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BACTERIAL CONCRETE AND EFFECT OF DIFFERENT BACTERIA ON THE

STRENGTH AND WATER ABSORPTION CHARACTERISTICS OF
CONCRETE
M. Raja Sekhar1, A. Ramakrishnaiah2

1M.Tech Student, Dept. of Civil (Structural Engineering and Construction Management), Golden Valley Integrated
Campus, Madanapalli, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh.
2Associate professor, Dept. of civil engineering, Golden Valley Integrated Campus, Madanapalli, Chittoor,

Andhra Pradesh.
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ABSTRACT: Concrete plays a vital role as a construction to frame splits enabling forceful chemicals to enter into
material in the world. New technologies have helped to the structure.
develop new types of construction and alternative
materials in the concrete area. This project presents the PROBLEM STATEMENT
results of an experimental investigation carried out to
evaluate the influence of Bacillus Subtilis and Bacillus Cracking
Licheniformis on the compressive strength, water
absorption and its self-healing properties. An attempt is Definition: An entire or inadequate partition of either
made to heal these cracks by the addition of the bacteria concrete or brick works into at least two sections
in the concrete and also to increase of the strength of the delivered by breaking or fracturing. Cracks are sorted as
concrete. Each bacteria of concentration are added. Tests happening either in plastic concrete or solidified cement.
were performed at the ages of 7, 28 and 56 days. It is The reasons for each kind of breaking rely upon a wide
found that the cracks in the concrete have been healed and range of variables, and may influence appearance just, or
the formation of calcite precipitation is observed using they may show noteworthy basic pain or an absence of
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). In the present toughness.
project here is an attempt made to fill the cracks with the
help of bacteria which has a self-healing property. Calcite Various types of Concrete Crack Repair
formation of isolated bacteria which can produce calcite
precipitates on suitable media supplemented with a Methodologies:
calcium source.
 Stitching
Key words: Bacillus Subtilis, Bacillus Licheniformis,  Muting and sealing
SEM.  Resin injection
 One of the technique is self-healing i.e. bio- concrete
I. INTRODUCTION
CONCEPT OF BIO MINERALIZATION
Concrete as a standout amongst the most
normally utilized development materials, assumes a key Bio mineralization alludes to the procedure of
part in many fields. It has been broadly utilized as a part mineral arrangement by living beings which is a broad
of the development of structures, dams, stockpiling marvel in nature. Bio mineralization can be expert
tanks, ocean ports, streets, spans, burrows, trams and through organically actuated mineralization process.
different frameworks. Concrete is mostly a blend of Naturally prompted mineralization normally happens
water, total (coarse and fine), and bond. Bond is the most in an open domain as an uncontrolled result of
critical piece of the solid material. It ties the totals and microbial metabolic movement. In this procedure bio
fills the voids amongst coarse and fine particles. High minerals are framed through response of metabolic
compressive quality, accessibility, toughness, and in items produced by microorganisms with the
addition good conduct with fortification bars, low value, encompassing condition. Bacterial structure and a
straightforward planning and plausibility of throwing in schematic chart of calcium carbonate generation are
wanted shapes and sizes settle on concrete the material appeared in Fig.
of decision for some applications. Notwithstanding
solid's favorable circumstances, it has a high propensity

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supplement soup and different chemicals were blended

with required water and bubbled via autoclaving
process. The bubbled water ought to be of ruddy shading
to which required bacterial cell is exchanged and the
fluid media is secured by aluminum thwart and shaked
occasionally until the point when it swings to light
yellow color which demonstrates the nearness of
Fig.: (a) Bacteria structure; (b) Negative charged cell bacillus subtitles. Solid examples are made by blending
wall and presence of positive charged ions; (c) Bio in utilizing electrically worked blender by including
mineral production by means of binding ions to cell coarse total, fine total, concrete and required measure of
wall bacterial water.

