Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SMARTINCS (Self-healing, Multifunctional, Advanced Repair Technologies IN Cementitious Systems)
Reporting period: 2021-12-01 to 2024-05-31
Cracks in concrete impair the durability as they form pathways for entrance of aggressive agents. The objective of SMARTINCS was to develop smart and eco-friendly mortar/concrete technologies and self-healing strategies to extend the service-life of concrete structures. This allows to reduce investments in maintenance and costly repair activities and reduces the use of resources and production of waste, in line with Europe’s Circular Economy strategy.
The SMARTINCS consortium gathered 8 research institutes and 3 companies, based in 6 European countries, supported by additional partner organizations. SMARTINCS brought together pioneers in self-healing concrete and gathered experienced scientists from relevant disciplines such as concrete technology, polymer chemistry, microbiology, electrochemical corrosion monitoring, modelling, service life design, life cycle assessment and entrepreneurship. This strong consortium trained 15 young scientists in prevention of deterioration of new concrete infrastructure by implementing durability-based approaches in the design of concrete structures. They all participated in multiple secondments and four tailor-made training schools to broaden their background and stimulate collaboration. From all ESRs, 5 already successfully defended their PhD thesis and 8 more have their PhD defense scheduled later this year. SMARTINCS has contributed to transforming the ESRs into business-oriented researchers and enhanced their career perspectives.
The SMARTINCS consortium gathered 8 research institutes and 3 companies, based in 6 European countries, supported by additional partner organizations. SMARTINCS brought together pioneers in self-healing concrete and gathered experienced scientists from relevant disciplines such as concrete technology, polymer chemistry, microbiology, electrochemical corrosion monitoring, modelling, service life design, life cycle assessment and entrepreneurship. This strong consortium trained 15 young scientists in prevention of deterioration of new concrete infrastructure by implementing durability-based approaches in the design of concrete structures. They all participated in multiple secondments and four tailor-made training schools to broaden their background and stimulate collaboration. From all ESRs, 5 already successfully defended their PhD thesis and 8 more have their PhD defense scheduled later this year. SMARTINCS has contributed to transforming the ESRs into business-oriented researchers and enhanced their career perspectives.
Within the SMARTINCS project, the scientific work was divided into three Work Packages (WPs): (1) Improved self-healing concrete, (2) Advanced local (self-) repair, and (3) Durability, service life and sustainability. These were supported by a fourth WP (4) Technology transfer and Entrepreneurship, which had as a main goal to ensure market oriented research. To this end, Laís Bandeira Barros (ESR15) conducted a thorough investigation into the process of commercializing innovations within the construction industry and, more specifically, how the technical knowledge on self-healing methods and systems could be brought to the market.
In WP1, Yasmina Shields (ESR1) developed selection criteria for optimal healing agents and developed a new ductile-porous vascular network, of which performance was proven in a large-scale demonstrator in collaboration with Besix. Claire Riordan (ESR2) developed two types of microcapsule formulations using membrane emulsification and tested their stability and longevity in cementitious matrices. She scaled up the production of the microcapsules via two pathways. Mustafa Mert Tezer (ESR3) selected appropriate bacterial biomasses and has proven their functionality under adverse conditions. In collaboration with Cardiff University he improved the formulation to allow repetitive self-healing actions and he realised an upscaled bacterial fermentation for a large scale test in collaboration with RDC. Harry Hermawan (ESR4) developed a methodology for the design of optimized self-healing concrete mixes to be used in ready-mixed and prefab concrete applications in order to overcome the problems arising from the current practice where self-healing agents are added just ‘on top’ of the normal concrete mixes. Sina Sayadi Moghadam (ESR5, also part of WP2), developed a micromechanical model and a lattice model to simulate the different self-healing processes in cementitious materials.
In WP2, Suelen da Rocha Gomes (ESR6) developed two grout formulations containing crystalline admixtures and layered double hydroxides and investigated their effect on rebar corrosion. Priya Arul Kumar (ESR7) developed multi-functional tailored repair mortars incorporating crystalline admixture and microcapsules both suited for waterproofing in physically and chemically triggered damage scenarios. In order to prevent the use of excessive amounts of healing agents, Shan He (ESR8) developed a bacteria based self-healing strain hardening cementitious composite (SHCC) and evaluated it in a hybrid beam system with 10 mm of SHCC as the concrete cover. Gabriele Milone (ESR9) developed an intelligent coating capable of autonomously detecting mechanical changes and tested the sensing capability in large-scale tests.
In WP3, Niranjan Prabhu (ESR10) conducted experiments on the self-healing characteristics of ultra-high performance concrete under extreme scenarios, including cyclic and impact loading, as well as exposure to freeze-thawing and high temperatures. Vanessa Giaretton Cappellesso (ESR11) developed a selection matrix for self-healing methodologies that can be tailored to specific environments, among which frost salt scaling, a marine and a chloride-rich environment. Pardis Pourhaji (ESR12) worked on mitigating chloride and carbonation induced corrosion through self-healing technologies. Kiran Dabral (ESR13) integrated the self-healing functionality into the structural design of concrete structures for serviceability under marine exposure conditions and validated the approach for industrial-scale concrete beams. Finally, to clearly substantiate the benefit of self-healing solutions, Davide di Summa (ESR14) developed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analyses and applied these on the self-healing technologies developed in SMARTINCS and demonstrators that were realized previously.
