| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1457038 | Cement and Concrete Research | 2010 | 7 Pages |
This paper presents details of an original crack-closure system for cementitious materials using shrinkable polymer tendons. The system involves the incorporation of unbonded pre-oriented polymer tendons in cementitious beams. Crack closure is achieved by thermally activating the shrinkage mechanism of the restrained polymer tendons after the cement-based material has undergone initial curing.The feasibility of the system is demonstrated in a series of small scale experiments on pre-cracked prismatic mortar specimens. The results from these tests show that, upon activation, the polymer tendon completely closes the preformed macro-cracks and imparts a significant stress across the crack faces.The potential of the system to enhance the natural autogenous crack healing process and generally improve the durability of concrete structures is addressed.
