Biomimetic multi-scale damage immunity for concrete

This paper describes current ground-breaking and novel developments in the
delivery of self-immunity for concrete; including recent advances in multi-scale (~10nm to ~5mm) self-healing and self-recovery systems. The paper draws upon the EPSRC and industry funded research project, M4L: Materials for Life, which is addressing this complex problem by taking advantage of innovations in allied scientific disciplines to pave the way for the development of a new generation of versatile and robust construction materials. The paper contains a discussion of four principal forms of self-healing: (i) microcapsules, (ii) calcite precipitating bacteria, (iii) shape memory polymers and (iv) vascular networks. Finally the authors consider the degree of multi-scalar healing of the system and present a vision of a sustainable and resilient built environment comprised of concrete structures that continually monitor, regulate, adapt and repair themselves without the need for external intervention.