Smart Biomimetic Construction Materials

For Next Generation Infrastructure

Abir Al-Tabbaa - CambridgeBob Lark & Tony Jefferson - Cardiff

Kevin Paine - BathTim Embley - Costain

Business Case

Huge global investment need in infrastructure

Huge challenges in future construction & management

½ construction budget on infrastructure repair & maintenance

Repair ineffective - EU: 20% fail in 5yrs, 55% in 10 yrs, most in 25 yrs

Huge resource consumption, CO2 emissions & waste

Current design → material degradation → repair cycles

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Biomimetic Materials

Inspiration from natural/biological systems

Ability to adapt and respond to their environment

Potential infrastructure materials that self-sense & self-repair

Slowest sector to adopt/adapt new technologies

Construction materials cheap commodity

Expensive cutting-edge material technologies not justified

Biomimetic Materials significant role to play in NGI

Paradigm change in way we approach design & performance of our infrastructure

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Vision for Biomimetic Infrastructure Materials

Sustainable and resilient infrastructure containing truly biomimeticmaterials and structures that continually:

▪ Self-monitor and regulate

▪ Adapt and evolve

▪ Self-repair without external intervention

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50

Transformation in self-healing of construction materials through:

▪ Self-control own diagnosis and healing

▪ Development of self-healing systems that cover diverse and complex damage scenarios

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22

Self-healing in cementitious Systems

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(de Rooij et. al. 2013)

Autogenic <150µm Autonomic >150µm

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17 Development of complementary set of autonomic self-

healing materials for physical damage at multiple scale

➢ Range of laboratory-based systems with shell/cargo materials

➢ Challenges: matrix compatibility, mixing survivability, longevity in matrix, appropriate rupture & release, healing efficiency

➢ Commercial scale-up of 2 systems with mineral cargo

Microcapsules

Calcite-Precipitating Bacteria

➢ Encapsulation of spores, nutrients & Ca-precursor in matrix

➢ Bacteria germination & metabolic actions precipitate CaCO3

➢ Challenges: right bacteria (alkaliphilic Bacillus), rapid calcite formation, compatibility with matrix, survivability

➢ 2-microcapsule system developed with industry

Shape Memory Polymers

➢ Pre-drawn PET tendons cast and anchored in concrete

➢ Electrically activated to shrink and close cracks

➢ Challenges: location, anchorage, triggering mode, extent of closure

➢ Scaling up: new assembly of multiple SMP filaments, outer spiral wire for activation and plastic sheath cover

Vascular Networks

➢ Connected capillary tubes for large & repeated delivery of cargo

➢ Combined numerical-experimental studies of flow properties

➢ Challenges: configurations, location, implementation, triggering

➢ Created networks using 3D printing & various tubing materials

Commercial trials - A465 Heads of the Valleys, Wales

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Testing & Measurements

Potential Benefits

• Industry partners identified relevant applications

• Market research (Lychgate) confirmed appetite for self-healing materials

• Bridges & highways, pavements & runways, marine & water retaining structures, tunnels, nuclear installations

• Reduced use and costs of over-design, need for fewer additives, reduced concrete cover & reinforcement

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Commercial Success Signs

• Netherlands: bioconcrete, now being commercialised

• Netherlands: self-healing asphalt. Motorway constructed in 2010, could save €90m/year, now on 4 motorways

• Schlumberger: self-healing oilwell cement

• Commercial self-healing coatings for polymer composites (Autonomic Materials/Illinois)

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Cost of Introduction

• Initial cost and economic feasibility analyses conducted

• Lychgate market research 20%↑ in initial cost viable

• WLC of bridge deck: 20x material costs justified use of self-healing concrete

• Commercialised self-healing coating cost neutral

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Main challenges

• Development of systems for targeted applications and range of damage

• Extensive validation including long-term performance

• Design procedures and compliance with standards

• Appropriate cost for commercial viability

• Commercialisation route - repair market first18

P

Monitoring Consultation Steering Feedback Mitigation

Challenge 1: Physical damage(Wounds)

REALISING 2022 VISION

Challenge 2: Chemical damage(Infections)

Challenge 3: Age related damage (Senescence)

Cast In-situ

Precast Repair systems

Overlays Geotechnical systems

Self HealingTECHNOLOGIES

( Cures & Prophylactics )

Sensing TECHNOLOGIES

(Diagnosis)

Encapsulated

Microbial

Vascular

IntegratedsystemModelling &

TailoringTECHNIQUES

(Med Res)

Optical

Electrochemical

Piezoelectric

THMC Models

Optimisation

Designmodels

Challenge 4: Cyclic and fatigue damage: (RSI)

SCALING UP TECHNOLOGY

Large scale lab testing

Field trials

Fibres & Tendons

Chromogenic

Costing

Applications

Client Organisations

Contracting Engineers

AC

AD

EMIC

IND

UST

RIA

L

Consulting Engineers

Professional Institutions and

Trade Organisations

R&D OrganisationsProduct & Material providers

Conclusions

• We advocate that NGI include smart biomimetic construction materials

• Self-healing systems developed for cracks at multiple scale

• Full-scale field application with promising results

• Commercialisation addressed with industry

• RM4L Programme Grant for NGI biomimetic materials 21

Thank you

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