SMARTINCS results were widely disseminated in journal articles, conference papers and social media; various outreach activities were organized. The realized demonstrators showcase the technology and will pave the way for future exploitation.
In WP1, Yasmina Shields (ESR1) developed selection criteria for optimal healing agents and developed a new ductile-porous vascular network, of which performance was proven in a large-scale demonstrator in collaboration with Besix. Claire Riordan (ESR2) developed two types of microcapsule formulations using membrane emulsification and tested their stability and longevity in cementitious matrices. She scaled up the production of the microcapsules via two pathways. Mustafa Mert Tezer (ESR3) selected appropriate bacterial biomasses and has proven their functionality under adverse conditions. In collaboration with Cardiff University he improved the formulation to allow repetitive self-healing actions and he realised an upscaled bacterial fermentation for a large scale test in collaboration with RDC. Harry Hermawan (ESR4) developed a methodology for the design of optimized self-healing concrete mixes to be used in ready-mixed and prefab concrete applications in order to overcome the problems arising from the current practice where self-healing agents are added just ‘on top’ of the normal concrete mixes. Sina Sayadi Moghadam (ESR5, also part of WP2), developed a micromechanical model and a lattice model to simulate the different self-healing processes in cementitious materials.
In WP2, Suelen da Rocha Gomes (ESR6) developed two grout formulations containing crystalline admixtures and layered double hydroxides and investigated their effect on rebar corrosion. Priya Arul Kumar (ESR7) developed multi-functional tailored repair mortars incorporating crystalline admixture and microcapsules both suited for waterproofing in physically and chemically triggered damage scenarios. In order to prevent the use of excessive amounts of healing agents, Shan He (ESR8) developed a bacteria based self-healing strain hardening cementitious composite (SHCC) and evaluated it in a hybrid beam system with 10 mm of SHCC as the concrete cover. Gabriele Milone (ESR9) developed an intelligent coating capable of autonomously detecting mechanical changes and tested the sensing capability in large-scale tests.
In WP3, Niranjan Prabhu (ESR10) conducted experiments on the self-healing characteristics of ultra-high performance concrete under extreme scenarios, including cyclic and impact loading, as well as exposure to freeze-thawing and high temperatures. Vanessa Giaretton Cappellesso (ESR11) developed a selection matrix for self-healing methodologies that can be tailored to specific environments, among which frost salt scaling, a marine and a chloride-rich environment. Pardis Pourhaji (ESR12) worked on mitigating chloride and carbonation induced corrosion through self-healing technologies. Kiran Dabral (ESR13) integrated the self-healing functionality into the structural design of concrete structures for serviceability under marine exposure conditions and validated the approach for industrial-scale concrete beams. Finally, to clearly substantiate the benefit of self-healing solutions, Davide di Summa (ESR14) developed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analyses and applied these on the self-healing technologies developed in SMARTINCS and demonstrators that were realized previously.
SMARTINCS results were widely disseminated in journal articles, conference papers and social media; various outreach activities were organized. The realized demonstrators showcase the technology and will pave the way for future exploitation.
Through combined experimental studies and coupled multidimensional models, SMARTINCS exceeds the state of the art in terms of (1) the effectiveness of self-healing concrete at reasonable costs for real-world applications; (2) multifunctionality of self-healing solutions (corrosion control, self-assessment); (3) technologies for local application of healing substances in high-risk zones or in valuable mortars and repair products. The technologies have been validated and demonstrated in several real scale concrete elements, some of which have been installed in real service scenarios. The developments of SMARTINCS help society build and renovate resource-efficiently and accelerate the transition to sustainable and intelligent mobility, thus having huge societal implications and contributing to the European Green Deal.
SMARTINCS ESRs have acquired transferable skills and relevant in-depth scientific knowledge through local and network-wide training by renowned researchers and business people in the domain of concrete (self-)repair. Apart from 3 training schools focusing on research skills and transferrable skills, a 4th Training School focused on career management, innovation and entrepreneurship. Except for confidential sessions, all lectures have been made available as e-learning modules on the SMARTINCS YouTube channel. The SMARTINCS achievements have been disseminated through the various journal articles and conference papers, newsletters and weekly publications on social media. SMARTINCS is connecting Europe’s leading academic and non-academic specialists with regard to self-repair of concrete structures, thereby creating a community that has the critical mass to further strengthen Europe’s leading position.
SMARTINCS ESRs have acquired transferable skills and relevant in-depth scientific knowledge through local and network-wide training by renowned researchers and business people in the domain of concrete (self-)repair. Apart from 3 training schools focusing on research skills and transferrable skills, a 4th Training School focused on career management, innovation and entrepreneurship. Except for confidential sessions, all lectures have been made available as e-learning modules on the SMARTINCS YouTube channel. The SMARTINCS achievements have been disseminated through the various journal articles and conference papers, newsletters and weekly publications on social media. SMARTINCS is connecting Europe’s leading academic and non-academic specialists with regard to self-repair of concrete structures, thereby creating a community that has the critical mass to further strengthen Europe’s leading position.