3D Textile Reinforced Cement (TRC) composites with integrated Polypropylene (PP) or Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) microfibres: influence of healing conditions and fibre type on autogenous healing
摘要
This study explores the autogenous healing capacity of 3D Textile Reinforced Cement (TRC) composites with integrated polypropylene (PP) or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) microfibres. TRCs are a more resource-efficient alternative to traditional steel-reinforced concrete, but studies on its autogenous healing capacity are scarce. The integration of short microfibres into cementitious materials has shown to enhance the autogenous healing capacity by controlling the crack formation and narrowing the crack widths. In this research, cracked TRCs combining 3D textile reinforcement and short polypropylene (PP) or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) microfibres were subjected to a healing period. Samples were either fully submerged in water, exposed to wet-dry cycles or stored in standard laboratory conditions. Their autogenous healing capacity was studied by visual microscopic monitoring of the evolution of the crack openings and the formation of healing products, by evaluating the mechanical regain, the ultrasonic pulse velocity, and the low-pressure water-permeability after healing. The influence of the fibre type, either PP or PVA, and the effect of the healing conditions on this healing capacity were investigated. Similar conclusions were drawn regardless of whether PP or PVA fibres were integrated in the 3D TRCs. Though the observed mechanical regain due to autogenous healing was limited, the visual crack closure was significant, especially when the material was completely submerged in water during the healing period. A regain in impermeability was noticed and linked to restored UPV values. UPV proved a highly complementary method to microscopy to assess also non-superficial healing of cracks.