He tested the self-healing concrete potholes

Scientists experimented with freshly patched concrete materials in southern Wales, in an effort to overcome potholes and damage road surfaces.

Test of self-healing concrete potholes

In the project, the team from Cardiff University, Bath University and Cambridge University, UK, will test the technology in the first real context. Their goal is to create a system to detect damage and repair themselves without human intervention.

Tests took place at Costain's construction site at Heads of the Valleys Road (A465) in Blaenau Gwent district.

Healthy concrete wall technology applications in southern Wales.(Photo: Cardiff University).

"We aim to create a system that is durable and easy to recover, can continuously monitor, adjust, adapt and repair without human intervention. Good self-healing materials and pine structures This will greatly enhance durability, improve safety as well as reduce maintenance costs per year, " BBC said on October 28, quoted by Professor Bob Lark, principal researcher of the Material Project. life.

In 2014 alone, the estimated cost to repair roads in England and Wales increased to $ 18.5 billion. In order to cut down on this fee, the team built 6 concrete walls using different techniques in the testing area.

The team will test smart materials made from polymers capable of returning to old shape after an external stimulus appears to repair large cracks.

With the second technique, they will pump inorganic and organic self-healing substances through a network of pipes inside the concrete layer to overcome damage.

Healed materials made from polymer work like reinforcing steel.(Photo: Cardiff University).

In the third technique, researchers put small capsules containing bacteria and healthy self-healing substances into the concrete layer and they will react when cracking occurs.

After a while, the team will stack concrete slabs at different angles to create cracks and track the effectiveness of each technique.

"We will monitor characteristics such as hardness, absorbency and damage recovery of test walls compared to traditional reinforced concrete walls , " Oliver Teall, a civil engineer at Costain, said.