ABSTRACT

In Recent years, researchers concerning high performance cement based materials have been

focused not only on strength and toughness but also on the durability. As strength and durability

both are important for serviceability of the structure as per IS:456-2000.

In fact the interest on concrete’s self -healing process is increasing, due to rapid deterioration

of conventional concrete which tend to crack and thus quickly deteriorate.

Other issue is that, concrete production consumes high amount of energy and emits large

amount of CO2. One promising concept is by incorporating self-healing mechanism found in

nature into concrete structural element (by partially replacing cement with secondary

cementious materials).

use of supplementary cementitious material fly ash, silica fume etc. can also be used to improve

microstructure of concrete and to reduce cost of concrete.

My objective is to demonstrate some laboratory proven bio-inspired techniques that makes

concrete self -healing autonomously. In the study, attempt will be made in Bacterial concrete

with non-pathogenic, spore forming, calcite mineral precipitating bacterium “Bacillus subtilis”.

Concrete will be prepared with different bacterial concentration of 104 ,105,106 cells per

millimetre of water. Twenty seven cubes will be prepared with cement , fly ash (10%

replacement with cement) . The effect of mixing of bacteria and partial replacement of cement

with fly ash on workability, strength and durability will be compared with conventional

concrete.

In order to know the hydration behaviour of these mixes Isothermal calorimetry will be used

to measure heat of hydration. To have a view of self-healing X-ray computed micro

tomography will be used.