ABSTRACT
The contribution presents numerical results obtained by modeling the mechanical response of elements in plain concrete with self-healing capabilities. The capabilities of two approaches are investigated: a model assuming a coupling between elasticity and isotropic damage with isotropic healing, and a model accounting for the damage-induced anisotropy combined with isotropic healing. The model employing isotropic damage and healing is implemented in the finite-element analysis of the damage-healing response of cylindrical specimens loaded in compression and prismatic specimens loaded in tension by flexure. The model accounting for the damage-induced anisotropy reproduces, by finite-element simulations, the damage-healing response of a cylindrical concrete specimen loaded in compression. Additionally, the induced anisotropy is illustrated using a numerical procedure developed in Python. The finite-element procedures quantitatively assess the regain in strength resulting from the activation of the autonomous self-healing, after a specified period of exploitation.
