Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx

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Experimental investigation on bacterial concrete strength with Bacillus

subtilis and crushed stone dust aggregate based on ultrasonic pulse
velocity
C. Venkata Siva Rama Prasad a,⇑, T.V.S. Vara Lakshmi b
a
Vignana Bharathi Institute of Technology (Autonomous), Aushapur, Ghatkesar, R.R. District, Hyderabad, Telangana 501301, India
b
Department of Civil Engineering, University College of Engineering & Technology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna Nagar, Guntur Dist., Andhra Pradesh 522510, India

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The healing proportion of strengthening cracks in buildings such as Reinforced cement concrete (RCC)
Received 28 November 2019 Houses, RCC Pipes, Canal Lining, Pavement etc. has been increased in the ongoing bacterial concrete. In
Received in revised form 24 January 2020 order to fix the cracks in the concrete, it needs ordinary maintenance and exceptional treatment that
Accepted 25 January 2020
can be terribly expensive. This is another method adopted by the use of microbiologically actuated calcite
Available online xxxx
(CaCO3) precipitation in the arrangement of concrete. In this paper, an experimental study carried out
using Bacillus subtilis bacteria and calcium lactate to heal the cracks in the concrete at different percent-
Keywords:
ages such as 5%, 10% and 15% of cement weight for concrete grade M40. This paper presents the exper-
Bacterial concrete
Compressive strength
imental results of the Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) test carried out on Bacterial Concrete. From the
UPV Ultra sonic pulse velocity, dynamic modulus of elasticity and quality of concrete was determined at dif-
Flexural strength ferent ages. Relationships have been proposed between the strength of Bacterial concrete and UPV.
Bacillus subtilis Scanning Electronic Microscopy analysis carried out on convention and bacterial concrete. Finally the
maximum strength attain at 10% bacterial replacement in concrete and Scanning electronic microscopy
shows the calcium carbonate formation in concrete which is healing the cracks.
Ó 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the First International con-
ference on Advanced Lightweight Materials and Structures.

1. Introduction
For any building construction, cement concrete is a primary
material in the present modern era of infrastructural projects
across the world. As this material is prone to crack owing to its
inelastic and less resistant to straining demands the practice of
steel reinforcement or rebar in it. Since its bond with steel bars,
concrete becomes most effective in resisting tension than when
it does not contain any reinforcement, and the tensile strength of
concrete is relatively lower than compressive strength. The cracks
that have been formed allow the reinforcement to expose outside
and thus effecting structural integrity and leads to the corrosion.
It splinter and endures genuine wear and rip throughout the years
of its predictable time of examine [1]. It’s not versatile and can’t
switch important quantity of damage. Ordinary concrete can toler-
ate to nearly zero to 1% strain earlier giving out. Concrete that is
⇑ Corresponding author.
E-mail address: cvsrprasad90@gmail.com (C. Venkata Siva Rama Prasad).
able to heal on its own, normally search for to repair this imperfec-
tion, so as to increase the repair lifetime of any specified concrete
structure. There is a substance within the area of self-healing con-
crete in growth. At the present, this will resolve several of the
issues usually related to normal concrete. Self-healing concrete
contains a mixture through microorganism (Bacillus subtilis) fused
keen on the concrete and calcium lactate and nutrient broth food-
stuff to sustain those microorganisms once they turn into vigorous
[2].
The microorganism, nourish on the providing foodstuff supply,
heals the crack. This paper also will make a case for, in-depth,
the method that extent part behind microorganism that helps to
heal the concrete and can describe the various parts that extent
part enclosed within the progression as well as the way they exer-
tion severally in addition to put together. This manuscript deals
with the sensible applications of this type of self-curing concrete,
as well as its real-world integrations in present structures. It is
vital to hustle what forms of microorganisms can survive in the
concrete, however they effort to rise the durability of structures,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.01.478
2214-7853/Ó 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the First International conference on Advanced Lightweight Materials and Structures.

