DAYANANDA SAGAR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

(An Autonomous Institute Affiliated To VTU, BELAGAVI)

Shavige Malleshwara Hills,Kumaraswamy Layout, Bengaluru-560078.
Accredited by National Assessment and Accredition Council(NAAC) with ‘A’ Grade

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 EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON CRACK REMEDIATION OF CONCRETE USING
BACTERIA (BASCILLUS SUBTILIS)

By:
AMAL A -1DS16CV403
KAUSHIK REDDY R -1DS15CV173 2
 CONTENTS:
1. ABSTRACT
2. INTRODUCTION
3. PRINCIPLE
4. PREPARATION OF BACTERIAL CONCRETE
5. APPLICATIONS
6. MECHANISM
7. EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS
8. OBSERVATIONS
9. SEM EXAMINATIONS
10. CONCLUSION
11. FUTURE SCOPE
12. REFERENCES

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 ABSTRACT:
 Crack formation is very common phenomenon in
concrete structure which allows the water and different
types of chemicals into the concrete through the cracks
and decreases their durability ,strength and which also
affects the reinforcement when it comes in contact with
water, CO2 and other chemicals .
 For repairing the cracks developed in the concrete, it
requires regular maintenance and special type of
treatment which will be very expensive. So, to overcome
from this problem self-healing mechanism is introduced in
the concrete which helps to repair the cracks by producing
calcium carbonate crystals which block the micro cracks
and pores in the concrete

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INTRODUCTION:
By introduce the bacteria in concrete it producing calcium carbonate crystals which
block the micro cracks and pores in the concrete . In concrete micro cracks are always
avoided but to some extent they are responsible to their failure in strength .. Most of
the microorganisms die in an environment with pH value of 10 or above .Strains of the
bacteria genus Bacillus will be found to succeed in high alkaline environment

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PREPARATION OF BACTERIAL CONCRETE:

1.PREPARATION OF BACTERIAL SOLUTION: Primarily 12.5g of Nutrient Broth (media) is added to a 50ml conical flask
containing distilled water .It is then covered with a thick cotton plug and is made air-tight with paper and rubber band. It is
then sterilized using a cooker for about 10-20 minutes. Now the solution is free from any contaminants and the solution is
clear orange in colour before the addition of the bacteria.
2.MEDIA ADDED WITH BACTERIUM: Later the flasks are opened up an an exactly 1ml of the bacterium is added to the
sterilized flask and is kept in a shaker at a speed of 150-200rpm overnight. After 24 hours the bacterial solution was found to
be whitish yellow turbid solution
3.ADDITION OF THIS BACTERIAL SOLUTION TO DRY MIX OF CONCRETE: Now the bacterial solution is added to
the dry concrete mix same as that of the water content used for the conventional concrete and a proper mix is obtained.
4.POURING OF WET MIX INTO THE CUBES: The wet concrete mix is then poured into the moulds of dimension
150mmx150mmx150mm cubes . Proper compaction is done manually . After 24 hours demould and keep it for curing .
5.TEST FOR COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH AND CRACK ANALYSIS BY SEM : The test for compression is carried out for
7 , 14 and 28 days . For crack analysis SEM method is used .

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APPLICATION:

•It is mostly used as microbial sealant for cracks & fissures under the technique called
MECR( i.e. Microbiologically Enhanced Crack Remediation. )
•For temporary cementation to prevent removal by wind/water & in bore wells to prevent
collapse.
•This MECR allows to “set” sand into a solid rock-type material without removal of sand
from its location.
•Main advantage is that it pollution free & natural .
A way to fight erosion in sand-stone monuments & historic buildings.
•It offers chemically identical material that can be colour matched to the original material &
made to retain the desired porosity.

