Self-healing capacity of differently cured concretes – Fracture characteristic development

Concretes were prepared with a maximum aggregate size of 8 mm and water to cement ratio of 0.50, 0.40 and 0.30. Mechanical properties, including fracture properties, were recorded at the age of 28 days of curing in water or without water exchange with the environment (foil enveloped specimens). Some specimens were loaded until initial crack growth, after which the loading was stopped. Subsequently, the specimens were stored in water or in foil until 1 year of age. At this age, the specimens were again loaded and the results obtained were compared with those at 28 days of age. Thanks to this procedure, self-healing of the initiated crack was discussed with respect to microscopic observations.