ABSTRACT
Crystalline admixtures embedded in concrete may react in the presence of water and generate thin crystals able to fill pores, capillaries and micro-cracks. Once the concrete has dried, the crystalline chemicals sit dormant until another dose of water starts the crystallization again. The research aims to analyses the early age self-sealing effect of a crystalline admixture at a dosage rate of 1-3% of the cement mass. Specimens made with two types of gravel were pre-loaded with three-point bending to up to 90% of the ultimate capacity, and conditioned through wet-dry cycles. Micro-crack closure was measured with a microscope after pre-loading, and after 1 day, 4 days, 8 days, 14 days and 20 days of wet-dry exposure. The results show that an admixture content of 3% achieves the best early self-sealing performance. These results are also confirmed by probabilistic analyses, which also emphasize the self-sealing potential of lower ICW contents.