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 MECHANISM:

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 OBSERVATIONS:
1.Properties of Coarse aggregates: 2.Properties of Fine aggregates:
Coarse aggregates:
SL.NO. PARTICULA RESULTS SL.NO PARTICULA RESULTS
RS OF TEST RS OF TEST

1 Fineness 6.1 1 Fineness 3.86

Modulus modulus
2 Shape Angular
2 Specific 2.62
3 Specific 2.68 Gravity
Gravity
4 Elongation 15% 3 Bulk
Index Density
•Dense 1620
5 Flakiness 20.68% rodded
Index •Loose
1400

6 Impact 16% 4 Void ratio

value 38%
7 Water 0.2% by
absorption weight of 5 Zone II
Aggregate
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3.Properties of Water used :
SL.NO. Characteristi Units Source Desirable Permissible
cs Limits Limits
1 Turbidity JTU Non turbid 5.0 10.0
2 Colour Colourless --- ---
3 pH mg/L 7.0 6.5-8.5 No relaxation
4 Alkalinity mg/L 22.0 200 600
5 Total solids mg/L 0.55 --- ---

Characteristics Bacillus subtilis

Shape , size, gram stain Long rods , 0.6-0.8µm in width and 2.0 to 3.0µm in length
, gram positive
Fermentation: Lactose :No acid, no gas; Dextrose: No acid, no gas;
Sucrose:Acid and gas
H2S Absent

Indole production Present

Colony morphology Irregular ,dry , white, opaque colonies

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 5.To find out the optimal concentration of Bacteria (Bacillus subtilis):

Concrete type Slump

Optimization Chart
Mix1=M20, 104 cell 78 35

Compressive Strength (N/mm2)

concentration 30

25
Mix2=M20, 105 cell 75
20 Mix1
concentration
15 Mix2
Mix3=M20, 105 cell 78 10 Mix3

concentration 5
Mix4

Mix4=M20, 106 cell 79 0

7 14 28
concentration Age in Days

RESULT: From the table observed slump value for 105 cell concentration has the least slump
value, therefore the concentration above this or below this range results in higher slump
value which defines lower workability of concrete mix.

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 6.OBSERVATIONS MADE IN COMPARISION WITH CONVENTIONAL CONCRETE AND BACTERIAL
CONCRETE:

Comparision of Average Compressive Strength(N/mm^2) between the Conventional concrete cubes and
Bacterial concrete cubes

Cell/ml of 7 Days Percent 14 Days Percent 28 Days Percent

media
increase increase increase

Control 16.56 -- 21.12 -- 28.34 --

Mix1=104 17.44 5.31 22.54 6.72 30.92 9.10
Mix1=105 18.02 8.81 24.43 15.67 33.02 16.51
Mix1=106 17.20 3.86 23.08 9.28 31.87 12.45
Mix1=107 16.70 0.84 22.67 7.33 29.26 3.24

RESULT:: Therefore as observed from experiment conducted there is significant increase in the
compressive strength of Bacterial concrete compared to the conventional concrete .
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 SCANING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE (SEM) EXAMINATION
• It is evident that pores are partially filled up by material growth with the addition of the
bacteria. Reduction in pore due to such material growth will obviously increase the material
strength and makes concrete more durable.
• Some calcite crystalline structures were found inside the pores of the mortar with addition
of bacteria.
• The spherical particles in the figure show the presence of calcite. This microbiologically
produced calcite is responsible in filling up the pores in cement composites and hence
increasing the strength and durability.

A . Magnified image of hexagonal B . Developing calcite crystals at higher

shaped calcite crystals with distinct and magnification
sharp edges, which indicated full growth
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of the crystals.
C.Developing calcite crystals at higher
magnification. It can be see that rod-shaped
objects, consistent with the dimensions of B.
subtilis are spread around the crystals. D. Bacillius subtilis attacking the crack
formed region

