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Smart Concrete: The deep revolution to the field of conventional

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Smart Concrete: The deep revolution to the field of
conventional concrete materials
Prof. Dr. Ibtisam Kamal

Faculty of Engineering-Soran University

Webinar 10th May 2021

Outline

Introduction

Self healing concrete

Conductive concrete

Future trends

References
Smart concrete

Smart concrete is an intelligent composite that have properties different from normal
concrete. Smart concrete manufacturing involve using an innovative process to turn
the old mixture of concrete into a new technology. The “smartness” of concrete and
structures is achieved through:

1. Material composition design,

2. Special processing,

3. Introduction of other functional components, or

4. Modification of the microstructure.

Smart Materials in Concrete
Smart Emerging Materials are trending with their innovative synthetic methods and applications in several areas including
concrete. They are engineered to respond to cracks, excessive stress, or environmental effects such as temperature,
pressure, and aggressive attack.

Market Growth of Self-Healing Materials (a smart material) in USA

1. Self-healing concrete
It has long been known that cracking can reduce the service life of concrete structures and such cracking remains a problem,
even in new structures.

Concrete possesses some natural autogenous healing properties. This is due to ongoing hydration of clinker minerals or
carbonation of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), cracks may heal after some time. However, autogenous healing is limited to
small cracks and is only effective when water is available, thus making it difficult to control.

Autonomous self-healing concrete

A potential solution to this problem is to introduce engineered (autonomic) self-repair mechanisms into structural
elements, which are able to heal cracks as they form . Several approaches have been developed for endowing concrete
with this self-repairing ability, including technologies: the following :

1. Using embedded bacterial spores,

2. Micro- and macro- encapsulation of healing agents ,

3. Embedded vascular networks for supplying healing agents to damage zones ,

4. Using self-healing cementitious materials..

5. Embed shape memory bars or tendons into structural elements that, when activated, release a
shrinkage potential that provides a crack-closure mechanism.
I. Using embedded bacteria spores or healing agents
Addition of living bacteria spores and calcium lactate (as the chemical precursor) in self-contained pods.

a. The bacteria and chemical precursor

added directly while making the concrete
Or
b. Part of the fine aggregate is impregnated
with the bacteria spores and Calcium lactate
solution, then the impregnated particles
with the healing agent is used in concrete.

The repair principle of Bacillus that precipitate calcite through biological metabolism
 Crack-healing activity in mortar by sodium alginate
microencapsulated bacterial spores formed by freeze
drying.
Self-healing mechanism in bacteria concrete
Source: Pungrasmi et al., 2019
II. Using Shape Memory Polymers
Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are an emerging class of intelligent polymers that can change
their shapes in predefined ways, in response to appropriate stimulation.

The crosslinked segments determine the

permanent shape, and switching
segments at transition temperatures that
fix the temporary shape

Source: Li et al., 2018

SMP has become an important application direction in civil engineering. In addition to sealant
applications, the self-healing abilities of SMPs have been also used to form SMP-based
composite structures, another important application in civil engineering.
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) including SMP tendons containing polyethylene terephthalate
(PET) filaments which produce a compressive stress across the crack faces

Source: Anthony and Jefferson, 2021

Shrinkage potential of six 50 mm PET segments. The bar chart shows the lengths before and after the
activation.
The embedded SMP tendons in a concrete beam that are heat activated to induce restrained stresses in the tendons thus
pre-stressing a concrete element and closing cracks.
III. Using Shape Memory alloys (SMAs)
SMA are materials that can be deformed at low temperature and recover their original shape upon heating.
They have two unique characteristics:
a shape-memory effect and super-elasticity. The shape-memory effect is the ability of the alloys to revert to
their initial shape upon being heated, until they enter their phase transformation temperature. Super-
elasticity is the property of alloys that exhibits comparatively large recoverable strain.

