ABSTRACT
Cement-based materials have received much attention in relation to their mechanical properties, due to their importance as structural materials. However, the need for a structural material to be able to serve one or more nonstructural functions while retaining good structural properties is increasingly recognized [1]. This is because the use of a multifunctional structural material in place of a combination of a structural material and a nonstructural functional material (e.g., a structural material with an embedded nonstructural functional material) reduces cost, enhances durability and repairability, increases the functional volume, avoids degradation of the mechanical properties, and simplifies design. Nonstructural functions include sensing, actuation, heating, corrosion protection, self-healing, thermal insulation, heat retention and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding [1,2].
