SEMINAR REPORT

ON

SELF HEALING CONCRETE

SUBMITTED BY:
Y V CHANDRASEKHAR
2K12/CE/127

SHC
It is also called bioconcrete or
bacterial concrete.
It is a special type of
concrete which heals itself
when it comes in contact
with air and water,
producing lime on the outer layer of the concrete.
It is invented by a group of microbiology
researchers under the head of Henk Jonkers.

How does it work?

Specially selected types of the bacteria genus
Bacillus, along with a calcium-based nutrient known
as calcium lactate, and nitrogen and phosphorus,
are added to the ingredients of the concrete when it
is being mixed. .
However, when a concrete structure is damaged and
water starts to seep through the cracks the spores of
the bacteria germinate on contact with the water and
nutrients.

 Having been activated, the bacteria start to feed

on the calcium lactate. As the bacteria feeds,
oxygen is consumed and the soluble calcium
lactate is converted to insoluble limestone. The
limestone solidifies on the cracked surface,
thereby sealing it up.
In a nutshell, the process is similar to the bone
fractures in the human body that are naturally
healed by osteoblast cells that mineralize to reform the bone.

Physical Properies
The temperature evolution of the expansive
concrete is slightly higher than normal concrete,
and that of self-healing concrete is slightly lower
than normal concrete(SHC has 10% less cement
content than normal cement).
Coefficient of permeability of SHC is significantly
lower than normal concrete.

Two important things in bio concrete:

The special bacteria that has to resist alkalinity and
mechanical stress of the concrete.
The two self-healing agent parts (the bacterial
spores and the calcium lactate-based nutrients) are
introduced to the concrete within separate expanded
clay pellets 2-4mm wide, which ensure that the
agents will not be activated during the cementmixing process. Only when cracks open up the
pellets and incoming water brings the calcium lactate
into contact with the bacteria do these become
activated.

What bacteria is used?

Cement and water have a pH of 13 when
mixed together, a hostile environment
for most of the bacteria.
But some extremophiles like those found in the
salt lakes in Russia and soda lakes in Egypt
have shown that due to the capability of
forming spores of the size of plant seeds,
they can thrive as long as 200 years before
finding better environment to germinate.
Examples:

1. Bacillus cohni
11. Bacillus filla
111. Bacillus pasteurii

Mechanism of bio-concrete :
The cracks are formed on the surface of the concrete
due to reasons like shrinkage, inadequate water for
hydration.

Ca(C3H5O2)2+ 7O2 CaCO3+5C02+5H20

(CALCIUM LACTATE)

(LIME)

The water is then deliberately forced and the

chemical precursor is activated.
The activated precursor induces the bacteria to
react with that precursor and form a base of
calcium carbonate, whose chemical equation is
given above.

How the healing agents are applied?

Direct application:
Bacteria and the chemical precursor (calcium
lactate) are added directly while making the concrete.
Encapsulation LWA:
The part of the coarse aggregate is replaced by
light weight aggreate(LWA), which is impregnated
with twice the calcium lactate solution and the spores
of the bacteria.After impregnation the clay particles
with 6% healing agents and the concrete is made.

Conventional vs Bacterial concrete

Advantages:
Self healing concrete helps in reduced maintenance
and repair costs of steel reinforced concrete
structures.
Oxygen can induce corrosion in ordinary concrete,
but, since in S.H.C, it is used by bacteria, chances of
steel corrosion is greatly reduced.
Formation of cracks will be healed in the early stage
itself, thereby increasing the durability of the structure.
It can be especially used in places where it is difficult
for regular maintenance.

Disadvantages:
If the volume of the healing agents (bacteria and
calcium lactate) mixed becomes greater than 20%,
strength of the concrete is reduced.
Healing agents (bacteria and calcium lactate) cost
make it unfavorable economically compared to
conventional concrete. Presently the cost of SHC is

double the conventional concrete.

Applications:
Anything that can't be reached for repair at the time of
damage.
Self healing concrete can be used for the sectors
such as:
tunnel linings,
structural basement walls,
highway bridges,
concrete floors,
marine structures.

tunnel lining

Tunnel lining

Concrete floors