Water transport in cracks controlled by digital image correlation in sprayed concrete with accelerator and polymer

Sprayed concrete discs were cracked by tensile splitting with the crack widths controlled and measured by digital image correlation (DIC). The cracked samples showed increased rate of capillary suction compared to uncracked discs, due to rapid rise of water in the crack and capillary suction occurring over the surface area of the crack in addition to the area of the base of the disc. Discs with wider crack widths exhibited a higher rate of water permeation per area of crack. Inclusion of an ethyl-vinyl-acetate (EVA) dispersible powder polymer admixture was found to reduce both capillary suction and permeation in the cracked sprayed concrete discs. Self-healing was measured in the cracks.