Please cite this article as: C. Venkata Siva Rama Prasad and T. V. S. Vara Lakshmi, Experimental investigation on bacterial concrete strength with Bacillus
subtilis and crushed stone dust aggregate based on ultrasonic pulse velocity, Materials Today: Proceedings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.01.478
2 C. Venkata Siva Rama Prasad, T.V.S. Vara Lakshmi / Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx
what the chemical agent are that origin the biochemical process
with in the microorganism, what take place to the precise forms
of particular microorganism once unprotected to the substance,
and the way they work along to not solely seal the cracks earlier
than they appearance, however additionally toughen the taken as
a whole formation they’re integrated into. Once the microorgan-
isms is uncovered to the environment and therefore the ‘‘food-
stuff,” the microorganism stand a action that sources them to
stabilize and wrath, substantial within the fracture that has
occurred. This method makes longer the durability of the forma-
tion whereas additionally putting in place the cracks caused. The
method of remedial a crack will capture as around 28 days [3].
Concrete structures are presently designed in keeping with set
standards that enable cracks to create up to 2 mm wide. Such small
cracks are usually thought-about tolerable, as these don’t directly
weaken the structure. Moreover, small cracks generally patch up
themselves as numerous varieties of concrete highlight an explicit
crack-healing capability. Analysis has discovered that this is known
as ‘autonomous’ healing capability is essentially associated with
the quantity of non-responded cement elements ability in the
material. On fracture development, water act in response with
these elements, leading to closure of small cracks. However, owing
to the unpredictability of self-directed crack remedial of concrete
buildings, water run as a results of negligible crack creation in
underpass and subversive structures will happen 0.2 mm [4]
wide-ranging cracks were observed to be self-healed in the con-
ventional samples, all cracks were healed in the samples that con-
tain bacteria. The fundamental idea after our precise edition of this
technique is exploit sure categories of microorganisms (in this case
Bacillus subtilis) and approach of operate to closure tiny cracks
within the concrete earlier they develop into bigger and further
durable to manage cracks and fissures. This bio calcification
method involves many parts, to complete these tasks [5–7].
Trendy techniques like X-ray diffraction tests and Scanning
electron microscopy (SEM) analysis are worn to enumerate the
study of period of spar authentication on the exterior and in cracks
[8]. The bacterium is ready to perform durable crack protection,
until the end of the life of the structure. A curing compound that
is produced due to this precursor agent is a good filler material
and also helps in healing the cracks that are produced. The precip-
itates formed also have the properties of cement for the reason that
of the calcium compound present in it also acts as curing com-
pound [9]. Therefore, for operative self-healing, each bacterium
and a bio-cement pioneer composite ought to be combined within
the material medium. Also the existence of the embedded bac-
terium and pioneer composites should not harmfully have an effect
on alternative needed concrete characteristics. Bacterium that may
counterattack concrete matrix assimilation to be present in envi-
ronment, and these seem associated with a specific cluster of anta-
cid safe spore-shaping bacterium. Arresting feature of that
bacterium is that they’re ready to kind spores, that part specified
sphere-shaped cells with thick walls might have the similar prop-
erties as seeds of a plant. However inactive cells and may stance up
and about to mechanical stresses as well as chemical stresses and
