Autogenous healing of cracks in concrete and its relevance to radwaste repositories

Cracks in concrete structures within a radioactive waste repository could provide fast transport pathways and as such could impair the performance of the concrete as a barrier to radionuclide migration. It has been widely reported that cracks in concrete can heal and, therefore, the evidence in support of this phenomenon has been reviewed and its relevance to a concrete barrier in a radioactive waste repository assessed. The mechanism of crack healing is not understood, but the most likely process responsible is calcite formation under wet conditions. There is doubt concerning whether the conditions in a repository will be suitable for crack healing; especially if the cement is extensively modified with slag or fuel ash. It is concluded that further experimental work is required to assess the impact of this phenomenon on the behaviour of cracks in repositories. (author)