ADVANTAGES OF BACTERIAL CONCRETE HenkM.Jonkers and Erik Schlangen,

 Self-repairing of cracks without any external aide. have distributed a paper on Development of a
 Significant increase in compressive strength and microscopic organisms based self-recuperating concrete.
flexural strength when compared to normal concrete. In this paper Bacillus cohnii, Bacillus halodurans and
 Resistance towards freeze-thaw attacks. Bacillus pseudofirmus species were gotten from the
 Reduction in permeability of concrete. German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell societies.
The microscopic organism’s societies were cleaned from
Disadvantages of bacterial concrete medium buildups by centrifugation, washing and
resuspension of the cell pellet in tap water.
 Cost of bacterial concrete is double than conventional
concrete. B.Naveenand S.Sivakamasundarihave
 Growth of bacteria is not good in any atmosphere and
media. Distributed a paper on Study on the impact of calcite-
 The clay pellets holding the self-healing agent hastening microbes on self-mending component of
comprise 20% of the volume of the concrete. This cement. In this paper break repair was upgraded
may become a shear zone or fault zone in the through a natural treatment in which a B.sphaericus
concrete. culture consolidated in a gel grid and a calcium source is
given. They have utilized silica gel to secure the
APPLICATIONS: microscopic organisms against the pH in solid which was
observed to be viable as CaCO3 gems accelerated inside
 The use of bacterial concrete has become increasingly the grid. Break fixing brought about porousness of water.
popular. It is used for Precipitation of the precious stones improved the
 Repairing of monuments constructed in limestone. solidness of the material.
 Healing of concrete cracks
 Used for construction of -low cost durable roads Day J L et al, This paper depicts the consequences of a
creative approach in solid break remediation using
SCOPE & OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT microbiologically prompted calcite. A typical soil
bacterium, Bacillus pasteurii, was utilized to initiate
 Develop a bacterial concrete by introducing the calcite precipitation. The essential standards for this
bacteria’s of bacillus family (Bacillus Subtilis). application are that the microbial urease hydrolyzes
 To find the optimum dosage of bacteria required for urea to create smelling salts and carbon dioxide, and the
bacterial concrete alkali discharged in surroundings accordingly builds pH,
 To determine the viable bacterial cells by serial prompting collection of insoluble calcite. To shield the
dilution method. cells from the high pH of cement, the microorganisms
To know the presence of voids by ultrasonic pulse were immobilized in polyurethane polymer, lime, silica
velocity test. smoke, and fly fiery debris, and after that connected in
solid split remediation. Microbiologically upgraded
break remediation was assessed by looking at the
II LITERATURE REVIEW compressive qualities of the treated solid examples and
those of the control.
L.Soundariet,have distributed a paper on Experimental
examination on reinforcing of cement by utilizing
Nagaraj.T.S, He says that for proportioning concrete
bacterial mineral precipitation. In this paper at first
blends water bond proportion turns into an

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overwhelming element, when the quality of cement is utilized as a naturally stable organic development
lesser than that of total trademark. And still, after all that material.
it is important to consider the solid trial blend
information at 0.5 w/c proportion to extent the blends, WATER
since this esteem joins commitment of both w/c
proportion and aggregate– bond in the interfacial zone. The least expensive but the most important
Composite mechanics thought can be adequately utilized ingredient of concrete is water. The water which is used
re-extent concrete blends whose quality is higher than for mixing concrete should be clean and free from
total quality. harmful impurities such as oil, alkali, acid etc. portable
water was used for mixing and curing work.
III: MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY
BACTERIAL CONCRETE OR SELF-HEALING CONCRETE
CEMENT
This normal issue of splitting in building has
Concrete can be characterized as the holding many cures prior and then afterward the break. One of
material having firm and cement properties which the therapeutic procedure is Bacterial Concrete or Self-
makes it able to join the diverse development materials Healing Concrete. The procedure of self-mending of
and shape the compacted get together.The testing of makes or self-filling laugh uncontrollably of breaks by
concrete is done according to IS Code the particular the assistance of bacterial response in the solid in the
gravity of bond found is 3.10. wake of solidifying is known as Self-Healing Concrete. It
can be watched that little splits that happen in a
Fine Aggregates structure of width in the scope of 0.05 to 0.1mm gets
totally fixed in dreary dry and wet cycles.
Those particles passing the 9.5 mm (3/8 in.)
strainer, altogether passing the 4.75 mm (No. 4) strainer, BIOCONCRETE MECHANISM
and dominatingly held on the 75 µm (No. 200) strainer
are called fine aggregate. In this analysis the locally At the point when the solid is blended with
accessible sand is utilized and the particular gravity of microbes (bacillus subtilus), the microscopic organisms
fine total is finished by utilizing the IS 2720 section 3 go into a lethargic express, a great deal like seeds. Every
code. The particular gravity is discovered 2.62. The fine one of the microorganisms require is introduction to the
totals utilized which goes through the 4.75mm sifter. air to actuate their capacities. Any splits that ought to
happen give the important presentation. At the point
Coarse Aggregates when the breaks frame, microbes closeness to the split,
begins accelerating calcite precious stones. At the point
Coarse totals have a wide assortment of when a solid structure is harmed and water begins to
development applications since they take after standard leak through the breaks that show up in the solid, the
shake particles, rather than fine total which all the more spores of the microorganisms develop on contact with
intently look like sand. Coarse totals are a vital piece of the water and supplements.
numerous development applications, in some cases
utilized individually, for example, a granular base put
under a section or asphalt, or as a segment in a blend, for
example, black-top or solid blends. The particular gravity
is discovered 2.84. The course totals which are utilized of
20mm size.

