + CO2 + H2 O $ CaCO3 + 2Hþ
Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) in the area of the crack can dis-
solve in the water inside the crack and precipitate calcium ions
at the crack surface.
Ca(OH)2 $ Ca2þ + 2OH
On the crack surface of concrete some calcium carbonate will be
formed due to the reaction of CO2 present in the crack with Port-
landite (calcium hydroxide) present in the concrete matrix accord-
ing to the following reaction:
CO2 + Ca(OH)2 $ CaCO3 + H2 O
To completely quantify the self-healing properties at elemen-
tary level composition, SEM-EDX elemental detection was per-
formed of the different spots of the specimen. The cracked
vicinity’s morphology by SEM and newly formed crystals by crys-
talline admixture is shown in Fig. 14. The crack is completely
closed by the white crystals indicating formation of new chemical
compounds. Further observation on the vicinity of the crack under
30 T. Chandra Sekhara Reddy, A. Ravitheja / Ain Shams Engineering Journal 10 (2019) 23–32
Fig. 13. Morphology of the cracked vicinity by SEM with EDS.
a higher magnification exhibits dense and good crystallization of
the new products. Energy spectrum demonstrates that the new
products are mostly composed of calcite. Mechanical properties
restoration by healing are not as effective as the other curing con-
ditions when compared with WI. The new crystals are observed
with a much bigger size in WI compared to that by the other curing
conditions. The mechanism of healing by crystalline admixture is
the expansion by volume of the products, i.e., calcite and CASAH
in hydration. The self-healing properties of concrete is accom-
plished also by the role of secondary hydration of cement where
Ca2+ ions play an active role. The increase in the expansion prop-
erty of cement during its rehydration stage is attributed to CA
added to the cement. The enhancement in the durability is because
of rehydration product’s densification that is accomplished by trig-
gering more self-healing materials formation.
The primary aim of this study is to use Fourier transform infra-
red (FTIR) spectroscopy to examine the CaCo3 and CASAH of crys-
talline admixture concrete in different environment conditions.
Crystalline admixture is a suitable material for self healing con-
crete. Form the results strength is regained remarkably in the self
healing concrete by using crystalline admixture.
5. Conclusions
An experimental investigation on the self-healing properties of
the concrete with CA under the different environments was carried
out and the following conclusions are drawn:
 Crystalline admixtures are able to catalyse the aforementioned
self-healing capacity recovery and is more systematic and reli-
able due to their hydrophilic nature. They are also able to
absorb moisture from the atmosphere thus results in a not neg-
ligible healing also in air exposures. The early age and structural
cracks in concrete with CA are completely healed under the
water and dry-wet exposures and partially healed at water con-
tact and air exposures .
 T. Chandra Sekhara Reddy, A. Ravitheja / Ain Shams Engineering Journal 10 (2019) 23–32
Fig. 14. FTIR Patterns of CCA.
 The capability of CA is to produce more hydrated products and
healing the pores and pre cracks in concrete during the hydra-
tion and after hydration, makes it suitable for improving
mechanical properties due to self-healing reactions can line to
be a combination of delayed hydration and carbonation.
 The Strength regaining capacity of concrete with CA under the
WI exposure is 95% which is the best among all exposure con-
ditions considered.
References
[1] Wu M, Johannesson B, Geiker M. A review: self-healing in cementitious
materials and engineered cementitious composite as a self-healing material.
Construct Build Mater 2012;28:571–83.
[2] Speck O, Schlechtendahl M, Schmich F, Speck T. Self-healing processes in
plants a treasure trove for biomimetic self-repairing materials. In: WIT
transactions on ecology and the environment; 2013, vol. 87.
[3] Van der Zwaag S. An introduction to material design principles: damage
prevention versus damage management. Self-healing materials. The
Netherlands: Springer; 2007.
[4] Joseph C, Jefferson AD, Isaacs B, Lark R, Gardner D. Experimental investigation
of adhesive-based self-healing of cementitious materials. Mag Conc Res
2010;62:831–43.
[5] Mihashi H, Nishiwaki T. Development of engineered self-healing and self-
repairing concrete-State-of-the-art report. J Adv Concr Technol
2012;10:170–84.
[6] Yang Y, Yang EH, Li VC. Autogeneous healing of engineered cementitious
composites at early age. Cem Concr Res 2011;41:176–83.
[7] Snoeck D, Smetryns P, de Belie N. Improved multiple cracking and autogenous
healing in cementitious materials by means of chemically-treated natural
fibres. Biosyst Eng 2015;139:87–99.
[8] Huang H, Ye G. Simulation of self-healing by further hydration in cementitious
materials. Cem Concr Compos 2012;34(4):460–7.
[9] Yang Y, Lepech MD, Yang E, Li VC. Autogenous healing of engineered
cementitious composites under wetdry cycles. Cement Concr Res
2009;39:382–90.