stay in arid state feasible for periods more than fifty years. Though,
once microorganism spores be unswervingly supplemental to
concrete mixture, their lifespan perceived to be restricted to
1–2 months. The lessening in living age of the microorganism
spores from many decades once in dry state to solely some months.
Once entrenched with the concrete is also because of continued
Table 1
Physical properties of Portland cement (53 grade).
Property Blaine’s fineness Specific gravity Soundness (Le-Chatlier Exp.)
2
Test Value 285 m /kg 3.01 2 mm
Please cite this article as: C. Venkata Siva Rama Prasad and T. V. S. Vara Lakshmi, Experimental investigation on bacterial concrete strength with Bacillus
subtilis and crushed stone dust aggregate based on ultrasonic pulse velocity, Materials Today: Proceedings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.01.478
cement association leading to matrix pore-diameter widths gener-
ally a considerable measure of less significant than the 1 mm
microorganism spores. A further worry is whether or not direct
accumulation of organic bio-mineral pioneer composites to the con-
crete won’t lead to surplus loss of alternative concrete properties.
The sole exception perceived to be calcium lactate what really
consequence in a 10% growth in vigor contrast to regular speci-
mens. Once mixing of concrete and bacteria is done, the bacteria
undergo inactive state. When it is unprotected to the environment
(air), then all their functions are stimulated. When the crack
occurred in concrete, the bacteria starts bring on calcite minerals
at the crack [10]. At the point when the microorganisms interac-
tion with water and calcium lactate, the bacteria spores start ger-
minating. The bacterial starts feed calcium lactate. This kind of
pores is available in concrete up to two hundred years [11]. As
the microorganism nourishes oxygen, the dissolvable calcium lac-
tate is changed over to limestone which is insoluble. The limestone
heals the cracks happened in concrete. By consuming the oxygen,
corrosion of steel decreases and the stability to structures of rein-
forced concrete. The procedure in preparing synthetic calcium car-
bonate response from fractured calcium hydroxide can be
identified properly [12]. In this paper, the crushed sand is used
as replaced by river sand and the dynamic modulus of elasticity
was determined by ultrasonic pulse velocity test. The quality of
concrete was tested by non destructive method by using ultra
sonic pulse velocity test. The SEM analysis was done on bacterial
concrete to determine the calcium carbonate formation.
CO2 + Ca(OH)2 ! CaCO3 + H2 O ð1Þ
CaC6 H10 O6 + 6O2 ! CaCO3 + 5CO2 + 5H2 O ð2Þ
2. Materials and testing methods
2.1. Cement
53 grade OPC used in this experimental work. This OPC was
tested as per IS 4031-1996 [13] and the physical properties shown
Table 1.
From the above table the physical properties of Portland cement
were determined such as specific gravity, Blaine’s fineness, sound-
ness and compressive strength of cement.
2.2. Fine aggregate
Local available river sand and crushed stone sand was used as
fine aggregates in this work. For the fine aggregate, the distribution
of particle size is presented in Fig. 1. The specific gravity of river
sand and crushed stone sand 2.68 and 2.77 respectively.
2.3. Coarse aggregate
Crushed granite broken stone of 20 mm nominal size is used as
coarse aggregate in this work. The particle size distribution curves
of coarse aggregates were presented in Fig. 2 and properties of
coarse aggregates were presented in Table 2.
From the above table the properties of Properties of coarse
aggregate were determined such as specific gravity, Water absorp-
tion, AIV and ACV.
7 days Compressive strength 28 days Compressive strength
41 MPa 56 MPa
 C. Venkata Siva Rama Prasad, T.V.S. Vara Lakshmi / Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx 3

