Background:
This project is implementing new life-cycle thinking and durability-based approaches to the concept and design of concrete structures, using self-healing concrete, repair mortars and grouts together with key enabling technologies. Part of the research is carried out integrating these technologies in UHPC. The potential of this project is to create a breakthrough in the current practice of the construction industry, which has significant economic costs related to inspection, maintenance and repair activities, together with indirect costs associated to traffic congestions and environmental collateral effects. For more information, visit the official website of the project: https://smartincs.ugent.be/
Why to use UHPC?
The decision of using UHPC in many of the experiments is because the efficiency of the self-healing agents is related, among others, with the width of the crack healed, and in the case of UHPC this value is very low, favouring a good efficiency. Besides, the value of the material invested in a UHPC structure is higher, so it is particularly interesting to introduce technologies that prevent their deterioration.
Advantages:
- UHPC may experience a higher efficiency of self-healing than other materials.
- The relative cost of the self-healing additions in UHPC per cubic meter is lower than for other structures, being more feasible to introduce this technology.
Achievements:
- 15 students are complementing their research work in different field, preparing the self-healing technology to be deployed to the market at medium-term.
