Development of Smart Materials for Self-Healing Structural Applications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63891/j-mart.v1i3.33Keywords:
self-healing, smart materials, durability, cementitious, compositesAbstract
Self-healing materials are increasingly explored for structural applications because they can autonomously repair damage, reduce maintenance needs, and extend service life. Structural components frequently experience microcracking caused by cyclic loading, shrinkage, thermal variation, and environmental exposure. If not addressed, these cracks may grow and accelerate deterioration, leading to higher lifecycle costs and reduced reliability. This study aimed to systematically review and synthesize recent research on smart self-healing materials for structural applications by mapping material classes, healing mechanisms, and performance evaluation practices reported in the literature. A systematic review method was applied using structured database searches, duplicate removal, title and abstract screening, and full-text eligibility assessment based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eligible peer-reviewed studies were required to report measurable healing outcomes. Data were extracted using a standardized form and organized by material type, healing approach, test methods, and outcome metrics. The results showed that cementitious materials dominated the included literature, followed by polymer-based systems and composite materials. Microcapsule-based healing was the most frequently investigated mechanism, while intrinsic healing and biologically driven healing approaches were also widely reported. Across studies, crack closure and mechanical strength recovery were the most commonly used indicators of healing effectiveness, whereas permeability reduction and durability-related indicators were reported less consistently. Overall, the evidence indicates strong research momentum in demonstrating healing functionality under controlled conditions, but also highlights variability in testing methods and outcome definitions across studies. This review provides a structured evidence map to support material selection, improve comparability of future studies, and guide the development of standardized evaluation approaches for practical structural deployment.
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