SELF- HEALING CONCRETE

Ability of the Bacterial Concrete to Repair the Cracks

Both attention will be given on closure of cracks (blocking the path for ingress of
water and ions) and on regaining mechanical properties. Cracks in concrete specimen
subjected to various loading situations will be investigated before and after the healing.
For this impregnation techniques and SEM will be applied. (Scanning electron
microscope). On the other hand the micro-organisms such as bacteria, cyono bacteria,
algae, lichens, yeasts, fungi and mosses etc. Which are omnipresent and omnipotent are
responsible for metabolism action that results in a microbial deposition of a protective
CaCO3 layer. Aiso, this process results in re-establishment of the cohesion b\n particles
of mineral building materials and protects against further decay of stone material. To
prove the positive effects of microbial CaCO3 precipitation. Theincrease in porosity in
concrete leads to increase in capillary water uptake, increase in gas permeability along
with higher carbonation rate, high chloride migration and freeze-thaw damage.

1. Processing of Bacteria

Concrete could soon be healing its own hairline cracking. Holes and pores of
wet concrete are healed. Combined calcium with oxygen and carbon di oxide to form
calcite is essential for healing tiny cracks which arrest the seepage of water.

2.3 Experimental Study

2.3.1 Process of Manufacture of Concrete

Production of quality concrete requires meticulous care exercised at every stage

of manufacture of concrete. If meticulous care is not exercised, and good rules are not

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Definition: Self -Healing Concrete

The Self-healing Concrete is one that senses its crack formation and reacts to cure
itself without human intervention. Self-healing concrete is a product that will biologically

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produce limestone to heal cracks that appear on the surface of concrete structures.
Specially selected types of the bacteria Bacillus sphaericus, is added to the ingredients of
the concrete when it is being mixed. These self-healing agents can lie dormant within the
concrete for up to 200 years.

1.2 Bacterial Concrete

The “Bacterial Concrete” can be made by embedding bacteria in the concrete that
are able to constantly precipitate calcite. Bacillus Sphaericus is a soil bacterium, can
continuously precipitate a new highly impermeable calcite layer over the surface of an
already existing concrete layer. The favorable conditions do not directly exist in a
concrete but have to be created. A Main part of the research will focus on this topic. Tests
are conducted to study the mechanical properties of the above concrete with various
percentages of Bacteria. The tests carried out are Compressive strength test, Split Tensile
strength test.

1.3 Mechanisms
Some possible mechanisms for Self-healing are:
1. Formation of material like calcite.
2. Blocking of the path by sedimentation of particles.
3. Continued hydration of cement particles.
4. Swelling of the surrounding cement matrix

1.4 Objects of Biological Approach

To develop methods to enhance durability of concrete by adding bacteria. To
regain the maximum strength of concrete after cracking rectification. To develop methods
of concrete after cracking rectification.

1.5 Bio-mineralization
Natural processes such as weathering, faults, land subsidence, earthquakes and
human activities create fractures and fissures in concrete structures and historical stone
monuments. These fractures and fissures are detrimental since they can reduce the service
life of the structure. In the case of 20 monuments and buildings of historic importance,
these cracks tend to disfigure and destroy the structure. Use of bacterial concrete for

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remediating these structures will reduce the crack width and increase the strength of the
structure. Therefore a novel technique for remediating damaged structural formations has
been developed by employing a selective microbial plugging process, in which microbial
metabolic activities promote calcium carbonate (calcite) precipitation.(Meldrum
F.C.2003,stocks et al,1999). The technique is called “Microbiologically Enhanced Crack
Remediation (MECR). This technique comes under a broader category of science called
“Biomineralization”. It is a process by which living organism form inorganic solids.
Bacterial deposition of a layer of calcite on the surface of the specimens resulted in a
decrease of capillary water uptake and permeability towards gas. This bacterial treatment
resulted in a limited change of the chromatic aspect of mortar and concrete surface. The
type of bacterial culture and medium composition had a profound impact on CaCo3
crystal morphology.

CHAPTER 2

MATERIALS & METHODOLOGY

2.1 Materials Used

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The ordinary concrete used in the test program consisted of cementing materials,
mineral aggregates and corrosion inhibitor with the following specifications:
 Ordinary Portland Cement (53 Grade)
 Graded fine aggregates.
 Graded coarse aggregates.
 Water.
 Bacteria – Bacillus Sphaericus

2.1.1 Ordinary Portland Cement

The cement is a binding material. It conforms to IS456-2000-53 grade. It consists
of grinding the raw materials, mixing them intimately in certain proportion depending
upon their purity and composition and burning them in a kiln at a temperature of about
1300 – 1500 degree centigrade at which temperature, the material Center and partially
fuses to form modular chapped clinker. The clinker is cooled and ground to a fine powder
with addition of 2 to 3% of gypsum the product formed by using this procedure Portland
cement. Of all the materials that influence the behavior of concrete, cement is the most
important constituent, because it is 11 used to bind sand and aggregate and it resists
atmospheric action. Portland cement is a general term used to describe hydraulic cement.

