Imagine if infrastructure could heal its own fractures after an earthquake, much like a living organism recovering from an injury. While this concept may sound futuristic, the natural world has already perfected the mechanics of impact resistance through the highly organized, layered structures found in seashell nacre. By adapting nature's blueprint, this project shifts the engineering paradigm from passive, brittle construction toward an active, resilient architecture that dynamically responds to seismic stress.
The proposed composite utilizes Polyborosiloxane as a self-healing mortar integrated within a ceramic platelet scaffold. Polyborosiloxane exhibits non-Newtonian, shear-stiffening properties, allowing it to act as a rigid solid during the high-velocity impact of an earthquake, while relaxing to flow into and seal micro-cracks during static rest periods. It is hypothesized that the viscoelastic bridging of this mortar will impart a rising R-curve behaviour, increasing toughness as cracks grow, and autonomously restore structural integrity between seismic events where standard materials would fail.
The project execution is divided into a continuous four-phase methodology. Initially, the viscoelastic supramolecular Polyborosiloxane will be synthesized via the condensation reaction of hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane with boric acid. The boron content will be systematically varied to tune the relaxation time of the polymer, balancing the structural stiffness required for stability against the rapid flow rate needed for healing between aftershocks. This resulting polymer putty will be infiltrated into the ceramic scaffolds using a slip casting technique, where controlled pressure and mild heat will facilitate thorough diffusion between the platelets.
Following synthesis, the material's fracture mechanics will be rigorously evaluated. A Deben microtest stage will be utilized to propagate cracks along the mortar interface, measuring force against crack displacement. The resulting R-curves will be plotted to confirm that viscoelastic polymer bridges forming behind the crack tip actively increase fracture toughness, contrasting directly with a standard epoxy control sample. To simulate the main shock of an earthquake, the composite samples will then undergo cyclic three-point bending to introduce controlled damage. These samples will be allowed to heal over varying durations and subsequently re-tested, allowing for a comparative analysis of healing efficiency across all combinations of boron content and recovery time.
Finally, the empirical data will be contextualized within the specific socioeconomic realities of Turkiye. This feasibility analysis will assess material affordability, local sourcing viability, the regional skills gap, and the prevailing political climate. The project will culminate in the production of a comprehensive technical report and a targeted, non-technical policy brief designed to guide resilient city planning and sustainable infrastructure development.