SME occurs due to temperature and stress-dependent shift in the material’s crystalline structure between
two different phases called Martensite and Austenite. Martensite, the low-temperature phase, is relatively
soft whereas Austenite, the high-temperature phase, is relatively hard.
Types of SMA

The three main types of SMA :

copper-zinc-aluminum,
copper-aluminum-nickel and
nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloys.

iron-based SMA : Fe-Mn-Si, commercially available and cheaper than NiTi

copper-based SMA: Cu-Zn-Al and Cu-Al-Ni

Bars made from shape-memory alloy

Those can significantly reduce the residual deformation under both cyclic loading and reversed
cyclic loadings. A new iron-based shape-memory alloy called memory-steel is being produced
on an industrial scale, it has proven successful as external end-fixed reinforcements for new
concrete structures, or retrofitted to existing ones without the level of invasive work
traditionally required.

The main advantage of using SMAs is to reduce the repair cost as the shape-memory alloy
performs super-elasticity, which enables structures to have self-center capacity .

Drawbacks such as lag time and fatigue can cause issues during the phase transformation cycle
for SMAs. From a manufacturing standpoint, SMAs can be expensive to produce. Also, since
most of these materials rely on temperature to undergo changes, it could be risky to use SMAs
as part of a device that operates under uncontrolled or unstable temp. conditions.
2. Conductive Concrete
Conductive concrete may be defined as a mixture containing a certain amount of electrically conductive
components (filler) in a regular concrete, designed to enable conduction of electricity. The electrically
conductive components used are (graphite, steel slag, stainless steel fibers, steel shaving and carbon
fiber).
These materials conduct electrical impulses, making the concrete able to have electrical resistance
change in response to damage or deformation, effectively making the concrete a sensor.

When the content of the conductive filler increases gradually, the composite material reaches the
percolation threshold. Any further increase in the content of the conductive filler after this threshold will
lead to a many orders of magnitudes increase of the electrical conductivity value.
 The electrical conductivity of a composite depends on the filler volume fraction, when the filler amount in
the composite is increased, the filler particles begin to form a continuous path which makes the free
electrons in the composite to travel easily by contacting each other, and eventually the electrical
conductivity will be increased to higher levels.

Factors affecting electrical conductivity of concrete

1. Filler type, shape, size, content
2. Filler dispersion and distribution in the composite
3. Method of preparation
The effect of fibre content and length

Alireza et al., 2017Source:

High loadings of active materials tended to cause negative effects on cost, strength, corrosion
and abrasion resistance, maintenance costs and weight.
Conductive concrete applications vary (both for temperature and structural requirements), so
the ideal content of conductive filler added depends on the conditions of use.

Compressive strength variation with carbon black content

Source: Cordon et al., 2020 Source: Alireza et at., 2017

Despite of the higher the graphite addition, the higher the electrical conductivity is, but also
the lower was the compressive strength
Applications of conductive concrete in infrastructure applications
a. building surface heating
The electrically conductive ‚concrete has applications in as underfloor heating, where it can
provide a long-term, low-maintenance alternative to plumbed hot water installations.

b. Pavement de-icing (roadway and bridges)

Conductive concrete (can gently heat up to melt away icy accumulations of winter roadway
travel. For example. In cold regions, it could replace the mobilization of labor and heavy
machinery for snow removal and could also replace the application of salt and other chemicals
on roads that cause damaging action on reinforced concrete structures

It can replace metal-based electric heating devices which have several drawbacks such as
oxidative corrosion, high manufacturing costs, heavyweight and emission of an
electromagnetic wave.

Conceptual underfloor heating/road application. Source:Tuan and Yehia, 2004

c. Electromagnetic defence
Conductive concrete is used for reduction and elimination of high power electromagnetic waves threats as electromagnetic
shields in any kinds of critical and infrastructural establishments (such as electric power stations, and communication routes
or underground vaults )

The shielding property of a given material depends on reflection and absorption. Both of these properties are heavily
dependent on conductivity and permeability of the material in question.

