To Experimentally Investigate Self-Healing Concrete with Carbon Nanotubes and Partial Replacement of Cement with GGBS

Abstract

This study presents the experimental research on Self Healing Concrete with Carbon Nanotubes and partial replacement of OPC with GGBS. This study aims at preparing the proposed concrete by Bacteria (Bacillus Subtilis) and Organic Mineral Precursor Compound (Calcium Lactate) with small addition of Carbon Nanotubes ( CNTs ) and making partial replacement of Ordinary Portland Cement in concrete with Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS), Mix Design Proportioning as per IS Code Guidelines, determining the Workability of proposed concrete, preparing the requisite test specimens, testing the specimens for Compressive Test, Split Tensile Test and Flexural Test and draw out the major conclusions for the proposed concrete. As Conventional Concrete may experience cracks whether they may occur due to structural use in long term, or shrinkage and creep in short or long term, These cracks cause the bad effects on the structural components and making it less durable, less serviceable and even collapsing of some components. These cracks require regular maintenance from time to time to get repaired which requires cost and skilled workmen. It is very difficult to get them repaired time to time. So, Proposed Concrete is a Smart Material which can heal its cracks on its own without human intervention and get the cracks repaired when it is originated without deteriorating the strength and functional aspects of structure. Conventional concrete has good compressive strength but it may not have significant tensile strength because the concrete is a brittle material. But the Proposed Concrete will have the significant tensile strength than conventional concrete because little tensile behaviour is to be imparted by Carbon Nanotubes. Carbon Nanotubes have the greater axial strength, excellent stiffness, excellent Young’s modulus of elasticity and ductility properties. Concrete is most widely used construction material and ordinary Portland cement is consumed in large quantity in making conventional concrete. The Production of Ordinary Portland Cement causes large scale CO2 emissions into our atmosphere. CO2 emissions is the main cause for large scale global warming. Proposed Concrete contains the partial replacement of OPC with GGBS which will reduce the consumption as well as production of OPC, which in turn will help in combating the global warming. Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS ) is an eco-friendly material produced during iron production. Proposed Concrete will have the better strength properties.

Introduction

Concrete is a widely used construction material but is inherently brittle and prone to cracking due to excessive loading, shrinkage, creep, and other factors. These cracks reduce durability, increase permeability, and raise maintenance costs. Self-healing concrete addresses this issue by incorporating bacteria (such as Bacillus subtilis) and healing agents that automatically repair cracks through the formation of calcium carbonate, reducing maintenance and extending service life.

The study also explores the use of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) to further enhance concrete performance. CNTs improve tensile strength, stiffness, crack resistance, and durability, while GGBS partially replaces Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), improving strength, workability, sulfate resistance, and sustainability by reducing CO? emissions.

The literature review indicates that bacterial self-healing concrete, CNT-modified concrete, and GGBS replacement individually improve compressive, tensile, and durability properties. However, existing research has not investigated the combined use of self-healing bacteria and CNTs in the same concrete mix, revealing a significant research gap.

The paper explains the mechanisms of natural, chemical, and biological self-healing, classifies self-healing concrete into biotic and abiotic types, and discusses the role of bacteria, calcium lactate, CNTs, and GGBS in enhancing concrete properties. It also describes the materials used in the study, including OPC, GGBS, aggregates, Bacillus subtilis, and calcium lactate. The proposed approach aims to develop a stronger, more durable, eco-friendly, and self-repairing concrete with improved mechanical performance and reduced maintenance costs.

Conclusion

Self Healing Concrete with Carbon Nanotubes shows excellent potential to be the concrete for the future because it is not only an Effective Technique for healing the cracks in concrete structures but also a Revolutionary Material for reduction of Corrosion of Reinforcement which starts with cracking by appropriate Utilization of Corrosion causing Moisture as a Catalyst for activating the Healing System of this concrete and thus filling up the cracks. Self Healing Concrete with CNTs and partial replacement of OPC with GGBS is an innovative and environment friendly material to be used for applications in future because it exhibits human-like self healing characteristics but without the intervention of human during the repair process. Proposed Concrete is Smart Material and an effective Crack Remediation Technique for sealing off the cracks. It is also very effective for filling up of MicroCracks. It is the main purpose of every Structural Engineer to have the least or no MicroCracks as these MicroCracks lead to the less Strength and thus causing the Failure of Structure. Proposed Concrete is prepared by partial replacement of OPC with GGBS, which is a waste material produced during iron production, will reduce the consumption and production of large scale OPC and its results will be seen in combating with Global Warming in near Future. Proposed Concrete has shown the excellent Split Tensile Strength in addition to the Good Compressive and Flexural Strength and more research should be carried in the future to make full advantage of Carbon Nanotubes (Nanotechnology) in Concrete. Future Study in the field of practical and commercial applications of the Proposed Concrete should be carried out as this concrete has the full potential to be used for applications and has shown excellent Tests Results.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Gittin Mahajan, Sourabh Lalotra, Dr. Anchal Sharma. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.