BACTERIA

In this examination the bacillus pasteurii

microorganisms is utilized .Sporosarcina pasteurii in the As the microorganisms nourishes oxygen is devoured
past known as Bacillus pasteurii from more established and the solvent calcium lactate is changed over to
scientific classifications is a bacterium with the capacity insoluble limestone. The limestone sets on the broke
to accelerate calcite and harden sand given a calcium surface, consequently fixing it up. Oxygen is a basic
source and urea, through the procedure of component during the time spent erosion of steel and
microbiologically incited calcite precipitation or natural when the bacterial movement has devoured it all it
cementation. Bacillus pasteurii has been proposed to be expands the strength of steel fortified solid
developments. Tests all demonstrate that microscopic
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organisms inserted concrete has bring down water and least quality, workability and toughness as financially as
chloride penetrability and higher quality recapture than could be expected under the circumstances.
the surface use of microbes.
 PHASE - I
CULTIVATION OF BACTERIA
The phase-I of investigation is carried out to culture the
The unadulterated culture of microscopic bacteria
organisms i.e. Bacillus Subtilis is safeguarded on
supplement agar inclines. It shapes unpredictable dry  PHASE – II
white states on supplement agar inclines. Two states of
the microorganisms are immunized into supplement The phase-II of investigation is carried out to study the
both of 350ml out of 500ml tapered cup and brooded at strength behavior of bacterial concrete.
the temperature of 37 degree Celsius and 150 rpm
orbital shaker hatchery. IV EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION

Mix design can be defined as the process of

selecting suitable ingredients of concrete and
determining their relative proportions with the object of
producing concrete of certain minimum strength and
durability as economically as possible. In our
investigation we have made M40 grade of concrete. The
mix ratio obtained after the mix design as per IS 456:
was given in pervious chapter .Further, we have poured
the concrete in the cube Moulds and six
Fig. Bacteria in incubator different samples were made which are as follows

MIX PROPORTIONING a. Conventional Concrete of grade M 40.

b. Concrete with 15 ml bacterial solution.
MIX DESIGN c. Concrete with 30 ml bacterial solution.
Blend configuration can be characterized as the d. Concrete with 45 ml bacterial solution.
way toward choosing reasonable elements of cement, for e. Concrete with 60 ml bacterial solution.
example, bond, totals, water and deciding their relative f. Concrete with 75 ml bacterial solution.
extents with the protest of creating cement of required
least quality, workability and toughness as financially as METHODS OF MIXING BACTERIAL SOLUTION INTO
would be prudent. The reason for outlining can be seen CONCRETE
from the above definitions, as two-overlay. The principal
objective is to accomplish the stipulated least quality and There are different methods of mixing the bacterial
solidness. The second goal is to make the solid in the solution in the concrete which are viz.
most efficient way. The evaluations of cement utilized as
a part of the present examination are common review (a) Direct Mixing
concrete and standard grade concrete. (b) Indirect Mixing
(c) Injection method
Standard grade concrete (M40)
CASTING OF CUBES AND CURING
Mix proportion 1: 1.76: 2.71: 0.45
Cement : 400 Kgs Once the concrete is completely mixed the
Fine aggregate : 704 Kgs concrete is poured in the cube, compaction is been done
Coarse aggregate: 1084 Kgs by the vibration machine. Concrete cubes were removed
Water : 180 Lt from the Moulds after 24 hrs. And they were put into the
curing tank. Curing was done for 7, 14 and 28 days for
MIXING OF CONCRETE all samples viz. Conventional, 15 ml, 30 ml, 45 ml, 60 ml
and 75 ml.
Blend configuration can be characterized as the way
toward choosing reasonable elements of cement, for
example, bond, totals, water and deciding their relative
extents with the question of creating cement of required

