Textile Reinforced Concrete in Combination with Improved Self-Healing Ability Caused by Crystalline Admixture

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to investigate the improved autogenous healing of concrete caused by a crystalline admixture in combination with textile reinforced concrete (TRC). This phenomenon (improved healing) has not yet been described by any independent study, and not at all in relation to TRC. The results of the study confirmed that the interaction between TRC and the crystalline admixture’s self-healing ability is advantageous and usable. The application of crystalline admixture could ensure the long-term entirety of the TCR element, where microcracks could occur. This allows for the creation of advantageous, thin (achieved by TRC) and waterproof (achieved by the crystalline admixtures) concrete structures. Moreover, this does not depend on temperature in the range of 4–30 °C (lower temperatures are of course problematic, as for most other cementitious materials). However, the interaction of both materials has its limits; the cracks must not be too wide (max. 0.1 mm), otherwise they will not heal. On the other hand, the advantage is that it does not matter what type of cement is used (CEM I and CEM II showed the same results), and the composition of the newly formed crystals in the cracks corresponds to the composition of the C-S-H gel, so it can be assumed that secondary hydration of the Portland cement occurred in the crack area.