Passive smart self-repairing concrete beams by using shape memory alloy wires and fibers containing adhesives

An innovative approach to increase structural survivability of concrete and maintain structural durability of concrete was developed in ease of earthquakes and typhoons. This approach takes advantage of the superelastic effect of shape memory alloy (SMA) and the cohering characteristic of repairing adhesive. These SMA wires and brittle fibers containing adhesives were embedded into concrete beams during concrete casting to form smart reinforced concrete beams. The self-repairing capacity of smart concrete beams was investigated by three-point bending tests. The experimental results show that SMA wires add self-restoration capacity, the concrete beams recover almost completely after incurring an extremely large deflection and the cracks are closed almost completely by the recovery forces of SMA wires. The number or areas of SMA wires has no influence on the tendency of deformation during loading and the tendency of reversion by the superelasticity. The adhesives released from the broken-open fibers fill voids and cracks. The repaired damage enables continued function and prevents further degradation.