Yes / Cracks in concrete composites, whether autogenous or loading-initiated, are almost inevitable and often difficult to detect and repair, posing a threat to safety and durability of concrete infrastructures, especially for those with strict sealing requirements. The sustainable development of infrastructures calls for the birth of self-healing concrete composites, which has the built-in ability to autonomously repair narrow cracks. This paper reviews the fabrication, characterization, mechanisms and performances of autogenous and autonomous healing concretes. Autogenous healing materials such as mineral admixtures, fibers, nanofillers and curing agents, as well as autonomous healing methods such as electrodeposition, shape memory alloys, capsules, vascular and microbial technologies, have been proven to be effective to partially or even fully repair small cracks. As a result, the mechanical properties and durability of concrete infrastructure can be restored to some extent. However, autonomous healing techniques have shown a better performance in healing cracks than most of autogenous healing methods that are limited to healing of cracks having a narrower width than 150 µm. Self-healing concrete with biomimetic features, such as self-healing concrete based on shape memory alloys, capsules, vascular networks or bacteria, is a frontier subject in the field of material science. Self-healing technology provides concrete infrastructures with the ability to adapt and respond to the environment, exhibiting a great potential to facilitate the creation of a wide variety of smart materials and intelligent structures.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF RAJNISH PURI, for the Doctorate of Philosophy Degree in ENGINEERING SCIENCE WITH CONCENTRATION IN CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, presented on APRIL 15, 2015 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale TITLE: DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH PERFORMANCE CONCRETE COMPOSITES USING CLASS F FLY ASH AND PCC BOTTOM ASH, AND A STATISTICAL MODEL TO PREDICT COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF SIMILAR CONCRETE COMPOSITES ADVISOR: Dr. Sanjeev Kumar It is a common knowledge that the use of concrete is as old as the evolution of human civilization. People have always dreamed beyond the dotted lines and so does the usage of concrete. With the rapid industrialization and globalization, the journey from ordinary concrete to high performance concrete (HPC) has been swift and remarkable. The diversification and utilization of high performance concrete has given the tool in the hands of engineers and architects who can now design and execute buildings of any shape and size deemed impractical a few decades ago. The aim of this research was to develop high performance concrete composites having different percentages of Illinois Class “F” fly ash and bottom ash by replacing the appropriate proportions of Type 1 portland cement and fine aggregate, respectively. The target was to develop high performance concrete composites that have compressive strength of 8,000 psi (55 Mpa) after 28 days of curing in water with a slump of 4±½” (102mm ± 13mm) and air content between 4 and 6 percent. In order to achieve the targeted air content, an air entraining agent DARAVAIR 1400 was used. The water-cement ratio of 0.3 was maintained throughout the research and to achieve the targeted slump, high-range water reducer ADVA 140M was used. The engineering parameters of the high performance concrete composites and an equivalent control mix were evaluated by conducting a detailed laboratory study which included several tests, e.g., slump, fresh air content, compressive strength, splitting-tensile strength, flexural strength, resistance to rapid freezing and thawing, sealed shrinkage and free swelling, and rapid chloride permeability. The results presented show that all high performance concrete composites developed in this study achieved the targeted compressive strength of 8,000 psi (55 MPa) after 28 days of curing in water. The results of the durability tests show that the concrete composites developed in this study have trends similar to that of an equivalent conventional concrete. Based, on the results of this study, it was concluded that the concrete composites have potential to be used on real world projects and thus help the environment by substantially reducing the amount of fly ash and bottom ash going to ash ponds or landfills. Based on the experimental test result data, a detailed statistical analysis was conducted to develop an empirical model to predict compressive strength of similar concrete composites for a given amount of fly ash, bottom ash, and curing period. Additional laboratory tests were performed to validate the mathematical model.

Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world and is responsible for 7% of global carbon emissions. It is inherently brittle, and it requires frequent repair or replacement which is economically expensive and further generates large volumes of carbon dioxide. Current methods of repair by agents such as mortar, epoxies, and bacteria result in structures with reduced strength and resiliency. Recent advances in the design of structural composites often mimic natural microstructures. Specifically, the structure of abalone nacre with its high stiffness, tensile strength, and toughness is a source of inspiration from the process of evolution. The inspiration from nacre can lead to design of a new class of architected structural materials with superb mechanical properties. This body of work first presents a method to reinforce concrete with an architected polymer phase. Second is presented how a ubiquitous enzyme, Carbonic anhydrase (CA), can be used to repair and strengthen cracked concrete, and how it can be used as an additive in fresh concrete. The first study presents an experimental and computational study on a set of bioinspired architected composites created using a cement mortar cast with brick-and-mortar and auxetic polymer phases. The impact of this unit-cell architected polymer phase on the flexural and compressive strengths, resilience, and toughness is studied as a function of microstructural geometry. All mechanical properties of the architected composite samples are found to be greater than those of control samples due to prevention of localized deformation and failure, resulting in higher strength. The microstructurally designed composites showed more layer shear sliding during fracture, whereas the control samples showed more diagonal shear failure. After initial cracking, the microstructurally designed composites gradually deformed plastically due to interlocking elements and achieved high stresses and strains before failure. Results also show that microstructurally designed composites with the architected polymer phase outperform control samples with equal volume fraction of a randomly oriented polymer fiber phase. Computational studies of the proposed unit cells are also performed, and the results suggest that the orientation of cells during loading is critical to achieve maximum performance of a cementitious composite. The implications of these results are immense for future development of high performing construction materials. The second study outlines methods for repair of concrete and lays the groundwork to develop a self-healing concrete that uses trace amounts of the CA enzyme. The CA catalyzes the reaction between calcium ions and carbon dioxide to create calcium carbonate that naturally incorporates into concrete structures with similar thermomechanical properties as concrete. The reaction is safe, actively consumes carbon dioxide, generates low amounts of heat, and avoids using unhealthy reagents, resulting in a strong structure. This repair method results in concrete samples with similar strength and water permeability as the intact materials. These results offer an inexpensive, safe, and efficient method to create self-healing concrete structures. The science underlying the creation of self-healing concrete is described, producing a material intrinsically identical to the original using the CA enzyme. Using this strategy, a preliminary self-healing concrete mix is able to self-repair fractures via hydration. This body of work addresses a major issue: Is there an efficient and ecological repair for decaying concrete infrastructure? These methods propose alternative reinforcement, alleviates high monetary and energy costs associated with concrete replacement, and consume the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide.

