Comparative Study on the Strength Behavior of Self-Healing Concrete Using Silica Gel and Bacteria as Healing Agents

Abstract

Cracking in concrete is a subject matter of the construction industry, and maintenance of infrastructure has gained strategic importance in the present scenario. Inspection, repair, and maintenance expenses are undesirable and unjustified from an environmental standpoint. According to research, this problem can be resolved by adding self-healing concrete (SHC) that has been made with the appropriate self-healing agents. The specific advantage of self-healing concrete is that it senses the crack formation of the concrete element cast using SHC and reacts to cure itself without human intervention. In this study, two different concrete healing mechanisms are compared, and the results of a thorough experimental investigation into self-healing concrete are presented. As healing agents, silica gel, a polymer-based gel, and Bacillus subtilis bacteria were used in separate trials of substitution by cement weight. The experimental verification of self-healing performance of silica gel and Bacillus subtilis bacteria was evaluated by the recovery of mechanical properties of the particular self-healing concrete. The ideal individual dosage of silica gel and subtilis bacteria for use in self-healing concrete as a self-healing agent of concrete cracks was inferred in this investigation based on the findings.