Evaluation of Self-healing Capacity of Cracked Mortars Incorporating Self-Healing Materials Regarding the Resistance to Chloride Penetration and Water Permeation

This study investigated the test methods evaluating the self-healing capacity of cracked mortars incorporating organic and inorganic self-healing materials emphasizing on the resistance to chloride ion penetration and water permeation. Cracked mortar specimens with the target crack widths were prepared after an initial curing period of 28 days and tested at different healing ages to measure the resistance to chloride diffusion and water permeation by the steady-state chloride migration test and the water permeability test, respectively. The target crack widths were achieved by splitting cylindrical specimens into 2 pieces and reassembling them by a steel band with silicon tapes of required thickness attached between them on both edges. The test results revealed that the resistance to chloride ion penetration and water permeation of cracked mortars was considerably improved due to self-healing process enhanced by organic and inorganic additives, and thus, the test methods proposed in this study can effectively evaluate the self-healing capacity of cracked mortars according to crack widths and self-healing materials incorporated.