Provide PDF Format
AWWA WQTC62600
- Autogenous Healing of Concrete
- Conference Proceeding by American Water Works Association, 11/01/2005
- Publisher: AWWA
$12.00$24.00
The objective of this research was to study the phenomenon of autogenous healing that occurs when hairline cracks that develop inconcrete repair themselves through reactions with constituents in water. Water chemistrydetermines whether the crack heals autogenously or corrodes to failure. The paper discusses strength testingon concrete specimens which show that autogenous healing can occur at a pH of 9.5 whenthere is sufficient magnesium and silicon in the water. Zinc and/or phosphorus may playa role in increasing the strength of the "glue" that repairs the crack, but additional study isrequired to determine the interplay among these constituents. One surprising finding isthat calcium dissolution must occur for autogenous healing to take place and it does notappear the crack is filled with CaCO<sub>3</sub> as was previously suspected. Thus, theoretically itis possible that corrosion control may reduce weight loss but hinder autogenous crackrepair. Includes 13 references, table, figures.