With increasing pressures on civil infrastructure and rising maintenance costs, the demand for materials capable of autonomously repairing structural damage has become more critical than ever. Self-healing structures, empowered by advanced technologies such as chemical microcapsules, calcite-producing bacteria, nanoparticles, shape memory polymers, and bio-based systems, represent a major leap toward enhancing sustainability, reducing repair costs, and extending the service life of civil structures.
This review-based article aims to introduce and clarify emerging concepts in the field of self-healing materials and structural systems. It explores various self-healing mechanisms and evaluates their benefits, challenges, and applications across real-world engineering projects. Furthermore, by referencing successful international case studies and offering a future-oriented outlook, the article provides a comprehensive vision for the evolving role of self-healing technologies in structural engineering. These technologies not only represent a novel approach to material science but also mark a paradigm shift from “resistant structures” to “adaptive and intelligent infrastructure.