Know-how
The ReSHEALience project generates know-how on the tailoring, testing and application of Ultra High Durability Concrete. On this page we share selected insights from the experimental campaign.
Self-healing capacity of UHDC with crystalline admixtures
One of the key functionalities of the ReSHEALience UHDC is the self-healing of cracks, promoted by crystalline admixtures. To validate the healing capacity, cracked specimens were immersed in water for one month, with and without admixtures. The figures below show the crack surface before and after immersion.
The comparison shows a significantly higher crack closure in the specimens containing the crystalline admixtures. The healed cracks also recover part of the water tightness, which is decisive for the durability of structures exposed to aggressive environments.
Durability Assessment-based Design (DAD)
The DAD methodology developed in the project allows to predict the long-term performance of UHDC structures under Extremely Aggressive Exposures and to design accordingly, targeting a service life extension of at least 30% compared to current high performance concrete solutions.