Exploring Porosity’s Role in Stiffening Waste Concrete Conglomerates Synthesized with Microbial Calcite: A Micromechanical Analysis

Amidst environmental challenges, this study utilizes the innovative method of microbially-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) to explore its application in recycling waste concrete fines (WCF). Specifically, we scrutinize the role of porosity in the mechanical behavior of MICP-cemented WCF conglomerates. Through a series of indentation tests, the study provides force-displacement relationships from which the stiffness of the samples is calculated. The Young’s modulus of the samples is then estimated using Sneddon’s solution, which assumes a conical indenter and homogeneous elastic behavior. Subsequently, the Mori–Tanaka scheme with Eshelby’s solution is employed to predict the Young’s modulus of the samples with different porosity, allowing a comparison with the calculated stiffness. This work contributes to the understanding of the role of porosity in the mechanical behavior of MICP-cemented WCF specimens and offers a pathway for optimizing the production process of such materials.