Fig 1 Cement
2.1.2 Graded Fine Aggregates
The materials smaller than 4.75 mm size is called fine aggregates. Natural sand is
generally used as fine aggregate. In this experimental work replacement of river sand by
quarry waste (fineness modulus of crushed sand equal to 3.2) conforming to grading Zone
III of IS – 383 – 1970 was used as fine aggregates.

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Fig.2 Fine Aggregate

2.1.3 Graded Coarse Aggregate
Locally available well graded granite aggregates of normal size greater than 4.75
mm and less than 16mm having fineness modulus of 2.72 was used as coarse aggregates.

Fig.3 Coarse Aggregate

2.1.4 Water
Potable water has been used for casting concrete specimens. The water is free
from oils, acids, and alkalis and has a water-soluble Chloride content of 140 mg/lit. As
per IS 456 – 2000, the permissible limit for chloride is 500 mg/lit for reinforced concrete;
hence the amount of chloride present is very less than the permissible limit.
Concrete derives its strength by the hydration of cement particles. The hydration of
cement is not a momentary action but a process continuing for long time. Curing can also
be described as keeping the concrete moist and warm enough so that the hydration of
cement can continue. More elaborately, it can be described as the process of maintaining
a satisfactory moisture content and a favorable temperature in concrete during the period
immediately following placement, so that the hydration of cement may continue until the
desired properties are developed to a sufficient degree to meet the requirement of service.
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The casted cubes and cylinders are immersed in water tanks for 3 days, 7days, 14 days
and 28 days.

6 Workability of Concrete

Workability is the amount of useful internal work required to produce full

compaction of concrete. It depends upon:

1. Types of aggregate

2. Grading of coarse and fine aggregate

3. Quantity of cement paste

4. Consistency of the cement paste

CHAPTER 3
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TESTS CONDUCTED

3.1 Slump Test

Slump test is the most commonly used method of measuring consistency of

concrete which can be employed either in laboratory or at site of work. It is not a suitable
method for very wet or very dry concrete. It is used conveniently as a control test and
gives an indication of the uniformity of concrete from batch to batch. The deformation
shows the characteristics of concrete with respect for segregation The thickness of the
metallic sheet for the mould should not be thinner than 1.6mm. for tamping the concrete ,
a steel tamping rod 16mm dia, 0.6 meteralong with bullet end is used. The mould is then
filled in four layers, each approximately ¼ of the mould. Each layer is tamped 25 times
by the tamping rod taking care to distribute the strokes evenly over the cross section.
After the top layer has been rodded, the concrete is struck off level with a trowel and
tamping rod. The mould is removed from the concrete immediately by rising itslowly and
carefully in a vertical direction. This allows the concrete to subside. This subside is
referred as slump of concrete. The value of slump = 90 mm

3.2 Mixing, Compaction and Curing

Good concrete can be obtained only through and uniform mixing, better through
and uniform mixing, better through compaction and adequate curing. In the laboratory,
the concrete was mixed by hand mixing. All the constituent materials were weighed and
dry mixing was carried out for about 5 minutes and then water was added. The mixing
was continued till concrete of uniform consistency was obtained / the specimens were
compacted using table vibrator. After 24 hours, the specimens were remolded and kept
immersed curing tank containing potable water till the required curing period of
1:1.27:2.89 with water cement ratio 0.4cement replaced. The mix proportions are given in
table. For control specimen the w/c ratio is 0.4. The same amount of water is used for all
other specimen. The following table shows the mix proportion. Used for all other
specimens. In this study the effect of Bacillus Sphaericus in concrete is studied. Bacteria
added in concrete with 10ml and 20ml proportions and proper curing makes a substantial
improvement in enhancing the protection of embedded in concrete.

3.3 Strength Test

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3.3.1Compressive Strength

The compression test is used to determine the hardness of cubical and cylindrical
specimens of concrete. The strength of a concrete specimen depends upon cement,
aggregate, bond, water-cement ratio, curing temperature, and age and size of specimen.
Mix design is the major factor controlling the strength of concrete. Cubes of size 15cm x
15cm x 15cm (as per IS: 10086-1982) should be cast. The specimen should be given
sufficient time for hardening and then it should be cured for 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. After 3,
7, 14 and 28 days, it should be loaded in the compression testing machine and tested for
maximum load. Compressive strength should be calculated by dividing maximum load by
the cross- sectional area.

