Abstract
Concrete is the most widely used construction material globally, but its inherent brittleness and susceptibility to cracking significantly reduce structural durability and service life. Microcracks, if left untreated, allow ingress of water, chlorides, and sulfates, leading to steel reinforcement corrosion and premature structural deterioration. To address these challenges, the concept of self-healing concrete (SHC) has emerged as a transformative innovation in civil engineering. Self-healing mechanisms, inspired by natural biological systems, enable concrete to autonomously repair cracks and restore its functionality without external intervention.
This paper reviews recent advances in self-healing concrete technologies, including autogenous healing, bacterial healing, encapsulated healing agents, and the incorporation of advanced materials such as polymers and nanomaterials. The study explores the mechanisms of healing, evaluates performance outcomes from laboratory and field trials, and analyzes the potential of SHC in extending the lifespan of infrastructure. While SHC offers clear environmental and economic benefits by reducing repair costs and maintenance needs, its adoption is limited by challenges such as high initial cost, variability in healing efficiency, and lack of standardization in testing methods. The paper concludes by highlighting future directions for research, including hybrid healing systems and integration with smart sensing technologies, to realize the full potential of SHC in sustainable construction.
Keywords: Self-Healing Concrete, Bacterial Concrete, Encapsulation, Autogenous Healing, Smart Materials,Durability