RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

SRR782
TRIMESTER 3, 2017

ASSIGNMENT –II

STUDENT NAME: BHARATH KUMAR CHANDA

STUDENT ID: 216415612

COURSE NAME AND COURSE CODE

MASTER OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT (S792)

UNIT CHAIR: DR. JULES MOLONEY

 FILED OF RESEARCH:

Sustainable Features: Self-healing of concrete structures by using fungi as healing agent.

Research scope
The goal of the research is to discover viable protective particle cover for
microscopic organisms in Self-healing concrete. The evaluated time range for
the research is one year. Typically it takes over one year for finish hydration of
cement however because of time requirement specimen samples less of what
one year tested.

Rationale research

A considerable measure of research is going on as of now to enhance

productivity of concrete. In that process one of those serious concrete problem
is cracking. Different methods have been taken to stop cracks in concrete.
treatment strategies that are friendly and durable are high demand. A microbial
self-healing approach is recognized by its potential for durability, quick and
dynamic crack repair, while additionally being eco-friendly (Mostafa SeifanAli
Khajeh Samani,2016).
Bacteria is utilized to heal cracks in concrete. Bacteria can be brought into
concrete either straightforwardly mixing them with protective gel. Insure of the
bacteria by methods for this gel framework appeared to be successful as CaCO3
crystals were encouraged inside the grid which was not the case if just bacteria
were utilized, without immobilization in the silica gel (Kim Van Tittelbooma,
Nele De Belie,2010). Subsequently finding best protective molecule cover
increases productivity of self-recuperating concrete.

Aim
Research aim is to identify microorganisms better than bacteria and to measure
quantitative bond strength between concrete and self-healing agents like fungi.
It also ambitions to conduct experiments and determine which microorganisms
suits for healing cracks and acts as protective layer between materials and
concrete. The research is important because there is necessary for implementing
experiments on new microorganisms like fungi to know bond strength and how
efficiently it acts as protective layer which affects all properties of concrete.
Future experiments for finding bond strength when concrete combined with
fungi and best useful techniques to increase bond strength. Thus the product
produced must acts as environmental friendly and sustainable. Thus sustainable
concrete production with high durability is important in construction industry.

Objectives

The following objectives should be followed to achieve the aim and they are:

✓ To conduct extensive literature for finding best microorganisms other

than bacteria that can resist to climatic conditions and heal cracks
quickly.
✓ To recommend best possible protective layer which protects concrete
from corrosion
✓ To conduct experiments on protective materials which can give more
bond strength when combined with concrete.
✓ To conduct research on microorganisms like fungi and to produce best
techniques to calculate bond strength.
✓ To find best technique used for calculating bond strength between
materials produced by fungi and cracks in concrete.
✓ Comparing of bond strength of concrete cracks using bacteria and fungi
✓ To recommend qualitative bond strength formed by fungi in concrete
cracks
✓ To recommend best suitable technique to increase bond strength using
fungi

Conclusion:
Each objective is isolated and provide individual outcomes but in turn
work together towards the research aim. 1,2 Objective provides the
information related to the type of microorganisms to be used for the
experiments and the protective cover to be used for the concrete which is
a basic requirement to conduct the 3 objective which is experiment. 4,5
objectives provide the technique of evaluating the strength of each
sample which is got through the reference for each type of
microorganisms, the techniques are used to perform the 6,7 objectives.
Final objective is the combination of the all the above steps, which is
recommendation/conclusion, which depict the conclusion of the research.
Section 2: Research plan for one year of research

RESEARCH PLAN

• Conducting literature reviews from previous research papers about self-

healing microorganisms in concrete structures
• To study the various microorganisms which can replace bacteria for self-
healing in concrete in various climatic conditions.
• To study the results of the previous tests about the self-healing particles
in concrete used in increasing bond strength.
• Gathering sufficient data for critical analysis and to prepare a clear
research outline.
• Extensive literature review is conducted and Required laboratory setup is
gathered for testing the concrete block for bond strength.
• Casting the concrete block with suitable alternative self-healing
microorganisms.
• Compaction is done for a period of 28 days. Test will be performed
during week 6 and week 7 and bond strength is conducted.
• Tests will be conducted on various concrete blocks for getting the best
results in various conditions.
• The values from various results are collected and analyzed and outline
thesis draft will be drafted.
• The bond strength for test results is compared and the best suited test
result is obtained.
• Based on the results, the feedback and remedies are prepared for the test.
• An outline thesis report is prepared based on the results and submitted to
the supervisor and feedback is received and based on the feedback,
suitable changes are made in the research.

System of inquiry: Induction (Fellows and liu, 2015)

Th e current research follows induction method of approach which involves

experiments and conclusions. In the past research determining about the
strength of concrete using bacteria’s in INDIA done by (Suthar et.al) they
followed the induction approach with experimentation methodology, the
experiments involved variation in the concrete content and Bacteria’s and their
strength behavior for 28 days and 56 days were found out. The current research
follows the same path as well but involves microorganisms in place of
bacteria’s.

COMPARISON of induction, deduction, abduction.

