Evaluation of self-healing capability of FRCC using PVA as reinforcing fiber and admixture

Experimental studies were carried out to evaluate the self-healing capability of fiber reinforced cementitious composite (FRCC), to enhance its durability. For this purpose, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used not only as a reinforcing fiber but also as an extra admixture. It was confirmed in a recent study that PVA fiber that had the high polarity of a synthetic composite could enhance self-healing capability of FRCC. In this study, FRCC specimens were subjected to uniaxial tension test in order to generate a crack in them, and the cracked specimens were then immersed in water. In order to evaluate their self-healing capability, water permeability test and microscopic observation were then carried out. It was found that the addition of an extra dose of PVA as an admixture could improve ductility of a specimen, as measured in the tension test, and also increase the complexity of the crack flanks. It was also found that it could enhance the chemical precipitation on the cement matrix of the crack flanks, so the coefficient of permeability could be restored to the point it was previous to the crack generation. Thus, an admixture of PVA might be expected to enhance the self-healing capability of cracks.