International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 13 Issue: 08 | Aug 2026
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
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A Survey Paper on Enhancing Properties and Economy in Self-Healing Concrete Prof. P. V. Kapure1, K. M. Katare2 1Lecturer in Department of Civil Engineering, AISSMS Polytechnic, Pune, Maharashtra, India 2Student of Final Year Diploma in Civil Engineering, AISSMS Polytechnic, Pune, Maharashtra, India
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Abstract - Concrete cracking can reduce durability and
generation method, and evaluation criteria make direct comparison of their performance difficult. In the present study, sodium silicate is selected as the primary chemical healing agent because its silicate species can participate in reactions with calcium-bearing phases and contribute to the formation of healing products within cracks. Crystalline admixture is incorporated as a supporting healing material because its moisture-activated action can promote the formation of insoluble crystalline products that contribute to crack sealing. Silica fume is used as a supplementary cementitious material because it is very fine and reactive particles can refine the pore structure, densify the cementitious matrix, and support compressive-strength development. A PCE-based superplasticizer is used to improve workability while maintaining a controlled water-to-binder ratio. Thus, each material has a specific function in the proposed concrete system rather than being used only for increasing the number of additives. The five research studies considered in this work indicate that existing investigations have mainly focused on individual healing mechanisms, particularly bacterial systems, while comparatively limited attention has been given to a simple chemical healing system evaluated using a consistent methodology. The literature also shows variations in concrete grades, crack widths, healing conditions and testing procedures, with comparatively less emphasis on quantitative compressivestrength recovery. Therefore, this study investigates M20, M25 and M30 concrete incorporating silica fume and crystalline admixture, with sodium silicate used as the principal post-cracking healing treatment. A common experimental procedure is adopted for the three concrete grades, including controlled cracking, healing and compressive-strength evaluation before cracking, after cracking, and after healing. The study aims to determine the influence of concrete grade and the proposed healing system on strength recovery and crack-healing performance, thereby addressing the identified gaps through a simple and practically achievable experimental methodology.
service life by allowing the ingress of water and other aggressive agents. Self-healing concrete offers a potential solution by enabling cracked concrete to partially restore its properties. The present study investigates a simplified selfhealing concrete system using sodium silicate as the primary chemical healing agent, crystalline admixture as a supporting healing component, and silica fume for matrix densification and strength improvement. A PCE-based super-plasticizer is used to maintain workability while controlling the water-to-binder ratio. M20, M25 and M30 concrete grades are investigated using a common experimental procedure. Controlled cracking is introduced after curing, followed by sodium-silicate treatment and a specified healing period. Compressive strength is evaluated before cracking, after cracking, and after healing to determine the percentage strength recovery. The study aims to address gaps in previous research by using a consistent methodology and quantitatively evaluating mechanical recovery across different concrete grades, providing a simple and practical approach to self-healing concrete. Key Words: Self-healing concrete, Sodium silicate, Crystalline admixture, Silica fume, Super-plasticizer, Strength recovery, M20, M25, M30.
1. INTRODUCTION Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials because of its high compressive strength, durability, availability, and economical nature. However, cracking is an inherent problem in concrete and may occur due to drying shrinkage, thermal variations, mechanical loading, inadequate curing, and environmental exposure. Even relatively small cracks can provide pathways for water and aggressive agents, which may accelerate deterioration and reduce the service life of concrete structures. Conventional crack-repair techniques such as sealing, grouting, and injection require external intervention and may become difficult when cracks repeatedly occur or are located in inaccessible regions. This has led to increasing interest in self-healing concrete, which can partially restore its properties after cracking through autogenous or autonomous healing mechanisms. Previous studies have investigated bacterial, chemical, mineral and polymer-based approaches; however, differences in concrete grade, healing procedure, crack-
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2. LITERATURE REVIEW Self-healing concrete has been investigated as an approach for reducing the effects of cracking and improving the durability and service life of concrete structures. The reviewed studies mainly investigate biological self-healing,
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