INDUCTION DEDUCTION ABDUCTION

Initially involves Involves hypothesis first Abduction is involved
observation followed by then followed by when background data
hypothesis, observation. is insufficient and
depends on assumption.
At the end generates a The theory at the Abduction methodology
new theory or new data beginning forms the is most used
or new gap in the possible answer for the methodology in
knowledge. research. Architectural researches.
Induction approach is Abduction process is The best insights which
called bottom-up called top-down is close to the result is
approach. research. taken as conclusion.
It is reverse of deduction It is reverse of induction Modifying a theory,
approach approach method is the main
component of abduction
Researcher can change Throughout the research The process involves
the path of research and possible efforts are insider/ insight than
is flexible during the made to prove the outsider/outsight.
process. hypothesis false.
Mainly involves Involves case studies,
participant observation, research analysis.
surveys to generate data
for the hypothesis.
Efficient method: The research follows the induction approach having
empirical design.

Methods involved:(Fellows and liu, 2015)

1.Experiments.

2.Case studies.

Experiments: The main aim of the research is to identify the microorganisms

that increases the strength i.e. bond strength in the concrete. In order to
prove the variations in the bond strength experiments have to be
conducted on various concrete cube with various microorganisms.

Case studies: Case studies are done in order to find the stronger microorganism
or the researches that involve studies on microorganisms which retain
water for more time and last longer. The data collected is applied over the
experiments and thus a theory is put out about the increase in strength of
the concrete, with the use of microorganisms.
ONE YEAR RESEARCH PLAN

MONTH1,2:
MONTH 6:
Background study, Literature
review, Case studies Strength determination of cubes

MONTH 3: MONTH 7,8:

Studying the characteristics of Comparison of strength of cubes,
microorganisms Bond strength

MONTH 9,10
MONTH 4,5:
Interpretation of results in the form
Conducting experiments
of graphs for each sample

MONTH 11,12:

Feedbacks, recommendations and

report generation
 Thesis for 11 weeks:

For the eleven-week thesis, a pilot study will be conducted. This is a

preliminary study will be carried for evaluating the feasibility and to develop a
brief understanding of the scenario that can be analyzed and evaluated further in
the one-year research. For this purpose, one of the microorganisms will be
selected that will can induce the self-healing property in concrete and is tested
for its bond strength. This is conducted to check its feasibility for 1-year
research. For the first week, the literature of self-healing microorganism’s will
be critically analyzed for check the availability of sufficient data for providing a
clear defined research outline. For second week a extensive literature review
will be conducted for finding the laboratory set up in order to test bacteria for its
bond strength. In the third week the concrete block will be cast with the self-
healing microorganism in it and will be allowed to compact for period of three
weeks and will be ready to perform test on it during the 6 th week. for week
seven the test for bond strength will be conducted. during week nine and ten the
values will be taken continuously, and the results will be analyzed, and thesis
draft will be written. During week eleven a draft will be submitted to the
supervisor, make changes according the feedback received and submitted.

Eleven weeks research Plan

Task week1 week2 week3 week4 week5 week6 week7 week8 week9 week10 Week11

To conduct
literature
review

Develop thesis
outline

Performing
extensive
literature
review for data
Preparing g the
concrete block
with the
selected self
healing
inducing micro
organism

Setting up the
laboratory for
the test

Testing

Noting the
values over
period

Analysing
results

Preparing
thesis draft

The
experiment
feasibility will
be checked

Submission to
supervisor and
receiving feed
back

Making
necessary
changes and
making final
submission.

References

Achal, V, Mukherjee, A & Reddy, MS 2010, 'Microbial concrete: way to enhance the durability of building
structures', Journal of materials in civil engineering, vol. 23, no. 6, pp. 730-4.

Ferrara, L, Krelani, V & Carsana, M 2014, 'A “fracture testing” based approach to assess crack healing of
concrete with and without crystalline admixtures', Construction and Building Materials, vol. 68, pp. 535-51.

Jacobsen, S & Sellevold, EJ 1996, 'Self healing of high strength concrete after deterioration by freeze/thaw',
Cement and Concrete Research, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 55-62.

Jonkers, HM & Schlangen, E 2008, 'A two component bacteria-based self-healing concrete', in Concrete Repair,
Rehabilitation and Retrofitting II: 2nd International Conference on Concrete Repair, Rehabilitation and
Retrofitting, ICCRRR-2, 24-26 November 2008, Cape Town, South Africa, vol. 8, p. 119.

Jonkers, HM, Thijssen, A, Muyzer, G, Copuroglu, O & Schlangen, E 2010, 'Application of bacteria as self-healing
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Rao, M, Reddy, VS, Hafsa, M, Veena, P & Anusha, P 2013, 'Bioengineered concrete-a sustainable self-healing
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Thao, TDP, Johnson, TJS, Tong, QS & Dai, PS 2009, 'Implementation of self-healing in concrete–proof of
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Tziviloglou, E, Wiktor, V, Jonkers, H & Schlangen, E 2016, 'Bacteria-based self-healing concrete to increase
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Van Tittelboom, K, De Belie, N, De Muynck, W & Verstraete, W 2010, 'Use of bacteria to repair cracks in
concrete', Cement and Concrete Research, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 157-66.

Wang, J, Soens, H, Verstraete, W & De Belie, N 2014, 'Self-healing concrete by use of microencapsulated
bacterial spores', Cement and Concrete Research, vol. 56, pp. 139-52.

Wu, M, Johannesson, B & Geiker, M 2012, 'A review: Self-healing in cementitious materials and engineered
cementitious composite as a self-healing material', Construction and Building Materials, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 571-
83.

Zhang, J, Wu, R, Li, Y, Zhong, J, Deng, X, Liu, B, Han, N & Xing, F 2016, 'Screening of bacteria for self-healing of
concrete cracks and optimization of the microbial calcium precipitation process', Applied microbiology and
biotechnology, vol. 100, no. 15, pp. 6661-70.