Abstract: Cracks in concrete are inevitable and are one of the inherent weaknesses of concrete. Water and other salts seep through these cracks, corrosion initiates, and thus reduces the life of concrete. Concrete structures usually show some self-healing capacity, i.e. the ability to heal or seal freshly formed micro-cracks. This property is mainly due to the presence of non-hydrated excess cement particles in the materials matrix, which undergo delayed or secondary hydration upon reaction with water. Scientists have developed a new type of self-healing concrete in which bacteria mediate the production of minerals which rapidly seal freshly formed cracks, a process that concomitantly decreases concrete permeability, and thus better protects embedded steel reinforcement from corrosion. Bacterial concrete is a material, which can successfully remediate cracks in concrete. This technique is highly desirable because the mineral precipitation induced as a result of microbial activities is pollution free and natural. As the cell wall of bacteria is negatively charged, metal accumulation (calcite) on the surface of the wall is substantial, thus the entire cell becomes crystalline and they eventually plug the pores and cracks in concrete. It was found that use of bacteria improves the stiffness and compressive strength of concrete.
Keywords: Bacterial concrete, Self-Healing Capacity, Crack Formation, Durability, Split Tensile Strength, Stress-Strain curves.
Title: Effect of Bacteria on 28days Split Tensile Strength of Concrete and Its Stress-Strain Curves
Author: SHAIK NASREEN, Dr. T. SURESH BABU
International Journal of Civil and Structural Engineering Research
ISSN 2348-7607 (Online)
Research Publish Journals
