Experimental Investigation on Self-Healing Concrete Incorporated with Nano Silica for Sustainable Construction

Self-healing concrete has improved the efficiency of patching cracks in constructions including pavements, canal linings, Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) buildings, and RCC pipelines. Usually, normal maintenance and specific treatments are needed to address these cracks, and they can be extremely expensive. The use of microbiologically produced calcite (CaCO3) precipitation in the concrete matrix is an inventive technique. For concrete grade M40 mixed with different percentages of nano silica in 0.5, 1, and 1.5%, this study presents experimental research using Bacillus subtilis bacteria and calcium lactate to promote crack healing in concrete at 1% of the cement weight. The findings include results from Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) tests conducted on self-healing concrete, which were used to assess the dynamic modulus of elasticity and overall quality of the concrete at different curing ages. The study also involves in finding the mechanical concrete properties such as compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexure strength of M40 grade self-healing concrete.