E. Bacillius subtilis sealing the crack

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formed region.
 CONCLUSION:
1. The compressive strength of concrete is maximum with the addition of Bacillus
subtilis JC3 at 105 cells/ml. So, bacteria with a 105 cells/ml is used in the
investigation.
2. The addition of Bacillus subtilis JC3 bacteria improves the hydrated structure of
cement mortar as bacterial deposition and precipitation of calcite minerals in
cement matrix which improves adhesive properties by pore filling of bacteria
itself.
3. The addition of Bacillus subtilis JC3 bacteria increases the compressive strength
of concrete upto 8.81%, 15.67% and 12.98% at 7, 14 and28 days respectively
compared to control concrete. The addition of Bacillus subtilis JC3 bacteria
showed significant improvement in the Flexural strength also than the
conventional concrete.
4. The results showed that there is a significant improvement in the load carrying
capacity of the Bacterial Concrete, than compared to the Conventional concrete.
5. In the beams B2, B3 and C2, C3 the formation of cracks are less in number due to
Bacteria Bacillus subtilis precipitates Calcite which fill up minor cracks.
6. From the experimental results it is observed that the Bacterial concrete beam
behaved much better with regards to first crack load and ultimate load which
enhanced the flexural behaviour characteristics.

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FUTURE SCOPE:
•It is recommended that for future work and application of bacterial concrete can
be concentrated on other bacteria.
•Further studies are absolutely necessary to identify variable environment
parameters that might affect the integrity of bio-based sealant.
•Further analysis is needed to identify the mature of the mineral formed and to
evaluate the repair potential on cracked concrete specimen.
•More investigation are needed to estimate the repair potential on old building
using microorganisms.
•Detailed studies need to focus on different types of media used for growing
microorganisms, as they influence survival, growth and crystal formation.
•Further improve the autonomous bacterial self-healing mechanism next research
can focus on, long term viability and selection of best adopted bacterial species to
the concrete environment

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 REFERENCES:
• 1.B. Aissa, D. E. (2012). Self-Healing Materials Systems: Overview of Major Approaches and Recent Developed
Technologies. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering.
• 2. D. Palin, V. W. (2013). BACTERIA-BASED SELF-HEALING CONCRETE FOR APPLICATION IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT.
Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.
• 3. E. Schlangen, H. J. (2010). Recent advances on self healing of concrete. Fracture Mechanics of Concrete and Concrete
Structures.
• 4. Erik Schlangen, S. S. (2013). Addressing Infrastructure Durability and Sustainability by Self Healing Mechanisms -
Recent Advances in Self Healing Concrete and Asphalt. SciVerse ScienceDirect.
• 5. H.M. Jonkers, E. S. (2013). Towards a sustainable bacterially -mediated self healing concrete. Delft University of
Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering and GeoSciences / Microlab.
• 6. Henk M. Jonkers, A. T. (2010). Application of bacteria as self-healing agent for the development of sustainable
concrete. Ecological Engineering.
• 7. J.Y. Wang, K. V. (2010). Potential of Applying Bacteria to Heal Cracks in Concrete. 1Magnel Laboratory for Concrete
Research.
• 8. Jagadeesha Kumar B G, R. P. (2013). Effect of Bacterial Calcite Precipitation on Compressive Strength of Mortar
Cubes. International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology.
• 9. Jonkers, R. M. (2013). PRACTICAL APPROACH FOR PRODUCTION OF BACTERIA-BASED AGENT-CONTAINED LIGHT
WEIGHT AGGREGATES TO MAKE CONCRETE SELF-HEALING. Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Materials &
Environment section.
• 10. Jonkers, V. W. (2012). Application of bacteria-based repair system to damaged concrete structures. Delft University
of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
• 11. M.V. Seshagiri Rao, V. S. (2013). Bioengineered Concrete - A Sustainable Self-Healing Construction Material.
Research Journal of Engineering Sciences.
• 12. Mandal, P. G. (2006). Development of bioconcrete material using an enrichment culture of novel thermophilic
anaerobic bacteria. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology.
• 13. Parnnika, H. H. (2013). Bioremediation of Concrete. International Conference on Emerging Trends in Engineering
and Technology .
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 THANK YOU

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