IS: 516-1959 specifications. All the concrete cubes were casted at

room temperature. Compressive strength of bacterial concrete
specimens was measured at 3, 7, 28, 90 days of curing age as per
IS 516-1959 [14].

2.7. Flexural strength test

Flexural strength of concrete test was on

100 mm  100 mm  500 mm. all the specimens casting was done
according to IS: 516-1959 specifications.

Fig. 1. Grading Curve of Fine aggregate. 2.8. Mix design

The mix proportions for M40 grade concrete are considered

using IS: 10262-2009 [15]. Materials required per one m3 of con-
crete are presented in Table 3.

2.9. Test on compression

Compression test on bacterial concrete specimens of size

150  150  150 mm was done as per IS: 516-1959 specifications.
Theses specimens were prepared and cured at 3 d, 7 d, 28 d and
90 days as per IS:456-2000 [16] standards. The test data is pre-
sented in Table 4.

Fig. 2. Grading curve of coarse aggregate. 2.10. Flexural test

Flexural test on bacterial concrete prism specimens of size

Table 2 500  100  100 mm were tested as per IS:516-1959. Test results
Test Properties of coarse aggregate. presented in Table 5.
Test Property Specific gravity Water absorption AIV ACV
2.11. Ultrasonic pulse velocity test
Test Value 2.71 0.5% 21.5% 20.4%

AIV = Aggregate impact value, ACV = Aggregate crushing value.
2.4. Water
Locally available potable drinking water used in the experimen-
tal work for all mixes.
2.5. Bacteria
In this research, Bacillus subtilis bacteria used which is cultured
at DVS Bio life Pvt. Ltd. Laboratory, Hyderabad, India.
2.5.1. Culture of microorganisms
The culture of microorganism was isolated from DVS BIO LIFE
Pvt. Ltd. laboratory and it was maintained on nutrient agar slants
constantly. The uneven white colonies formed on the nutrient agar.
When we require a solitary colony of the culture, it was immunize
into nutrient broth of 25 ml in 100 ml tapering flask. This set up is
sustain at 37 °C temperature and positioned on orbital shaker at
125 rpm. Peptone: 5 g/lt, NaCl: 5 g/lt, Yeast extract: 3 g/lt. were
used for growth of bacteria culture.
2.5.2. Calcium lactate
Calcium lactate (C6H10CaO6) used for this experimental work
along with Bacillus subtilis bacteria as nutrient broth. It is available
in powder form having white colour.
2.6. Compressive strength test
The compressive strength of concrete test was carry out on
15 cm  15 cm  15 cm cubes and casting was done according to
The Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) technique is the most
advantageous way to test the quality of the concrete and also to
check the cracks and voids in the concrete. The frequencies of
the ultrasonic wave are in the range of 20 kHz–150 kHz, which is
higher than the upper limit capable of being detected (20 kHz
[17]). Once the frequency is calculated, the concrete performance,
uniformity, power, density and condition can be achieved. Table 6
is suggested by IS 13311(Part 1): 1992 [18] and demonstrates the
use of the speed obtained from the test to assess the quality of the
concrete.
UPV testing (Fig. 4) of all seven mixtures on cube specimens
was performed as per IS: 13311(Part 1): 1992. The PUNDIT
(Fig. 3) UPV tester equipment is made up of an ultrasonic tester,
two transducers, i.e. one 54 kHz receiver head and one transmitter.
Tests were conducted on each cube specimen on three facets
namely Facet 1(F1) i.e. casting direction, Facet 2(F2) and Facet 3
(F3) for all specimens.
3. Discussion of test results
3.1. Effect of bacterial solution on compressive strength
The test results on the consequence of microorganisms solution
on compressive strength was shown in Table 7 for river sand and
crushed stone sand mixes of M40 grade concrete. From these
results, it came to notice that the strength of crushed sand mixes
is higher in comparison with all ages of river sand mixes, irrespec-
tive of percentage of bacterial solution because of cubical shaped
sharp edges of crushed stone sand assists in attaining more
strength than river sand mixes. The percent enhance in compres-
sive strength for BC-5%, BC-10% and BC-15% are 8.98%, 17.02%
and 4.65% respectively at 28 days, which is very good when evalu-

Please cite this article as: C. Venkata Siva Rama Prasad and T. V. S. Vara Lakshmi, Experimental investigation on bacterial concrete strength with Bacillus
subtilis and crushed stone dust aggregate based on ultrasonic pulse velocity, Materials Today: Proceedings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.01.478
4 C. Venkata Siva Rama Prasad, T.V.S. Vara Lakshmi / Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx

Table 3
Concrete mix proportions.