Compressive Strength (N/mm2) =Ultimate load / C/S area of specimen

3.3.2 Split- Tensile Strength

Split- tensile strength is indirect way of finding the tensile strength of concrete by
subjecting the cylinder to a compressive force. Cylinders of size 150mm diameter and
300mm long were cast. After 24 hours the specimen were demoulded and subjected to
water curing. After 3, 7, 14 and 28 days of curing the cylinders were taken allowed to dry
and tested in compression testing machine by placing the specimen horizontal. The
ultimate load of the specimen horizontal. The ultimate load of the specimen is at which
the cylinder failed.

Tensile stress (N/mm2) = 2P / ΠDL

And the stress value is obtained in N/mm2.

P is the ultimate load at which the cylinder fails.

D and L are the diameter and length of the cylinder.

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CHAPTER 4

4.3 Case Study 3

Bricks are the major part of any construction. So bricks should be durable and
should last longer without any damage. We visited a brick kiln in Kolhapur to collect
information related to this case study. This case study focuses on comparison between
conventional bricks, concrete bricks and self-healing concrete bricks.

4.3.1. Conventional Bricks

 Dimensions-19*19*9
 Cost of bricks-5-7 Rs.
 Fuel used-coal and biomass
 Gases emitted

GASES COAL BIOMASS

SO2(mg/Nm cube) 5.2-943.2 18.3-52.4
CO (mg/Nm cube) 355-3579 2622-5026
CO2% 1.0-2.4 1.7-2.0

In a brick kiln in Kolhapur, approximately one lakh bricks are prepared out of
which 20% are damaged and are of no use. In addition to this, fuel is required for burning
which causes pollution. Some experts say that pollution from brick kilns is worse than
that of factories.

Burning of coal in brick kilns leads to formation of smoke which emits gaseous
pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter. A substance known
as poly aromatic hydrocarbon is also emitted which causes vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and
eye irritation and even cancer.

4.3.2. Concrete Bricks

 Dimensions- 6*8*12 in.

 Cost of brick-13 Rs

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CONCLUSION

 Self-healing concrete is a new technology developed in Delft University,

Netherlands. This concrete has bacteria in the form of capsules which remain
dormant till 100 years unless it receives water which is its nutrient to become
active and multiplicate. Capsules receive water only when exposed to the
environment which is possible when cracks appear in the structures.
 The bacteria heal the cracks or gap within three to four weeks by producing
limestone as its byproduct.
 The cost of construction for constructing cement road has increased by about 2
crores with the implementation of self-healing agents in the cement. However, on
the long run, this method is actually economic. This can be understood by
analyzing the additional cost required for the repair and maintenance of roads
made using conventional methods.
 From our case study of analysis of maintenance cost required for a bridge, we
conclude that by adding of self-healing agents, the service life of various
structures can be improved exponentially and hence incur savings in the cost of
maintenance.
 Method of preparation of conventional bricks involves the process of baking the
bricks in large kilns. This process is not environmental friendly as it involves

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release of poisonous gases into atmosphere, contributing towards greenhouse

effect.
 We can prepare bricks using self-healing concrete which are environmental
friendly as they are not produced in kilns and are more durable than conventional
bricks.

REFERENCES

[1] E. Schlangen, H. Jonkers, S. Qian & A. Garcia, “Recent advances on self-

healing of concrete”
[2] Tae-Ho Ahn1 and Toshiharu Kishi2, “Crack Self-healing Behavior of
Cementitious Composites Incorporating”, Journal of Advanced Concrete
Technology Vol. 8, No. 2, 171-186, June 2010
[3] Renée M. Mors, Henk M. Jonkers, “Bacteria-based self-healing concrete
[4] Asst. Prof. Mr. Samir A. Al-Mashhadi, Asst. Prof. Dr. Ghalib M. Habeeb and
Abbas Kadhim Mushchil, “Control of Shrinkage Cracking in End Restrained
Reinforced Concrete Walls”. International Journal of Civil Engineering and
Technology (IJCIET), 5(1), 2014, pp.89–110.
[5] Klaas van Breugel, “SELF-HEALING MATERIAL CONCEPTS AS
SOLUTION FOR AGINGINFRASTRUCTURE, 37th Conference on Our
World in Concrete & Structures,29-31 August 2012, Singapore
[6] N. Ganesh Babu and Dr. S. Siddiraju, “An Experimental Study on Strength
and Fracture Properties of Self-Healing Concrete”. International Journal of
Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), 7(3), 2016, pp.398–406.
[7] J. S. Kamyotra, “Brick Kilns in India”

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