Description

Concrete is a critical component of so much of the modern construction industry. This material, well known for its versatility, robustness, longevity, and strength, is well-suited for a wide range of structural applications. Nonetheless, the widespread occurrence of cracks in concrete structures, primarily attributed to its limited tensile strength, shrinkage, and overstain, imposes a considerable economic and environmental challenge when it comes to retrofitting these fissures. This study tackles this problem by harnessing bacteria tolerant to high alkaline conditions to enable Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) for the self-repair of concrete. This is achieved through an external application method, wherein bacteria are manually and externally applied to the cracks of the concrete surface. This report presents the results of testing three different bacterial species (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, and Sporosarcina pasteurii) to retrofit laboratory-manufactured cracks. The self-repaired groups underwent compressive load-to-failure testing and were compared to a control group (With Crack), revealing a notable increase in compressive strength ranging from 8.59% to 21.61%. The outcomes of the compressive strength tests illustrate the viability of implementing this technique for retrofitting concrete structures, showcasing its environmentally friendly nature and its ability to significantly enhance structural durability. This, in turn, has the potential to impact existing and future developments that incorporate concrete.

Publication Date

7-2024

Publication Type

Report

Topic

Transportation Technology

Digital Object Identifier

10.31979/mti.2024.2331

MTI Project

2331

Keywords

Concrete, Tests, Experiments, Maintenance, Properties of materials

Disciplines

Materials Science and Engineering | Structural Materials | Transportation

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