Mixture No RBC0 RBC5 RBC10 RBC15 CBC0 CBC05 CBC10 CBC15

3
Cement (kg/m ) 390 390 390 390 390 390 390 390
River Sand (kg/m3) 642 642 642 642 – – – –
Crushed stone Sand (kg/m3) – – – – 642 642 642 642
Coarse Aggregate (kg/m3) 1261 1261 1261 1261 1261 1261 1261 1261
w/c ratio 0.45 0.45 0.45 0.45 0.45 0.45 0.45 0.45
Bacterial Cells (cfu/ml) 105 105 105 105 105 105 105 105
Percent of bacterial solution 00 05 10 15 00 05 10 15

RBC: Bacterial concrete with river sand, CBC: Bacterial concrete with crushed stone sand.

Table 4
Compression test results (fc).

Mix fc, MPa

3d 7d 28 d 90 d
RBC00 28.24 33.26 44.28 52.48
RBC05 32.24 38.24 48.26 56.94
RBC10 34.46 39.46 51.82 58.92
RBC15 29.36 34.16 46.34 53.84
CBC00 32.82 36.26 48.12 55.21
CBC05 36.74 41.64 51.46 60.18
CBC10 38.64 42.84 54.86 63.44
CBC15 34.42 36.86 49.22 56.92

Table 5
Flexural test results.

Mix ft, MPa

3d 7d 28 d 90 d
RBC00 2.96 3.82 4.42 4.72
RBC05 3.24 4.46 4.64 4.98
RBC10 3.88 4.58 4.82 5.32 Fig. 3. Direct Transmission (Tx = emitter; Rx = Receiver).
RBC15 3.14 3.94 4.52 4.84
CBC00 3.34 4.62 5.26 5.58
CBC05 4.12 5.26 5.46 5.84
CBC10 4.94 5.38 5.62 6.14
CBC15 3.86 4.74 5.32 5.66

Table 6
Quality of concrete in UPV.

S. No Pulse Velocity, km/sec Concrete Quality

1 >4.5 Excellent
2 3.5–4.5 Good
3 3.0–3.5 Medium
4 <3.0 Doubtful

ate to control mix concrete. Similarly, the percent enhance in com-

pressive strength at 90 days is 8.49%, 12.27% and 2.59% respec-
tively. Whereas the percent enhance in compressive strength of
crushed stone sand mixes at 28 days for BC-5%, BC-10% and BC-
15% are 6.94%, 14% and 2.28% respectively. Similarly, the percent
enhance in compressive strength at 90 days is 9.0%, 14.9% and Fig. 4. Cube Specimens Facets (F, F2, F3).
3.09% respectively. From the above it was perceive that the gain
in compressive strength at 90 days is higher than the compressive
strength at 28 days because of contribution of Bacillus subtilis bac- results than river sand mixes due to the cubical sharp edged faces
teria along with calcium lactate to compressive strength is promi- of grains in rock.
nent at ages more than 28 days for river sand mixes and crushed
stone sand mixes. With the increase in the percentage of bacteria 3.2. Variation of flexural strength with bacterial solution
in concrete ranging between 0% and 10% the compressive strength
has also increased, but at 15% the compressive strength is reduced, The variation of flexural strength of bacterial concrete with cur-
this is because of the way that the hydration products are satu- ing age is existing in Table 8 for river sand and crushed stone sand
rated at 10% bacterial solution, with further increase in bacterial mixes. The flexural strength of bacterial concrete increases with
solution does not contribute to strength and hence there is reduc- increasing curing age. From these results, it came to notice that
tion in strength. Crushed stone sand mixes showed promising the flexural strength of crushed stone sand mixes is higher when

Please cite this article as: C. Venkata Siva Rama Prasad and T. V. S. Vara Lakshmi, Experimental investigation on bacterial concrete strength with Bacillus
subtilis and crushed stone dust aggregate based on ultrasonic pulse velocity, Materials Today: Proceedings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.01.478
 C. Venkata Siva Rama Prasad, T.V.S. Vara Lakshmi / Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx 5

Table 7
Compression test results (fc).

