Brief
Discover how self-healing concrete, developed through DARPA’s BRACE program, is set to revolutionize the construction industry and military runways with its innovative bio-inspired technology.
Insight
Re-write this news based on proper british English grammar and SEO for maximizing page backlinks:Concrete is, by far, one of the most essential building materials ever invented. However, it is liable to crack and spall over time, which is aesthetically unpleasing and compromises its otherwise great strength.
But recent developments in material science could lead to concrete that can heal itself. Such a material would be instrumental in the construction sector, but it has also found another interesting potential client: the U.S. Armed Forces. One primary area in which such a material would be beneficial is runways.
These structures suffer from wear and tear over time but are also susceptible to damage from air raids. If the runways can be made from this material, they can repair themselves to ensure the surfaces can continue to be used for aircraft.
To this end, the Pentagon’s research office, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), aims to develop a specific type of concrete for military installations. Called BRACE, or bio-inspired restoration of old concrete edifices, the program seeks to combine the principles of biology and concrete to restore aging concrete structures.
BRACE utilizes biological organisms to construct a vascular system within the concrete that can repair cracks internally, preventing them from reaching the surface of a structure. This allows concrete to undergo a healing process similar to living organisms. Concrete deterioration can be diagnosed using this method as well.
“The central hypothesis of BRACE is that concrete can be infused with self-repair capabilities typically found in living organisms, drawing inspiration from vascular systems found in humans and vast networks of filamentous fungi that can span acres of land similar in scale to concrete buildings,” DARPA says in a recent press release.
“Such systems could provide a network of transportation for healing within the depths of the material to repair cracks before they reach the surface and cause failure,” he added.
Highlight
- The BRACE programme aims to merge biological principles with concrete engineering to revitalise ageing concrete structures.
- By employing biological organisms, a vascular system is formed within the concrete, facilitating internal crack repair and preventing surface exposure.
- The central hypothesis of BRACE is that concrete can be infused with self-repair capabilities typically found in living organisms, drawing inspiration from vascular systems found in humans and vast networks of filamentous fungi.
Related Questions:
- How effective is self-healing concrete?
- Is self-healing concrete expensive?
- What are the downsides of self-healing concrete?
- What is the difference between normal concrete and self-healing concrete?
Recent Comments