A shape memory polymer concrete crack closure system activated by electrical current
Yes === The presence of cracks has a negative impact on the durability of concrete by providing paths for corrosive materials to the embedded steel reinforcement. Cracks in concrete can be closed using shape memory polymers (SMP) which produce a compressive stress across the crack faces. This str...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Language: | en |
| Published: |
2018
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10454/16324 |
| Summary: | Yes === The presence of cracks has a negative impact on the durability of concrete by providing paths for
corrosive materials to the embedded steel reinforcement. Cracks in concrete can be closed using
shape memory polymers (SMP) which produce a compressive stress across the crack faces. This
stress has been previously found to enhance the load recovery associated with autogenous selfhealing.
This paper details the experiments undertaken to incorporate SMP tendons containing
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) filaments into reinforced and unreinforced 500 × 100 × 100 mm
structural concrete beam samples. These tendons are activated via an electrical supply using a nickelchrome
resistance wire heating system. The set-up, methodology and results of restrained shrinkage
stress and crack closure experiments are explained. Crack closure of up to 85% in unreinforced
beams and 26%–39% in reinforced beams is measured using crack-mouth opening displacement,
microscope and digital image correlation equipment. Conclusions are made as to the effectiveness of
the system and its potential for application within industry. === EPSRC for their funding of the Materials for Life (M4L) project (EP/K026631/1) and Costain Group PLC for industrial sponsorship of the project and author |
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