Mix fc, MPa

3d 7d 28 d 90 d
RBC00 28.24 33.26 44.28 52.48
RBC05 32.24 38.24 48.26 56.94
RBC10 34.46 39.46 51.82 58.92
RBC15 29.36 34.16 46.34 53.84
CBC00 32.82 36.26 48.12 55.21
CBC05 36.74 41.64 51.46 60.18
CBC10 38.64 42.84 54.86 63.44
CBC15 34.42 36.86 49.22 56.92

Table 8
Flexural test results.

Mix ft, MPa

Fig. 5. Micro structure of Conventional concrete.
3d 7d 28 d 90 d
RBC00 2.96 3.82 4.42 4.72
RBC05 3.24 4.46 4.64 4.98
RBC10 3.88 4.58 4.82 5.32
RBC15 3.14 3.94 4.52 4.84
CBC00 3.34 4.62 5.26 5.58
CBC05 4.12 5.26 5.46 5.84
CBC10 4.94 5.38 5.62 6.14
CBC15 3.86 4.74 5.32 5.66

compared to river sand mixes at all ages, irrespective of percentage

of bacterial solution. The percent enhance in flexural strength of
river sand mixes for BC-5%, BC-10% and BC-15% are 4.97%, 9.04%
and 2.26% respectively at 28 days. Similarly, the percent enhance
in flexural strength at 90 days is 5.5%, 12.71% and 2.54% respec-
tively. In crushed stone sand mixes, the percent enhance in flexural
strength at 28 days for BC-5%, BC-10% and BC-15% are 3.8%, 6.84% Fig. 6. Micro structure of Bacterial concrete.
and 1.14% respectively. Similarly, the percent enhance in flexural
strength at 90 days is 4.65%, 10.03% and 1.43% respectively. Also,
the percentage of bacterial concrete increased from 0% to 10% the
flexural strength also increased, but at 15% the flexural strength
is reduced, this is because of the way that the hydration products
are saturated at 10% bacterial solution, with further increase in
bacterial solution does not contribute to strength and hence there
is reduction in strength.

3.3. Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM)

The SEM analysis image for control concrete with a magnifica-

tion of 16,000, Sub acceleration voltage 20,000 V. Fig. 5 shows
the micro structure of the conventional concrete. The SEM analysis
image for Bacterial concrete with a magnification of 16,000, Sub Fig. 7. Empirical relation between UPV and Compressive strength.

acceleration voltage 20,000 V. Fig. 6 shows the micro structure of

the Bacterial concrete. The SEM analysis images show the occur-
rence of calcite precipitation in the bacterial concrete. CSH, CH
and pores occurred in all samples. Calcite observed in pores, in case
of bacterial concrete. It clearly shows that the porosity decreases
and gain in strength and the cracks also healed due to calcite for-
mation (Fig. 7).
3.4. Effect of bacterial solution on UPV of bacterial concrete
The experimental investigations of ultrasonic pulse velocity of
control mixes and bacterial concrete mixes are presented in below
Tables 9–11. The results are taken at three faces of cube at different
ages. The crushed sand mixes shown favorable results comparing
with the river sand mixes. The quality of concrete shown in below
Table 12.
The quality assessment of conventional concrete and bacterial
concrete with age for river sand mixes shows that, at three days
of curing, concrete with doubtful quality. At 7 days river sand
mixes are medium quality concrete. At 28 days, conventional con-
crete and bacterial concrete for river sand mixes produced good
quality of concrete. At 60 days of curing concrete mixes produced
good quality. However, at 90 days of curing 10% bacterial solution
concrete mixes produced excellent quality for M40 grade concrete.
The quality assessment of conventional concrete and bacterial
concrete with age for crushed stone sand mixes shows that, at
three days of curing, concrete with medium quality. At the ages
of 7, 28 & 60 days of curing 10% bacterial solution of crushed stone
sand mixes are having good quality of concrete. However, at
90 days of curing 10% bacterial solution concrete mixes produced
excellent quality for M40 grade concrete.

