Performance Evaluation of Self-Healing Concrete for Durable Infrastructure

Abstract

Concrete is the most widely used construction material in infrastructure development; however, it is susceptible to cracking due to shrinkage,
mechanical loading, and environmental effects. These cracks reduce the durability of structures and increase maintenance costs over time. Selfhealing concrete has emerged as an innovative solution capable of autonomously repairing cracks and improving structural longevity. This study
investigates the performance evaluation of self-healing concrete in terms of crack healing efficiency, compressive strength recovery, and
durability characteristics. Different healing mechanisms such as bacterial precipitation of calcium carbonate and microcapsule-based healing
agents are considered. Experimental results indicate that self-healing concrete effectively reduces crack width, improves resistance to water
permeability, and enhances compressive strength recovery compared to conventional concrete. The healing process leads to the deposition of
calcium carbonate within cracks, which restores structural integrity and reduces moisture ingress. The findings demonstrate that self-healing
concrete significantly enhances the durability and service life of infrastructure systems while reducing long-term maintenance requirements.
Therefore, self-healing concrete presents a promising and sustainable approach for the development of durable infrastructure in modern civil
engineering applications.