A shape memory polymer concrete crack closure system activated by electrical current

Teall, Oliver, Pilegis, Martins, Davies, Robert ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5949-4939, Sweeney, John, Jefferson, Tony ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2050-2521, Lark, Robert ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1796-5321 and Gardner, Diane ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2864-9122 2018. A shape memory polymer concrete crack closure system activated by electrical current. Smart Materials and Structures 27 (7) , 075016. 10.1088/1361-665X/aac28a

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Abstract

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 self-healing. 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 nickel-chrome 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.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Engineering
Publisher:	IOP Publishing
ISSN:	0964-1726
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	10 May 2018
Date of Acceptance:	4 May 2018
Last Modified:	08 Nov 2024 16:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/111365

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