Please cite this article as: C. Venkata Siva Rama Prasad and T. V. S. Vara Lakshmi, Experimental investigation on bacterial concrete strength with Bacillus
subtilis and crushed stone dust aggregate based on ultrasonic pulse velocity, Materials Today: Proceedings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.01.478
6 C. Venkata Siva Rama Prasad, T.V.S. Vara Lakshmi / Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx

Table 9
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test results (3, 7 Days).

Concrete Mix UPV, km/s

3 Days 7 Days
F1 F2 F3 Avg F1 F2 F3 Avg
RBC00 2.56 2.92 3.02 2.84 2.78 3.06 3.22 3.02
RBC05 2.64 3.08 3.12 2.95 2.9 3.18 3.37 3.15
RBC10 2.78 3.12 3.18 3.02 3.22 3.5 3.65 3.46
RBC15 2.04 2.3 2.41 2.25 2.14 2.42 2.6 2.39
CBC00 2.82 3.09 3.28 3.06 2.92 3.22 3.41 3.18
CBC05 2.94 3.15 3.35 3.14 2.98 3.32 3.48 3.26
CBC10 3.31 3.54 3.7 3.52 3.52 3.78 3.92 3.74
CBC15 2.41 2.58 2.86 2.62 2.42 2.67 2.88 2.65

Table 10 Table 12
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test results (28 Days). Quality of Control and bacterial concrete mixes.

Concrete Mix UPV, km/s Concrete Mix Quality of All Mixes

28 Days 3 Days 7 Days 28 Days 60 Days 90 Days
F1 F2 F3 Avg RBC00 D M M G G
RBC05 D M G G G
RBC00 3.24 3.5 3.65 3.47
RBC10 M M G G E
RBC05 3.45 3.66 3.82 3.64
RBC15 D D D M M
RBC10 3.64 3.88 4.02 3.85
CBC00 M M G G E
RBC15 2.54 2.76 2.9 2.73
CBC05 M M G G E
CBC00 3.54 3.78 3.95 3.76
CBC10 G G G G E
CBC05 3.66 3.85 4.02 3.84
CBC15 D D D M G
CBC10 3.75 3.99 4.15 3.96
CBC15 2.74 2.97 3.14 2.95

for M40 grade concrete. The percentage gain in UPV of bacterial

In river sand mixes the UPV values of conventional concrete
(RBC00) varied from 2.84 to 4.18 km/s with curing age from 3 days
to 90 days. When concrete with 5% bacterial solution (RBC05), the
UPV values varied from 2.95 to 4.32 km/s. Similarly, for RBC10 and
RBC15 mixes the UPV values varied from 3.02 to 4.58 km/s, 2.25 to
3.32 km/s, respectively at the ages from 3 days to 90 days for M40
grade concrete. In crushed stone sand mixes the UPV values of con-
ventional concrete (CBC00) varied from 3.06 to 4.51 km/s with cur-
ing age from 3 days to 90 days. When concrete with 5% bacterial
solution (CBC05), the UPV values varied from 3.14 to 4.64 km/s.
Similarly, for CBC10 and CBC15 mixes the UPV values varied from
3.52 to 4.86 km/s, 2.62 to 3.65 km/s, respectively at the ages from
3 days to 90 days for M40 grade concrete. The ultrasonic pulse
velocity of Bacterial concrete increases with increase in curing
age for river sand and crushed stone sand mixes are observed.
The UPV of crushed stone sand mixes was found higher than the
conventional concrete for all replacement levels of bacterial solu-
tion at all ages. The increase in UPV from 3 days to 7 days is at
slower rate, but beyond 7 days to 90 days the UPV increases
rapidly. This is due to the fact that the hydration rate is slow at ini-
tial ages with Bacteria solution and calcium lactate and faster at
later ages. The percentage gain in UPV of bacterial concrete at
90 days in comparison with 3 days is 47.18%, 46.44%, 51.65% and
47.55% for RBC00, RBC05, RBC10 and RBC15 with river sand mixes
concrete at 90 days in comparison with 3 days is 47.38%, 47.77%,
38.06% and 39.31% for CBC00, CBC05, CBC10 and CBC15 with
crushed stone sand mixes for M40 grade concrete.
From Table 12, D = Doubtful, G = Good, M = Medium, E = Excel-
lent. The quality of concrete shown in Table 12 based on the UPV
test results as per the Table 6.
3.5. Relation between UPV and compressive strength for crushed sand
mixes
The empirical relation proposed in this below.
f ck ¼ 42:291nðUPVÞ  6:251; R2 ¼ 0:656
f ck ¼ Compressive strength of concrete; MPa
3.6. Influence of bacterial solution on strength different types of
aggregates
Bacterial solutions have not shown any significant improve-
ment on mechanical properties of concrete. Therefore its influence
in marginal, however crushed stone sand mixes have shown con-
siderable improvement in strength attainment owed to the fact
that the element shape is cubical and prickly.

