IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308
SELF-HEALING MATERIAL BACTERIAL CONCRETE
Ravindranatha1, N. Kannan2, Likhit M. L3
1
Assistant Professor - Selection Grade, Department of Civil Engineering, M. I. T - Manipal, Karnataka, India
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, M. I. T - Manipal, Karnataka, India
3
Students, Department of Civil Engineering, M. I. T - Manipal, Karnataka, India
Abstract
The requirement of high durability for structures exposed to harsh environment such as seafloor, offshore, tunnels, highways, bridges,
sewage pipes and structures for solid, liquid wastes containing toxic chemicals and radioactive elements may not be achieved using
today’s ordinary portland cement (OPC). This research gives information about the aims at increasing the strength and the total
durability of the concrete used in the present day by introducing bacteria (Bacillus pasteurii). This micro organism is a soil
bacterium. Bacillus pasteurii exhibits a phenomenon known as bio-calcification as a part of its metabolic activity. Bio-calcification is
a process through which the micro-organsim externally secretes calcium precipitate, which in the presence of a carbonate ion forms
CaCO3 which fills up the voids in the concrete texture thus making it more compact. This inturn improves the strength in concrete due
to growth of the filler material within the pores of the concrete mixer. A comparison study was made with concrete cubes and beams
subjected to compressive and flexural strength tests with and without the bacterium. It was found that there was high increase in
strength and healing of cracks subjected to loading on the concrete specimens.
Keywords: Bacillus pasteurii, compressive strength, flexural strength, and Bio-calcification.
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1. INTRODUCTION 1.3 Problem Faced
1.1 Cement All RCC members are porous in texture in a microscopic
scale. This porosity of building material allows moisture and
Cement concrete is one of the most widely used construction water due to precipitation seep into the concrete members in
material by mankind and it is the main material used for the time which causes cracks and thereby corrosion of steel
infrastructure development of every country. Cement is a reinforcements thus reducing the structural integrity and
binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and durability of the structure and at worst case scenario failure of
can bind other materials together. Cement is generally graded the structure an additive that seals the pores and cracks and
according to a few set of specifications defined (those defined thus reduces the permeability of the structure would
to IS 650:1996). which differentiate the various grades of immensely improve its life. Conventionally, a variety of
cements. The most important factor considered for cement sealing agents such as latex emulsions and epoxies etc., and
grading is the average compressing strength of the material in surface treatments with water repellents such as silanes or
a given particular amount of time over a particular area in a siloxanes are used to enhance the durability of the concrete
particular composition of the cement mortar mixture. There structures. However, they suffer from serious limitations of
was an increase in compressive strength of the cement with incompatible interfaces, susceptibility to ultraviolet radiations,
the use of the bacteria Bacillus pasteurii [6]. unstable molecular structure and high cost.
1.2 Bacteria 1.4 Calcification
Bacteria are relatively simple, single celled organisms. The Bacterial concrete, as the name suggest is an improvisation
bacteria used were Bacillus pasteurii. It is a bacterium with the provided to cement using living microbes which are capable of
ability to precipitate calcium carbonate in the presence of any doing so. Using microbes such as Bacillus pasteurii which as
carbonate source [2]. The bacterium is used in this project for properties of bio calcification can secrete calcium carbonate as
the same and for the improvement in the strengths of the an extracellular product thus filling the pores and the cracks
concrete test specimens were observed. The microbes are a internally making the structure more compact and resistive to
bacillus species and are completely not harmful to human seepage. As the texture becomes more compact the
beings. They precipitate inorganic crystals hence the healing compressive strength is also considerably increased. Thus, this
of the cracks takes place in the concrete and it can withstand process can reduce the seepage considerably permanently [3].
any temperature conditions.
