The objective of this paper is to evaluate the self- healing properties of a commercially-available geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) using flexible-wall permeameter. The GCLs are produced by the same factory, but the contents of bentonite are different. Also the hydraulic conductivities (HC) of GCLs with no defect are different. In this study, specimens were completely saturated under the backpressure of 20 kPa before the test. Permeability tests were performed on GCL specimens with penetrating flaw and also on specimens permeated with distilled water and CaCl2 solutions. The test results were presented and discussed. Experimental results showed that the GCL with penetrating flaw did not exhibit complete self-healing in the case of flaw. After 120 days, the hydraulic conductivity increased by approximately an order of magnitude. In addition, CaCl2 solutions had a significant influence on the hydraulic conductivity. The research findings might be of interest to researchers and engineers who design liners for landfills and other liquid containment facilities

This study discusses the synthesis, characterization and development of self-healing nanocomposite of amino-terminated PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane), Epoxy (EPON828¸ Diethylenetriamine (DETA)), and Graphene Oxide (GO).GOwas prepared using a modified Hummer’s method andwas incorporated into the PDMS-Epoxy composite in various ratios (0.1 wt.%, 0.3 wt.%, and 0.5 wt.%) using toluene as the dispersing medium. Fourier TransformInfrared Spectroscopy was used for confirming the presence of the designed/prepared structures, and thermo-mechanical analysis was performed to test the change in glass transition temperature and initiation temperature of self-healing process. The composite resins were coated on mild steel substrates by curing freshly prepared resins over the substrates at elevated temperatures. The corrosion behavior of mild steel in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution before and after the coatings was studied using Tafel Electrochemical Polarization test. The self-healing properties of the materials were also studied by applying cuts on the material and letting them heal under elevated temperatures, and the results showed that the prepared coating demonstrated an effective corrosion resistance for mild steel for various marine applications.

The increasing concern for the safety and sustainability of structures is calling for the development of smart self-healing materials and preventive repair methods. This research is carried out to investigate the extent of self-healing in normal-strength concrete by using Sporosarcina aquimarina – NCCP-2716 immobilized in expanded perlite (EP) as the carrier. The efficacy of crack-healing was also tested using two alternative self-healing techniques, i.e. expanded perlite (EP) concrete and direct introduction of bacteria in concrete. A bacterial solution was embedded in EP and calcium lactate pentahydrate was added as the nutrient. Experiments revealed that specimens containing EP-immobilized bacteria had the most effective crack-healing. After 28 days of healing, the values of completely healed crack widths were up to 0.78 mm, which is higher than the 0.5 mm value for specimens with the direct addition of bacteria. The specimen showed a significant self-healing phenomenon caused by substantial calcite precipitation by bacteria. The induced cracks were observed to be repaired autonomously by the calcite produced by the bacteria without any adverse effect on strength. The results of this research could provide a scientific foundation for the use of expanded perlite as a novel microbe carrier and Sporosarcina aquimarina as a potential microbe in bacteria-based self-healing concrete.

The effect of aging time at 850°C for 300 s, 600 s, 1800 s, and 84600 s on the microstructural evolution and corrosion resistance of 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS) was studied after cold rolling up to 60% of reduction. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy were used for microstructural characterization. The corrosion behavior was studied by cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (CPP) and electrochemical impedance technique (EIS) in 3.5% NaCl solution and the susceptibility to sensitization was investigated through the double loop electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation (DL-EPR) test in 0.5 M H2SO4 + 0.1 M NaCl + 0.002 M KSCN solution. After cold working, increasing aging time led to an increase in sigma phase precipitation and a decrease in pitting corrosion resistance. However, the ultrafine microstructure had a beneficial influence on the self-healing effect in Cr and Mo depleted areas with the increasing of aging time, resulting in higher passivation ability. The DSS 2205 type was not susceptible to intergranular corrosion for the aged conditions applied.

The objective of this investigation was to test the effectiveness of the Acoustic Emission (AE) measurements in determining the critical stresses during four-point bending of mortar beams. Within the measuring procedure the parameter σcr/σ300 was calculated and analysed. Additionally, the influence of cement replacement by high calcium fly ash (HCFA) on the process of crack healing was discussed. Mortar beams with different content of HCFA and reinforced by steel microfibres were prepared for tests. After curing in standard conditions the beams were subjected to four-point bending test in order to introduce the pre-cracking. Thereafter the beams were cured in the lime water and loaded after 56 and 112 days in the same way as for the first time. Additionally the microstructure of mortars was studied in a stereo optical microscope as well in an electron scanning microscope including the Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The results of microstructural characterization of mortar containing HCFA from lignite combustion are presented. The applied load level slightly exceeded the critical stress, producing intense crack growth processes however did not significant affected the load capacity of the beams. During the consecutive loading the decreasing tendency of σcr/σ300 ratio was noted. The obtained results confirm that the latter parameter can be applied as a measure of the composite degradation level for the elements carrying the repeated loads of amplitude close to the critical stress of the structure and also that the cement replacement with HCFA influences the process of crack healing.

Self-healing grids are one of the most developing concepts applied in electrical engineering. Each restoration strategy requires advanced algorithms responsible for the creation of local power systems. Multi-agent automation solutions dedicated for smart grids are mostly based on Prim’s algorithm. Graph theory in that field also leaves many problems unsolved. This paper is focused on a variation of Prim’s algorithm utility for a multi-sourced power system topology. The logic described in the paper is a novel concept combined with a proposal of a multi-parametrized weight calculation formula representing transmission features of energy delivered to loads present in a considered grid. The weight is expressed as the combination of three elements: real power, reactive power, and real power losses. The proposal of a novel algorithm was verified in a simulation model of a power system. The new restoration logic was compared with the proposal of the strategy presented in other recently published articles. The novel concept of restoration strategy dedicated to multi-sourced power systems was verified positively by simulations. The proposed solution proved its usefulness and applicability.