[10] Edvardsen C. Water permeability and autogenous healing of cracks in
concrete. ACI Mater J Am Concr Inst 1999;96:448–54.
[11] Van Tittelboom K, De Belie K, Van Loo D, Jacobs P. Self-healing efficiency of
cementitious materials containing tubular capsules filled with healing agent.
Cem Concr Compos 2011;33:497–505.
[12] Wang JY, Soens H, Verstraete W, De Belie N. Self-healing concrete by use of
microencapsulated bacterial spores. Cem Concr Res 2014;56:139–52.
[13] Huang H, Ye G, Shui Z. Feasibility of self-healing in cementitious materials by
using capsules or a vascular system? Construct Build Mater 2014;63:108–18.
[14] Perez G, Gaitero JJ, Erkizia E, Jimenez I, Guerrero A. Characterisation of cement
pastes with innovative self-healing system based in epoxy-amine adhesive.
Cem Concr Compos 2015;60:55–64.
31
[15] Qureshi TS, Kanellopoulos A, Al-Tabbaa A. Encapsulation of expansive powder
minerals within a concentric glass capsule system for self-healing concrete.
Construct Build Mater 2016;121:629–43.
[16] Tziviloglou E, Wiktor V, Jonkers HM, Schlangen E. Bacteria-based selfhealing
concrete to increase liquid tightness of cracks. Construct Build Mater
2016;122:118–25.
[17] Kessler MR, Sottos NR, White SR. Self-healing structural composite materials.
Compos Part A: Appl Sci Manuf 2003;34:743–53.
[18] Jonkers HM, Thijssen A, Muyzer G, Copuroglu O, Schlangen E. Application of
bacteria as self-healing agent for the development of sustainable concrete.
Ecolog Eng 2010;36:230–5.
[19] Snoeck D, Van Tittelboom K, Steuperaert S, Dubruel P, De Belie N. Self-ealing
cementitious materials by the combination of micro fibres and superabsorbent
polymers. J Intell Mater Syst Struct 2014;25:13–24.
[20] De Muynck W, Debrouwer D, De Belie N, Verstraete W. Bacterial carbonate
precipitation improves the durability of cementitious materials. Cem Concr
Res 2008;38:1005–14.
[21] Keller MW, Sottos NR. Mechanical properties of microcapsules used in a self-
healing polymer. Exp Mech 2006;46:725–33.
[22] Qian CX, Wang JY, Wang RX, Cheng L. Corrosion protection of cement-based
building materials by surface deposition of CaCO3 by Bacillus pasteurii. Mater
Sci Eng C Biomim Supramol 2009;29:1273–80.
[23] Yang Z, Hollar J, He X, Shi X. A self-healing cementitious composite using
oil/core silica gel shell microcapsules. Cem Concr Compos 2011;33:506–12.
[24] Snoeck Didier, Van Tittelboom Kim, Steuperaert Stijn, Dubruel Peter, De Belie
Nele. Self-healing cementitious materials by the combination of microfibres
and superabsorbent polymers. J Intell Mater Syst Struct 2014;25(1):13–24.
[25] Kim JS, Schlangen E. Super absorbent polymers to simulate self-healing in
ECC. RILEM Publications S.A.R.L.; 2010. p. 849–58.
[26] Jonkers HM. Bacteria-based self-healing concrete. HERON 2012;56(1):1–12.
[27] Wiktor V, Jonkers HM. Quantification of crack-healing in novel bacteria- based
self-healing concrete. Cement Concr Compos 2010;33:763–70.
[28] Mors R, Jonkers HM. Reduction of water permeation through cracks in mortar
by addition of bacteria based healing agent, 2015.
[29] Xu J, Yao W. Multiscale mechanical quantification of self-healing concrete
incorporating bacteria-based healing agent. Cem Concr Res 2014;64:1–10.
[30] de Noeck D, Belie N. Repeated autogenous healing in strain-hardening
cementitious composites by using superabsorbent polymers. J Mater Civ Eng
2015.
[31] Roig-Flores M, Pirritano M, Serna P, Ferrara L. Effect of crystalline admixtures
on the self-healing capability of early-age concrete studied by means of
permeability and crack closing tests. Constr Build Mater 2016;114:447–57.
[32] Ferrara Liberrato, Krelani Visar, Gastaldo Enricomaria. Assessing the self-
healing capacity of cementitious composites. Int Conf on sustainable
construction materials and technologies, 2013.
[33] Granger S, Loukili A, Pijaudier-Cabot G, Chanvillard G. Experimental
characterization of the self-healing of cracks in an ultra-high performance
cementitious material: mechanical tests and acoustic emission analysis. Cem
Concr Res 2007;37:519–27.
[34] Fukuda D, Nara Y, Kobayashi Y, Maruyama M, Koketsu M, Hayashi D, et al.
Investigation of self-sealing in high-strength and ultra-low-permeability
concrete in water using micro-focus X-ray CT. Cement Concr Res
2012;42:1494–500.