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Volume: 03 Special Issue: 03 | May-2014 | NCRIET-2014, Available @ http://www.ijret.org 656
IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308
2. PROCEDURE 2.2 Compression Strength Test
2.1 Preparation of Bacterial Solution The cubical Moulds of size 150mm x 150mm x 150mm were
cleaned and checked against the joint movement. A coat of oil
Primarily 12.5g of Nutrient broth (media) is added to a 500ml was applied on the inner surface of the Moulds and kept ready
conical flask containing distilled water. It is then covered with for the concreting operation. Meanwhile the required
a thick cotton plug and is made air tight with paper and rubber quantities if cement, fine aggregate and coarse aggregate
band. It is then sterilized using a cooker for about 10-20 (passing through IS sieve of 20 mm size and retained on 4.75
minutes. Now the solution is free from any contaminants and mm) for the particular mix are weighed accurately for
the solution is clear orange in colour before the addition of the concreting. Fine aggregate and cement were mixed thoroughly
bacteria [5]. in a hand mixer such that the colour of the mixture is uniform.
Then, weighed quantity of coarse aggregate is added to the
mixer and then it rotated till uniform dry mixture is obtained.
Then, calculated quantity of bacterial solution and water was
added and mixing was continued for about 3 to 5 minutes to
get a uniform mix. The wet concrete is now poured into the
Moulds and for every 2 to 3 layers and compacted manually.
After concreting operations, the upper surface is leveled and
finished with a mason‟s trowel. The corresponding
identification marks were labeled over the finished surface and
they were tested for 7 and 28 day strengths in a compressive
strength testing machine [4].
Fig -1: Solution without bacteria (only media)
Later the flasks are opened up and an exactly 1ml of the
bacterium is added to the sterilized flask and is kept in a
shaker at a speed of 150-200 rpm overnight. After 24 hours
the bacterial solution was found to be whitish yellow turbid
solution.
Fig -3: Concrete cube subjected to compression
Fig -2: Solution with bacteria
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IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308
2.3 Flexural Strength Test
Moulds of 10cm x 10cm x 50cm is used and the Moulds are
cleaned and the joints between the sections of Moulds shall be
thinly coated with Moulds oil and a similar coating of Moulds
oil shall be applied between the contact surfaces of the bottom
of the Moulds and the base plate in order to ensure that no
water escapes during the filling. The interior faces of the
assembled Moulds shall be thinly coated with Moulds oil to
prevent adhesion of the concrete. Meanwhile the required
quantities of cement, fine aggregate and corresponding coarse
aggregate for the particular mix are weighed accurately for
concreting. Fine aggregate and cement were mixed thoroughly
in a hand mixer such that the colour of the mixture is uniform.
Then, weighed quantity of coarse aggregate is added to the Chart -1: Comparison of compressive strength test results for
mixer and then it rotated till uniform dry mixture is obtained. 7 and 28 days.
Then, calculated quantity of water and bacterial solution was
added and mixing was continued for about 3 to 5 minutes to
get a uniform mix. The wet concrete is now poured into the
Moulds in 2 to 3 layers and compacted manually. After
concreting operations, the upper surface is leveled and
finished with a mason‟s trowel. The corresponding
identification marks were labeled over the finished surface and
the beams were tested for 7 and 28 days strengths.
3. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
The test results showed a significant difference in the
specimens tested, with and without bacteria. Here are the
following tables and charts which will give clear information
about the compression and flexural strength test results.
Chart -2: Comparison of flexural strength test results for 7
Table -1: compressive strength test results for 7 and 28 days and 28 days.
Normal Bacterial 4. CONCLUSIONS
SI.NO Days concrete concrete
(N/mm2) (N/mm2) The microbe proved to be efficient in enhancing the properties
of the concrete by achieving a very high initial strength
1 7 20.84 27.09 increase and thus we can conclude that the produced calcium
carbonate has filled some percentage of void volume thereby
2 28 29.99 38.98 making the texture more compact and resistive to seepage.
When bacterial concrete is fully developed, it may become yet
Table -2: flexural strength test results for 7 and 28 days another alternative method to replace OPC and its hazardous
effect on environmental pollution. Hence can be used for
Normal Bacterial construction as it is resistant to corrosion as well [1].
SI.NO Days concrete concrete
(N/mm2) (N/mm2) REFERENCES
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Volume: 03 Special Issue: 03 | May-2014 | NCRIET-2014, Available @ http://www.ijret.org 658
IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308
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