Interface crack initiation of self-healing cementitious materials
Scientists have recently conducted a numerical investigation on interface crack initiation and propagation behaviour of self-healing cementitious materials.
Based on the extended finite element method (XFEM) and cohesive surface (CS) technique, the interface cracks between healing agent and cementitious materials in the self-healing mortar beam under three-point bending are numerically investigated in a recently published study. After obtaining original crack feature using XFEM, a parametric study was conducted to comprehensively discuss effects of the elastic ratio between self-healing agent and cementitious materials, bonding strength and fracture toughness of the self-healing agent-cementitious material interface on crack initiation and propagation.
Development of high efficient self-healing cement-bound materials
The results reveal that crack initiation seriously degrades stiffness of cementitious materials. Flexible healing agent increases the probability of new crack initiation and healed crack propagation, while stiffer healing agent induces obvious stress concentration around the interface, increasing fracture chance of interfacial zone. The numerical model and methodology developed in the study are useful to investigate the self-healing behaviours and develop high efficient self-healing cementitious materials.
The study is published in: Cement and Concrete Research Volume 122, August 2019, Pages 1-16.