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EXPERIMENTAL TEST ON BACTERIAL CONCRETE

Various test are performed on bacterial concrete in

order to get the results in various forms these
experimental methods are summarized below-

Slump cone test

The concrete slump test is an empirical test that Compression Testing Machine.
measures workability of fresh concrete. The slump cone
test indicates the behavior of a compacted concrete cone The maximum load recorded and any unusual features in
under the action of gravitational forces. The test is the type of failure noted down. Concrete cubes placed in
carried out with a Moulds called as slump cone. The the CTM machine before crushing and after crushing
slump cone is placed on a horizontal and a non- shown in fig. 4.7.sample viz. conventional, 15ml, 30ml,
absorbent surface and filled in three layers of fresh 45ml, 60ml and 75ml were taken each time after
concrete, each layer being tamped 25 times with a curing interval of 7days, 28 days 56 days.
standard tamping rod.
ULTRA SONIC PULSE VELOCITY

Prior it was accounted for that sand combination by B.

pasteurii diminished porosity by up to half and
penetrability by up to 90% in the zones where the
cementation occurred. Microbial calcite stopping was
specific and its proficiency was influenced by the
Showing the Slump Height.
porosity of the medium, the quantity of cells introduce
and the aggregate volume of supplement included. The
The slump is measured by placing the cone just besides
sand segment stacked with microscopic organisms was
the slump concrete and the temping rod is placed over
so firmly stopped that the section was broken with a
the cone so that it should also come over the area of
mechanical blade for looking at. An extraordinary basic
slumped concrete. The decrease in height of concrete to
condition of pH around 12 is the major obstructing
that of Moulds is noted with scale which is found to be
factor for development of B. pasteurii, whose ideal pH
110mm for conventional concrete and 50mm for
for development is around 9. Be that as it may, B.
bacterial concrete. Figure shows the performance of
pasteurii can create endospores to persevere through an
slump cone test.
outrageous domain, 15ml, 30ml, 45ml, 60ml and
75ml were tested at quality control lab shown in
fig.:4.9.Below. The corresponding readings were
obtained in the form of trouble time and velocity.

Fig: Slump Cone Test

Compressive strength test-

Concrete cubes ofsizes150mm×150mm×150mm were

tested for crushing strength. Compressive strength
Fig: Test of bacterial concrete samples using
depends on loads of factor such as w/c ratio, cement
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Machine.
strength, excellence of concrete material and excellence
control during manufacture of concrete.
PLATE COUNT TEST
The cube compressive strength, then fc=P/A N/mm2
The plate tally test was directed to decide add up to
practical cells in a bacterial culture by plate check
Where P is an ultimate load in N, A is a cross sectional
technique. This strategy is utilized for assurances of the
area of cube in mm2
quantity of cells that duplicate under characterize

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conditions. It requires culture viz. Fluid culture of  UPV test

bacillus subtilis, water, and drain. Encourage the media  Plate count test
taken is 20ml supplement agar profound tubes (3 in
nos.), likewise the device utilized were test tubes, COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST
pipettes, petri plates, glass stamping pencil and
spreader. Concrete cubes of sizes 150mm×150mm×150mm
were tested for crushing strength. Compressive strength
depends on loads of factor such as w/c ratio, cement
strength, excellence of concrete material and excellence
control during manufacture of concrete. These cubes are
tested by compression testing machine after 7 days, 14
days or 28 days curing. The sample is placed centrally on
the base plate of machine and the load have to be apply
gradually at the rate of 140 kg/cm2 per minute till the
specimen fails.
Fig. Formation of visible mass

The aggregate tally of microbial suspension is gotten by

duplicating the no. of cells per plate by the weakening
variable. 1 g of solid material from solid piece which was
kept for curing for 14 days from various solid square
(containing 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 ml of bacterial
suspension) gathered to consider number of feasible
microscopic organisms by serial weakening technique.