32 T. Chandra Sekhara Reddy, A. Ravitheja / Ain Shams Engineering Journal 10 (2019) 23–32

[35] Reinhardt HW, Jooss M. Permeability and self-healing of cracked concrete as a
function of temperature and crack width. Cem Concr Res 2013;33:981–5.
[36] Jaroenratanapirom D, Sahamitmongkol R. Self -crack closing ability of mortar
with different additives. J Met Mater Min 2011;21:9–17.
[37] Gruyaert E, Robeyst N, De Belie N. Study of the hydration of Portland cement
blended with blast-furnace slag by calorimetry and thermogravimetry. J
Therm Anal Calorim 2012;102:941–51.
[38] Qian S, Zhou J, de Rooij MR, Schlangen E, Ye G, van Breugel K. Self-healing
behavior of strain hardening cementitious composites incorporating local
waste materials. Cem Concr Compos 2009;31(9):613–21.
[39] Huang H, Ye G, Damidot D. Characterization and quantification of self-healing
behaviors of microcracks due to further hydration in cement paste. Cem Concr
Res 2013;52:71–81.
[40] Sahmaran M, Keskin SB, Ozerkan G, Yaman. Self-healing of mechanically
loaded self-consolidating concretes with high volumes of fly ash. Cem Concr
Compos 2008;30:872–9.
[41] Zhang Z, Qian S, Ma H. Investigating mechanical properties and self-healing
behavior of micro-cracked ECC with different volume of fly ash. Constr Build
Mater 2014;52:17–23.
[42] Termkhajornkit P, Nawa T, Yamashiro Y, Saito T. Self-healing ability of fly ash-
cement systems. Cem Concr Compos 2009;31:195–203.
[43] Ferrara L, Krelani V, Carsana M. A ‘‘fracture testing’’ based approach to assess
crack healing of concrete with and without crystalline admixtures. Constr
Build Mater 2014;68:535–51.
[44] Krelani V, Ferrara L. Self-healing capacity of concrete with crystalline
additives: natural vs. Accelerated exposure conditions. Int Conf self-healing
mater, 2015.
[45] Roig-Flores M, Moscato S, Serna P, Ferrara L. Self-healing capability of concrete
with crystalline admixtures in different environments. Constr Build Mater
2015;86:1–11.
[46] Mihashi H, Ahmed SFU, Kobayakawa A. Corrosion of reinforcing steel in fiber
reinforced cementitious composites. J Adv Concr Technol 2011;9:159–67.
[47] Snoeck D, de Belie N. Mechanical and self-healing properties of cementitious
composites reinforced with flax and cottonised flax, and compared with
polyvinyl alcohol fibres. Biosyst Eng 2002;111:325–35.
[48] Li VC, Lim YM, Chan YW. Feasibility of a passive smart self-healing
cementitious composite. Compos Part B 1998;29:6.
[49] Qian SZ, Zhou J, Schlangen E. Influence of curing condition and pre cracking
time on the self-healing behavior of Engineering cementitious composites.
Cem Concr Compos 2010;32(9):686–93.
[50] Herbert E, Li V. Self-healing of microcracks in engineered cementitious
composites (ECC) under a natural environment. Materials (Basel) 2013
(6):2831–45.
[51] Trezza M, Lavat A. Analysis of the system 3CaOAlO3–CaSO42H2O–CaCO3–HO
by FT-IR spectroscopy. Cem Concr Res 2001;31:869–72.
[52] Yu P, Kirkpatrick RJ, Poe B, McMillan PF, Cong XD. Structure of calcium silicate
hydrate (C-S-H): near-, mid-, and far-infrared spectroscopy. J Am Ceram Soc
1999;82:742–8.
[53] Fernandez L, Alonso C, Andrade C, Hidalgo A. The role of magnesium during the
hydration of C3S and C-S-H formation. Scanning electron microscopy and mid-
infrared studies. Adv Cement Res 2005;17:9–21.
[54] Ylmén R, Jäglid U, Steenari BM, Panas I. Early hydration and setting of Portland
cement monitored by IR, SEM and Vicat techniques. Cem Concr Res
2009;39:433–9.
Dr. T. Chandra Sekhara Reddy graduated in civil engi-
neering from JNTU college of Engineering, Anatapur,
obtained his post graduate degree in Structural Engi-
neering from NIT, Warangal and doctoral degree from
JNTUA, Anantapur. He is serving as Professor in civil
engineering department of G Pulla Reddy Engineering
College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India since 1987. He
had 29 years reaching experience and 2 years industry
experience. His areas of interest include cement com-
posites, fibre reinforced concretes, Nano-materials and
neural networks.
A. Ravitheja is research scholar form G Pulla Reddy
Engineering College, Kurnool and obtained his Master’s
degree form G Pulla Reddy Engineering College, in the
year of 2013-2015.