Literature Review on Self-Healing Concrete by Using Bacteria

Abstract

The purpose of this literature paper is to determine the use of bacteria is one of the most rising as well as bright approaches. The primary component of a concrete construction is cement. In concrete structure crack development is a typical phenomenon, it reduces durability & strength. Also analyse the impact of oxygen and water on the crack portion. In this study use of bacteria because the bacteria are having repair ability. This paper focuses on the mechanical properties of Bacillus family self-healing concrete. The mix proportion of material are taken while performing on bacterial based concrete. In the process of research and development of self-healing concrete, it is observed that there are main component of healing agent is bacteria which can produce or make the Calcite as a by-product of their activity. When these bacteria are incorporated into concrete, they can fill the cracks and voids with calcite, reducing permeability. Also improve concrete’s mechanical properties and Enhance durability and resistances to degradation. In this study there are some kind of test and bacteria were used for performance in concrete mixture and to highlight the crack process also to point on the crack width how bacterial as well as bacteria concrete can heal the crack in minimum time period of crack developed on it. Current study used the bacteria in capsules formed to prevent the bacteria in other chemical reaction used capsule they can work on projection membrane of bacteria.

Introduction

Overview:
Microbial self-healing concrete is an innovative solution developed over the past 20 years to improve concrete durability, sustainability, and reduce maintenance costs. Cracking is a major issue in concrete, and traditional repairs are often temporary and expensive. Microbial self-healing involves the use of bacteria that precipitate calcium carbonate (CaCO?) to seal cracks, thereby extending the life and performance of concrete structures.

Key Concepts:

• Concrete Usage & Issues:

  • Concrete is widely used due to its affordability, strength, and durability.

  • Cracks from mechanical, chemical, and biological causes reduce its longevity.

  • Repairing damaged infrastructure is costly (e.g., UK’s £500 billion pledge in 2020–2021).

• Environmental Impact:

  • Cement production for concrete emits about 8% of global human-induced CO?.

  • Self-healing concrete can potentially reduce these emissions by minimizing repairs and replacements.

• Self-Healing Mechanism:

  • Bacteria (e.g., Bacillus spp., Sporosarcina pasteurii) are used to induce CaCO? precipitation.

  • This reaction occurs when calcium ions in concrete interact with CO?, oxygen, and water.

  • The process seals microcracks, restores strength, and improves impermeability.

Research and Findings:

• Healing Performance:

  • Bacteria can heal cracks up to 0.4 mm or more depending on the strain.

  • Healing generally starts within 3 weeks and may complete in 21–24 days.

  • Studies show autonomous healing (bacteria-based) is more effective than natural autogenous healing.

• Methods of Embedding Bacteria:

  • Encapsulation in carriers such as expanded clay, silica, hydrogels, and ceramsite protects bacteria from concrete’s alkaline environment.

  • Bacteria are introduced in spores or live forms via capsules, gel, or liquid solutions.

• Testing and Results:

  • Experiments involved compressive strength, slump, tensile strength, water permeability, and crack healing evaluations.

  • Some studies used pre-cracked cubes (150 mm³) to assess healing through microscopy, image analysis, and XRD/SEM.

  • Healing efficiency was influenced by factors such as bacteria concentration, nutrient availability, strain type, and environmental conditions.

Comparative Study Highlights:

Research Gaps Identified:

• Bacterial Strain Optimization: Need for identifying best-performing strains and ideal concentrations.

• Mechanical Behavior: Limited understanding of effects on tensile strength, stiffness, and ductility.

• Microstructural Effects: Insufficient data on how bacteria alter concrete microstructure and long-term durability.

• Environmental Influence: Impact of humidity, temperature, pH on healing efficiency remains unclear.

• Standardization: No universal protocols or regulations for testing self-healing concrete performance.

Adopted Methodology Summary:

• Used MICP (Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation) with bacteria like Sporosarcina pasteurii.

• Bacteria were encapsulated to survive harsh concrete conditions.

• Tested concrete cubes with and without bacteria for various physical and mechanical properties.

• Healing assessed over time using crack width monitoring, image analysis, and statistical evaluations.

Conclusion

The concept we\'ve developed can be used to evaluate how well real-life concrete structures can heal cracks and damages. This is important for making sure these structures last longer and stay safeAutogenous healing is the term for concrete\'s inherent capacity to mend itself. However, this process has limitations: - It only works for small cracks. It\'s affected by the surrounding environment (temperature, humidity, etc.) Benefits of self-healing concrete is Improved durability, Increased lifespan, Reduced maintenance costs, Enhanced sustainability. Water helps concrete heal faster But, sealing cracks completely is still the best way to prevent water leaks. Compared to other conditions, water immersion showed higher healing rates. Self-healing concrete using bacteria has the potential to revolutionize the construction industry, providing a sustainable and resilient solution for infrastructure development.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Pallavi Khemraj Jambhulkar, Dr. Tushar Shende, Dr. Alok Rai. 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.