A conductive filler can be a conductive polymer, carbon material (graphite or carbon fiber), or metal material in a form of
powder, fiber, or plate.

EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) is calculated as follows:

(SE) = −10 log(|−S21|2) = 10 log (pi/pt)

where pi and pt are the magnitudes of the incident and

transmitted power densities.
The unit of EMI SE is given in decibels (dB).

The shielding effectiveness of concrete depend on the

thickness and moisture content (MC) and frequency,
especially when the MC is high. Bi and Liu, 2018
Measured and simulated shielding effectiveness values for plain cement, as well as the sample with 14 wt.% biochar and
the sample with 18 wt.%. Samples were cured for seven days in water. Measurements were performed after 10 weeks of
aging. Source: Yasir et al., 2020
d. As anode material for cathodic protection of steel in concrete

Cathodic protection process is very important to protect the structures heavily contaminated
with chlorides and continuously exposed to a harsh chloride environment from corrosion.

If the anode is made of conductive concrete, the anode is not damaged during the
electrochemical chloride extraction step.

The application allows working with a lower current density at the cathodic protection step,
which reduces the risk of damages of the anodic system. In addition, reduction of the
chloride uptake by concrete, due to cathodic protection action.

.
Source: Bertolinia et al., 2004
Cathodic protection of a concrete slab
Cathodic protection using Conductive concrete
e. As anode for the electrochemical extraction (ECE) of chlorides from reinforced
concrete
It is known that chlorides can lead to corrosion in reinforced concrete structures. The corrosion product
requires a larger volume of space than the original iron. This creates tensile stresses, which makes the
concrete more prone to cracking and spalling. If this process continues, premature deterioration of concrete
structure.

It was found that t the electrochemical extraction (ECE) of chlorides from reinforced concrete is with an
efficiency similar to that obtained with a classic Ti–RuO2 or stainless steel anode.

The electrochemical technique produce hydroxyl ions at the cathode or the rebars, this resulted in the
pH adjacent to the steel increases, which is beneficial for the rebar, while water is decomposed at the
anode.

.
F. Prevention of infrastructural conductivity grounding difficulties, speeding up and improving
the performance of cabinet earthing
.
In most installations the fault and leakage currents affect power quality. Hence the need to
lower earth resistance for safe, optimal and proper equipment function.

The main purpose of the grounding system is to obtain a low value of resistance so
that if a fault current occurs, it can be quickly channeled to the ground.

Grounding electrodes used to pass fault current to the ground are rod type grounding
electrodes. Rod electrodes are electrodes made from copper, steel, steel profiles or
pipes that are embedded into the earth.

Conventional grounding systems could be in some cases ineffective and could cause
great deal of damage due to natural processes and behavior (i.e. cutting or theft).

Electrical conductive concrete ECC is used to replace or enhance foundations and

buried ground grid systems.
ECC used as a backfill for earth electrode, it increases the electrode surface area thus
lowering its resistance to earth. ECC can also provide several secondary functions:
maintain the resistance value at a more constant level throughout the year, to protect
the earthing electrode from damage and corrosion.
More advantages

-- Conductive Concrete electrode resistance is 60-70% lower than bare copper counterpoise
wire.
-- Resistance of the 5m Conductive Concrete electrode is the same as the 20m long bare
copper wire.
-- Ideal contact with the soil is achieved because Conductive Concrete conforms to the shape
of the trench.
-- The effective surface area of the Conductive Concrete grounding electrode is about 25 times
larger than the counterpoise wire.
Other advantages of conductive concrete

1. Improvement in concrete strength using carbonaceous like graphene.

2. They estimated that a 50% reduction of cement used for the same strength
concrete

3. That would result in a 446kg/tonne reduction in carbon emissions by the

cement industry.

Limitations

1. Insufficient fundamental knowledge

2. Lack of long-term performance data

3. Electrical performance during life, particularly joint resistance

Future Trends
Despite these aforementioned recent advances in multifunctional materials for civil and
structural engineering, several grand challenges still need to be resolved before these innovative
materials can be adopted for practice.