Table 11
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test results (60, 90 Days).

Concrete Mix UPV, km/s

60 Days 90 Days
F1 F2 F3 Avg F1 F2 F3 Avg
RBC00 3.62 3.85 4.02 3.83 3.98 4.2 4.38 4.18
RBC05 4.01 4.22 4.36 4.19 4.1 4.34 4.52 4.32
RBC10 4.02 4.26 4.46 4.25 4.34 4.62 4.8 4.58
RBC15 2.82 3.08 3.28 3.06 3.11 3.31 3.56 3.32
CBC00 4.02 4.26 4.45 4.24 4.28 4.55 4.72 4.51
CBC05 4.14 4.39 4.52 4.35 4.41 4.65 4.88 4.64
CBC10 4.2 4.48 4.65 4.44 4.65 4.87 5.08 4.86
CBC15 2.89 3.15 3.34 3.12 3.42 3.68 3.87 3.65

Please cite this article as: C. Venkata Siva Rama Prasad and T. V. S. Vara Lakshmi, Experimental investigation on bacterial concrete strength with Bacillus
subtilis and crushed stone dust aggregate based on ultrasonic pulse velocity, Materials Today: Proceedings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.01.478
 C. Venkata Siva Rama Prasad, T.V.S. Vara Lakshmi / Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx
4. Conclusions
1. The strength of bacterial concrete for crushed stone sand mixes
showed higher values than river sand mixes at all ages irrespec-
tive of percentage bacterial solution
2. In bacterial concrete with Bacillus subtilis, the compressive
strength and flexural strength values are improving with
enhance in bacterial solution upto 10%, beyond this dosage
the results are not favourable due to the fact that hydration
products saturation at 15% level for both river sand and crushed
stone sand mixes.
3. SEM analysis revealed that the calcium carbonate formation
in all bacterial concrete mixes which is helpful to heal the
cracks.
4. The Ultra sonic pulse velocity shows the velocity and quality of
different concrete mixes at different ages.
5. The Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity value of Bacterial concrete mixes
increases upto 10%, beyond this dosage the results are not
favorable because of hydration products are saturated at 15%
level for both river sand and crushed stone sand mixes.
CRediT authorship contribution statement
C. Venkata Siva Rama Prasad: Conceptualization, Methodol-
ogy, Writing - original draft. T.V.S. Vara Lakshmi: Supervision,
Writing - review & editing.
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing finan-
cial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared
to influence the work reported in this paper.
Acknowledgements
The Research Work has been carried out utilizing the computa-
tional laboratory set up with FIST grant of DST at Vignana Bharathi
Institute of Technology (Autonomous), Aushapur, Ghatkeasr,
Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Please cite this article as: C. Venkata Siva Rama Prasad and T. V. S. Vara Lakshmi, Experimental investigation on bacterial concrete strength with Bacillus
subtilis and crushed stone dust aggregate based on ultrasonic pulse velocity, Materials Today: Proceedings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.01.478
7
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