Self-healing concrete has the potential to optimise traditional design approaches; however, commercial uptake requires the ability to harmonize against standardized frameworks. Within EU SARCOS COST Action, different interlaboratory tests were executed on different self-healing techniques. This paper reports on the evaluation of the effectiveness of proposed experimental methodologies suited for self-healing concrete with expansive mineral additions. Concrete prisms and discs with MgO-based healing agents were produced and precracked. Water absorption and water flow tests were executed over a healing period spanning 6 months to assess the sealing efficiency, and the crack width reduction with time was monitored. High variability was reported for both reference (REF) and healing-addition (ADD) series affecting the reproducibility of cracking. However, within each lab, the crack width creation was repeatable. ADD reported larger crack widths. The latter influenced the observed healing making direct comparisons across labs prone to errors. Water absorption tests highlighted were susceptible to application errors. Concurrently, the potential of water flow tests as a facile method for assessment of healing performance was shown across all labs. Overall, the importance of repeatability and reproducibility of testing methods is highlighted in providing a sound basis for incorporation of self-healing concepts in practical applications.

Crystalline hydrophilic additives are increasingly used as efficient methods for reducing water permeability in concrete. Their effectiveness in hindering water penetration has been proven in different cementitious materials, although scarce information has been reported concerning their action mechanism. In the present work, the efficacy of a hydrophilic blended crystalline mix (Krystaline Add1) as a water-reducing additive has been confirmed. Furthermore, an extended study about how the presence of the additive influences both the fresh state and the hardened state properties is presented. Finally, characterization techniques such as Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP), X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD) and Back-Scattered Scanning Electron Microscopy (BSEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) have been used for deducing the mechanism of the additive. No significant deleterious influence on the concrete properties due to the addition of the additive has been detected. In fact, the additive seems to have provided a positive influence on the concrete given that a slight reduction in the w/c ratio for similar consistency has been detected, with the subsequent improvement of the compressive strength values. Its effectiveness as a water permeability reducing additive has shown encouraging results having reduced the water permeability by approximately 50% during testing. The action mechanism of the studied additive seems to be related to hydration reactions in the presence of water, producing new solid amorphous phases in the concrete bulk.

In recent decades, layered double hydroxides (LDH) have been proposed as innovative corrosion inhibitors for reinforced concrete. Their protective action is based on the ability to intercalate specific anions in the interlayer and on their ability to exchange the intercalated anion. In the present study, an organically charged LDH, with sebacate anions in the interlayer (LDH-S), is proposed as a water-repellent additive for mortar. The waterproofing efficiency of LDH-S and the associated corrosion inhibition ability has been evaluated in reinforced mortar samples. A 42% decrease in the water capillary absorption coefficient has been estimated when 3% LHD-S is added to a mortar. Both the passivation processes of the steel rebars during the curing period and the initiation of corrosion due to chloride exposure have been studied by electrochemical measurements. Three different mortars have been evaluated: reference mortar (REF), mortar with Mg-Al LDH (LDH), and mortar with LDH-sebacate (LDH-S). The latter has shown an important protective capacity for preventing the initiation of corrosion by chloride penetration, with an inhibitory efficiency of 74%. The presence of LDHs without sebacate in the interlayer also improved the performance of the mortar against rebar corrosion, but with lower efficiency (23% inhibitory efficiency). However, this protection is lost after continued chloride exposure over time, and corrosion initiates similarly to the reference mortar. The low corrosion current density values registered when LDH-S is added to the mortar may be related to the increased electrical resistance recorded in this mortar.

Crystalline admixtures are employed for waterproofing concrete. This type of admixtures can affect the early age performance of cement-based mixes. The electrical resistance properties of cement have been related to the initial setting time and to the hydration development. This paper proposes a system for remote monitoring of the initial setting time and the first days of the hardening of cement-based mortars to evaluate the effect of the incorporation of crystalline admixtures. The electrical resistance results have been confirmed by other characterization techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis and compressive strength measurements. From the electrical resistance monitoring it has been observed that the incorporation of crystalline admixtures causes a delay in the initial setting time and hydration processes. The measurements also allow to evaluate the influence of the amount of admixture used; thus, being very useful as a tool to define the optimum admixture dosage to be used.