Smart concrete beams with damage self-repairing capacity

Smart concrete beam with damage self-repairing capacity is developed by embedding superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) wires and brittle fibers containing adhesives into the tensile zone of concrete beams during concrete casting. By the superelasticity of SMA, the embedded SMA wires will significantly increase structural survivability and allow structural to recover from residual deformation in the case of being damaged by earthquakes and typhoons. The repairing adhesive from the broken-open fibers will maintain material and structural durability by regaining mechanical properties (repairing) and water tightness (sealing). Experimental results show that the capacity of deformation of beam by reinforcing with SMA is significantly improved. When unloading after generating a large deflection in the smart concrete, the superelasticity of SMA wires recovers the deflection and the crack almost closes completely. The sealed cracks by the adhesive from the broken-open fibers remain closed and news cracks form during reloading for the smart self-repairing concrete beams.