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Use of neutron radiography and tomography to visualize the autonomous crack sealing efficiency in cementitious materials

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Abstract

Penetration of moisture into building materials is at the origin of several damage mechanisms. In the case of cement-based materials crack formation is a common problem and highly accelerates the ingress of water and aggressive substances. Crack repair may be needed, however, repair works are expensive and in some cases cracks are even not accessible. Therefore, in this research we aim at autonomous crack sealing. Upon crack appearance, damage is sealed autonomously by the release of encapsulated agents. Visualization of the water uptake by means of neutron radiography for samples with manually and autonomously sealed cracks showed that in both cases ingress of water into the crack can be prevented depending on the type of agent. The efficiency of three different agents was examined and it was shown that the use of polyurethane or a water repellent agent were most promising. Neutron tomography scans demonstrated that poor results were obtained when encapsulated methyl methacrylate was used, since one component of the agent hardened inside the capsules before crack appearance. From the results we can conclude that autonomous sealing of cracks is feasible and that neutron radiography and tomography are suitable non-destructive test techniques to visualize the autonomous crack sealing efficiency.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Neutron Imaging and Activation Group of Paul-Scherrer-Institute (PSI), Switzerland, for experimental support during operation of neutron radiography and tomography. They also want to thank Manuel Dierick from the Centre for X-ray Tomography of Ghent University (UGCT) for reconstruction of the tomography scans. This research project has been supported by the European commission under the 7th Framework Programme through the ‘Research Infrastructures’ action of the ‘Capacities’ Programme, contract No: CP-CSA_INFRA-2008-1.1.1 and the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO-Vlaanderen) (Project No. G.0157.08).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Magnel Laboratory for Concrete Research, Department of Structural Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 904, 9052, Ghent, Belgium

    Kim Van Tittelboom, Didier Snoeck & Nele De Belie

  2. ASQ Division, Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI), WBBA/107, 5232, Villigen, Switzerland

    Peter Vontobel

  3. Aedificat Institute Freiburg, Schlierbergstrasse 80, 79100, Freiburg, Germany

    Folker H. Wittmann

  4. Centre for Durability and Sustainability Studies, Qingdao Technological University, Fushun Road 11, Qingdao, 266033, China

    Folker H. Wittmann

Authors
  1. Kim Van Tittelboom
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  2. Didier Snoeck
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  3. Peter Vontobel
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  4. Folker H. Wittmann
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  5. Nele De Belie
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Correspondence to Nele De Belie.

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Van Tittelboom, K., Snoeck, D., Vontobel, P. et al. Use of neutron radiography and tomography to visualize the autonomous crack sealing efficiency in cementitious materials. Mater Struct 46, 105–121 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-012-9887-1

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