Autogenous healing efficiency of calcium (OPC) and magnesium (MgO) binder-based strain-hardening cementitious composite (SHCC)

Lei Gu; Dhanendra Kumar; Cise Unluer; Paulo J.M. Monteiro; En Hua Yang

doi:10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106071

Autogenous healing efficiency of calcium (OPC) and magnesium (MgO) binder-based strain-hardening cementitious composite (SHCC)

Lei Gu, Dhanendra Kumar^*, Cise Unluer, Paulo J.M. Monteiro, En Hua Yang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of hydrated phase composition [tailored using Portland cement (OPC) and reactive magnesia cement (RMC), water-to-binder (w/b) ratio, and curing age] on the autogenous self-healing behavior of strain-hardening cementitious composites (SHCC). The healing efficiency was characterized by stiffness recovery and crack width. The morphology of the cracked sections and chemical characterization of the matrix and healing products were carried out simultaneously to understand the characteristics of healing products and underlying mechanisms. The stiffness recovery reduced with increased curing age for OPC-based SHCCs, but the effect was insignificant in RMC-based SHCCs. The threshold crack width for complete healing was larger for OPC-based SHCCs than RMC-based SHCCs. A low w/b ratio is beneficial for robust self-healing in both OPC and RMC-based SHCCs due to increased unreacted cement content in the matrix. The possibility of early-age crack healing was higher in all the investigated SHCCs. The RMC-based SHCC with a low w/b ratio, maintained its autogenous healing capacity irrespective of the composite age.

Original language	English
Article number	106071
Journal	Cement and Concrete Composites
Volume	160
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106071
Publication status	Published - Jul 2025
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier Ltd

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Building and Construction
General Materials Science

Keywords

Autogenous healing
Microstructure
Portland cement
Reactive magnesia cement
Self-healing
SHCC

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10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106071

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title = "Autogenous healing efficiency of calcium (OPC) and magnesium (MgO) binder-based strain-hardening cementitious composite (SHCC)",

abstract = "This study investigated the effects of hydrated phase composition [tailored using Portland cement (OPC) and reactive magnesia cement (RMC), water-to-binder (w/b) ratio, and curing age] on the autogenous self-healing behavior of strain-hardening cementitious composites (SHCC). The healing efficiency was characterized by stiffness recovery and crack width. The morphology of the cracked sections and chemical characterization of the matrix and healing products were carried out simultaneously to understand the characteristics of healing products and underlying mechanisms. The stiffness recovery reduced with increased curing age for OPC-based SHCCs, but the effect was insignificant in RMC-based SHCCs. The threshold crack width for complete healing was larger for OPC-based SHCCs than RMC-based SHCCs. A low w/b ratio is beneficial for robust self-healing in both OPC and RMC-based SHCCs due to increased unreacted cement content in the matrix. The possibility of early-age crack healing was higher in all the investigated SHCCs. The RMC-based SHCC with a low w/b ratio, maintained its autogenous healing capacity irrespective of the composite age.",

keywords = "Autogenous healing, Microstructure, Portland cement, Reactive magnesia cement, Self-healing, SHCC",

author = "Lei Gu and Dhanendra Kumar and Cise Unluer and Monteiro, {Paulo J.M.} and Yang, {En Hua}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2025",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.106071",

language = "English",

volume = "160",

journal = "Cement and Concrete Composites",

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T1 - Autogenous healing efficiency of calcium (OPC) and magnesium (MgO) binder-based strain-hardening cementitious composite (SHCC)

AU - Gu, Lei

AU - Kumar, Dhanendra

AU - Unluer, Cise

AU - Monteiro, Paulo J.M.

AU - Yang, En Hua

PY - 2025/7

Y1 - 2025/7

N2 - This study investigated the effects of hydrated phase composition [tailored using Portland cement (OPC) and reactive magnesia cement (RMC), water-to-binder (w/b) ratio, and curing age] on the autogenous self-healing behavior of strain-hardening cementitious composites (SHCC). The healing efficiency was characterized by stiffness recovery and crack width. The morphology of the cracked sections and chemical characterization of the matrix and healing products were carried out simultaneously to understand the characteristics of healing products and underlying mechanisms. The stiffness recovery reduced with increased curing age for OPC-based SHCCs, but the effect was insignificant in RMC-based SHCCs. The threshold crack width for complete healing was larger for OPC-based SHCCs than RMC-based SHCCs. A low w/b ratio is beneficial for robust self-healing in both OPC and RMC-based SHCCs due to increased unreacted cement content in the matrix. The possibility of early-age crack healing was higher in all the investigated SHCCs. The RMC-based SHCC with a low w/b ratio, maintained its autogenous healing capacity irrespective of the composite age.

AB - This study investigated the effects of hydrated phase composition [tailored using Portland cement (OPC) and reactive magnesia cement (RMC), water-to-binder (w/b) ratio, and curing age] on the autogenous self-healing behavior of strain-hardening cementitious composites (SHCC). The healing efficiency was characterized by stiffness recovery and crack width. The morphology of the cracked sections and chemical characterization of the matrix and healing products were carried out simultaneously to understand the characteristics of healing products and underlying mechanisms. The stiffness recovery reduced with increased curing age for OPC-based SHCCs, but the effect was insignificant in RMC-based SHCCs. The threshold crack width for complete healing was larger for OPC-based SHCCs than RMC-based SHCCs. A low w/b ratio is beneficial for robust self-healing in both OPC and RMC-based SHCCs due to increased unreacted cement content in the matrix. The possibility of early-age crack healing was higher in all the investigated SHCCs. The RMC-based SHCC with a low w/b ratio, maintained its autogenous healing capacity irrespective of the composite age.

KW - Autogenous healing

KW - Microstructure

KW - Portland cement

KW - Reactive magnesia cement

KW - Self-healing

KW - SHCC

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ER -

Autogenous healing efficiency of calcium (OPC) and magnesium (MgO) binder-based strain-hardening cementitious composite (SHCC)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Keywords

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