Experimental procedure to obtain plate count test of

bacterial solution

To begin with blending of 24hr. Hatched 1 g solid

material from each piece was finished by rolling the test
tube between the palms to guarantee even scattering of
cell in the way of life. By using sterile pipette, aseptically
exchange of 0.1ml bacterial suspension to the test tube
containing 10 ml waterfall infusion was finished.
Quantities of reasonable microbes are corresponding to
the quantity of bacterial provinces. Quantities of
bacterial provinces are checked by utilizing state
counter.

Fig: Scanning Electron Microscope Machine

V RESULTS

Tests performed:

 Compressive strength test

 Water absorption

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ULTRA SONIC PLUSE VELOCITY TEST

Ultra sonic pulse velocity test was carried out to

know the presence of voids in the internal structure of
the concrete cubes. The results so obtained after
conducting the test are tabulated below table. This
results shows that of all samples tested the trouble time
of 30ml and 45ml bacterial concrete found to be much
lesser, again velocity is also higher.

CONCLUSION

The bacteria which are known to be alkali-resistant, i.e.

they grow in natural environments characterized by a
relatively high pH. In addition, these strains can produce
spores which are resting cells with sturdy cell walls that
protect them against extreme environmental
mechanical- and chemical stresses. Therefore these
specific bacteria may have the potential to resist the high
Water Absorption:
internal concrete pH values (12-13 for Portland cement-
based concrete), and remain viable for a long time as
The 150mm x150 mm x 150 mm cube after
well, as spore viability for up to 200 years is
casting were immersed in water for 28 days and 60 days
documented.
curing. These specimens were then oven dried for 24
hours at the temperature110°C until the mass became
constant and again weighed. The weight’s was noted as  Compressive strength of the concrete is start
increasing when we introduce bacteria into the
the dry weight (W1) of the cylinder. After that the
concrete compare to convention concrete
specimen was kept in hot water at 85°c for 3.5 hours.
Then this weight was noted as the wet weight (W2) of  In this project we worked with UPV test and plate
the cylinder. load count method by the way the velocity and
number of bacterial cell present in the concrete was
%water absorption= [(W2-W1)/W1] x100 calculated experimentally
 Water absorption test is also done where from the
Where, W1 = Oven dry weight of cylinder in grams experiment we can conclude that we got better
W2 = after 3.5 hours wet weight of cylinder in grams. results in the bacteria concrete compare to
conventional concrete.
Table: % WATER ABSORPTION TEST RESULT.  By the way increase in bacteria in the concrete leads
to increase in the strength and also we can clearly
notice that no cracks because of mechanism of
bacteria.

FUTURE SCOPE

 More study required to reduce the cost of self-healing

concrete.
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 Further study required to overcome on the limitations

of bacillus subtilis bacteria.
 More work should be done on the long term effect of
bacteria on human life.
 Can be used in the construction of aircraft runways,
bridges and dams reducing the maintenance cost.
 Retaining wall construction.

REFERENCES

[1] Ramachandran S.K, Ramakrishnan V. and Bang S.S

(2001),”Remediation of concrete using microorganisms.”
American Concrete Institute Materials J., 98, 3-9.

[2] Achal V., Mukherjee A., Basu P.C, and Reddy M.S.
(2009) “Strain improvement of sporosarcina Pasteurii
for enhanced urease and calcite production.” Journal of
industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, 36, 981-988.

[3] NavneetChahal, Rafat Siddique, Anita Rojar (2012)

“Influence of bacteria on the compressive strength,
water absorption and rapid chloride permeability of fly
ash concrete.” Construction and Building Materials, 28,
351-356.

[4] Abhijit sing Parmar, Ankit Patel, Vismay Shah,

Sandeep Khorasiya, Dipan Patel (2013),” Improvement
on the concrete cracks by using Bacillus Pasteurii.”
International Journal for Scientific Research &
Development, Vol 1, Issue 1.

[5] Sunil Pratap Reddy, SeshagiriRaob M.V., Aparnac P.

and Sasikalac Ch. (2010), “Performance of standard
grade bacterial concrete.” Asian journal of civil
engineering (building and housing), Vol 11, no.1, 43-55.

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