Literature Survey on Self-Healing Concrete and Conventional Concrete in Construction Work

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive comparative study of self-healing concrete and standard concrete in the context of infrastructural projects. Self-healing concrete employs sophisticated materials such as microcapsules or even bacteria to endow the material with the ability to self-heal when cracks occur, thereby extending the potential life cycle and efficiency of the material. This paper compares the mechanical behaviour, durability, permeability, and economic feasibility criteria by referring to the relevant literature and conducting case studies for various applications in infrastructures. Self-healing concrete creates more resistance from external factors, thus allowing for considerable extension of the structure's lifeline as opposed to traditional concrete. Additionally, the paper estimates the savings in the frequency of maintenance and related lifecycle cost by utilizing self-healing technologies. The innovations made by self-healing concrete were said to address problems common in infrastructure maintenance, such as water ingression and structural degradation among others. On these grounds, self-healing concrete enhances the resilience of structures and reduces repair costs, making this a significant revolution in sustainable construction. The paper argues that future research will be channelled on self-healing technologies, thus asserting that self-healing can enhance the sustainability of infrastructure and reduce the ecological footprint of construction practices.