The first grand challenge is scalability

How can those material be effectively incorporated at reasonable amounts and costs so that the
desired material attribute is achieved without sacrificing the original properties of the pristine
host material?

The second grand challenge is multi-functionality

How can one encode specific engineering functionalities or material properties? research is
needed for investigating how other functionalities can be incorporated, such as for sensing
chloride ingress (for corrosion monitoring, energy dissipation etc., achieving these
functionalities should not come at the cost of the other desirable attributes of civil engineering
materials.

When these advanced engineered materials are ready for large-scale validation or real-world
implementation, their construction procedures need to be addressed. As such, these innovative
materials need to be designed within the framework of acceptable construction practices.
References
1. Aaron P. Krause. Conductive concre tive concrete for elec te for electromagnetic shielding – tic shielding – methods for devel thods for development and ev
t and evaluation. (2012). Theses, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

2. MARDANI SHAHRBABAK, M., & kamyab sharif, M. (2014). Construction of Conductivity Concrete as Modern Material in Electromagnetic Shielding. (Journal
of advanced defence science and technology) journal of passive defence science and technology, 5(3 ), 211-217.

3. Wiboonluk Pungrasmi, Jirapa Intarasoontron, Pitcha Jongvivatsakul & Suched Likitlersuang. Evaluation of Microencapsulation Techniques for MICP
BacterialSpores Applied in Self-Healing Concrete. Scientific Reports (2019) 9:12484.

4. Belal Alemour, Omar Badran, Mohd Roshdi Hassan. A Review of Using Conductive Composite Materials in Solving Lightening Strike and Ice Accumulation
Problems in Aviation. Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management, vol.11, 2019.

5. Christopher Y. Tuan, Sherif A. Yehia. Implementation of Conductive Concrete Overlay for Bridge Deck Deicing at Roca, Nebraska, (2004). Civil Engineering
Faculty Proceedings & Presentations. 3.

6. Luca Bertolinia, Fabio Bolzonia, Tommaso Pastoreb, Pietro Pedeferri. Effectiveness of a conductive cementitious mortar anode for cathodic protection of
steel in concrete. Cement and Concrete Research. Volume 34, Issue 4, April 2004, Pages 681-694.

7. The effect of conductive cement as an grounding media of electrode on earth resistance. conference; Politeknik Negeri Medan, 2020.

8. Juhong Han , Dunbin Wang and Peng Zhang. Effect of nano and micro conductive materials on conductive properties of carbon fiber reinforced concrete.
De Gruyter | Published online: June 5, 2020.

9. A. Pérez, Miguel Ángel Climen, Percis Albino Garces. Electrochemical extraction of chlorides from reinforced concrete using a conductive cement paste as
the anode, 2010, Corrosion Science 52(5):1576-1581.

10. tephen R. Sharp, Gerry G. Clemeña, Y. Paul Virmani, Glenn E. Stoner ,Robert G. Kelly . Electrochemical Chloride Extraction: Influence of Concrete Surface
on Treatment. 2002. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/structures/02107/02107.pdf.

11. Jing Li, Qiuhua Duan, Enhe Zhang, and Julian Wang . Applications of Shape Memory Polymers in Kinetic Buildings. Advances in Materials Science and
Engineering, volume 2018.

12. Chigozirim G. Iheanyichukwu, Sadiq A. Umar, , Prince C. Ekwueme1. A REVIEW ON SELF-HEALING CONCRETE USING BACTERIA. Sustainable Structure and
Materials, Vol. 1, No. 2 (2018) 12-20.

13. Tanvir Qureshi and Abir Al-Tabbaa (May 28th 2020). Self-Healing Concrete and Cementitious Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, Nevin Tasaltin,
Paul Sunday Nnamchi and Safaa Saud, IntechOpen.
.
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