POTENTIAL USE OF HYMOSTRUC CEMENT HYDRATION MODEL FOR SELF-HEALING OF MICROCRACKS IN CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS

Micro-cracks in concrete cover are big problem for both mechanical properties and durability issue. To minimize the damage due to micro-cracks in concrete structure, especially on the concrete cover, one can use the idea of self-healing materials concept to recover concrete cracks from the potential damage. In general, low water/cement ratio is often used in high performance concrete (HPC). The high fraction of anhydrous cement particles left after the reaction with water at a certain age, these anhydrous cement particles can be treated as a reservoir for further hydration. When a microcrack develops, fresh anhydrous surfaces are exposed. If the anhydrous is soaked in water, hydration starts again on these crack surfaces. The newly forming hydrates rapidly fill the crack and seal it. This phenomenon can be simulated by computer numerical model