This thesis studies a new more affordable way to build sidewalks in the U.S. Typical sidewalks are often impractical on many roads because of a steep runoff slope and/or close proximity to the drainage ditch. Also, if future road widening is required, the sidewalk must be removed. This thesis proposes a structure called a Lanwalk which is an elevated sidewalk made of precast units. A Lanwalk could simultaneously serve as a sidewalk and potentially as a guardrail. It can be placed over drainage areas if necessary without obstructing the flow of water. Lanwalks can be easily installed and relocated if necessary. This thesis examines the possibility of using high amounts of waste ash as an admixture during the construction of Lanwalks or sidewalks to lower cost and save landfill space. The two waste products examined are municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash (IBA) and coal fly ash (CFA).

Carbon concrete polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/lignin-based carbon fiber (CF) composites are a new promising material class for the building industry. The replacement of the traditional heavy and corroding steel reinforcement by carbon fiber (CF)-based reinforcements offers many significant advantages: a higher protection of environmental resources because of lower CO2 consumption during cement production, a longer lifecycle and thus, much less damage to structural components and a higher degree of design freedom because lightweight solutions can be realized. However, due to cost pressure in civil engineering, completely new process chains are required to manufacture CF-based reinforcement structures for concrete. This article describes the necessary process steps in order to develop CF reinforcement: (1) the production of cost-effective CF using novel carbon fiber lines, and (2) the fabrication of CF rebars with different geometry profiles. It was found that PAN/lignin-based CF is currently the promising material with the most promise to meet future market demands. However, significant research needs to be undertaken in order to improve the properties of lignin-based and PAN/lignin-based CF, respectively. The CF can be manufactured to CF-based rebars using different manufacturing technologies which are developed at a prototype level in this study.

This study consists of three self-standing parts, each dealing with a different aspect of design of composite steel-concrete flexural members. The first part deals with a new type of shear connection in composite joists. Composite steel-concrete flexural members have increasingly become popular in design and construction of floor systems, structural frames, and bridges. A particularly popular system features composite trusses (joists) that can span large lengths and provide empty web space for installation of typical utility conduits. One of the prominent problems with respect to composite joists has been the installation of welded shear connection due to demanding welding requirements and the need for significant welding equipment at the job site. This part of the study presents a new type of shear connection developed at Virginia Tech— standoff screws. Results of experimental and analytical research are presented, as well as the development of a recommended design methodology. The second part deals with reliability of composite beams. Constant research advances in the field of composite steel-concrete beam design have resulted in numerous enhancements and changes to the American design practice, embodied in the composite construction provisions of the AISC Specification (AISC 1999). Results of a comprehensive reliability study of composite beams are presented. The study considers specification changes since the original reliability study by Galambos et al. (1976), considers a larger database of experimental data, and analyses recent proposals for changes in design of shear connection. Comparison of three different design methods is presented based on a study of 15,064 composite beam cases. A method to consider effect of degree of shear connection on strength reduction factor is proposed. Finally, while basic analysis theories between the two are similar, requirements for determining the strength of composite beams in Eurocode 4 (CEN 1992) and 1999 AISC Specification (AISC 1999) differ in many respects. This is particularly true when considering the design of shear connections. This part of the dissertation explores those differences through a comparative step-by-step discussion of major design aspects, and accompanying numerical example. Several shortcomings of 1999 AISC Specification are identified and adjustments proposed. / Ph. D.

This thesis examines the development of a superstructure for a slab-on-girder wood-concrete composite highway bridge. Wood-concrete composite bridges have existed since the 1930's. Historically, they have been limited to spans of less than 10 m. Renewed research interest over the past two decades has shown great potential for longer span capabilities. Through composite action and suitable detailing, improvements in strength, stiffness, and durability can be achieved versus conventional wood bridges. The bridge makes use of a slender ultra-high performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) deck made partially-composite in longitudinal bending with glued-laminated wood girders. Longitudinal external unbonded post-tensioning is utilized to increase span capabilities. Prefabrication using double-T modules minimizes the need for cast-in-place concrete on-site. Durability is realized through the highly impermeable deck slab that protects the girders from moisture. Results show that the system can span up to 30 m while achieving span-to-depth ratios equivalent or better than competing slab-on-girder bridges.

This thesis examines the development of a superstructure for a slab-on-girder wood-concrete composite highway bridge. Wood-concrete composite bridges have existed since the 1930's. Historically, they have been limited to spans of less than 10 m. Renewed research interest over the past two decades has shown great potential for longer span capabilities. Through composite action and suitable detailing, improvements in strength, stiffness, and durability can be achieved versus conventional wood bridges. The bridge makes use of a slender ultra-high performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) deck made partially-composite in longitudinal bending with glued-laminated wood girders. Longitudinal external unbonded post-tensioning is utilized to increase span capabilities. Prefabrication using double-T modules minimizes the need for cast-in-place concrete on-site. Durability is realized through the highly impermeable deck slab that protects the girders from moisture. Results show that the system can span up to 30 m while achieving span-to-depth ratios equivalent or better than competing slab-on-girder bridges.