Ali Khajeh Samani

Bioconcrete: next generation of self-healing concrete

Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials and has a high tendency to form cracks. These cracks lead to significant reduction in concrete service life and high replacement costs. Although it is not possible to prevent crack formation, various types of techniques are in place to heal the cracks. It has been shown that some of the current concrete treatment methods such as the application of chemicals and polymers are a source of health and environmental risks, and more importantly, they are effective only in the short term. Thus, treatment methods that are environmentally friendly and long-lasting are in high demand. A microbial self-healing approach is distinguished by its potential for long-lasting, rapid and active crack repair, while also being environmentally friendly. Furthermore, the microbial self-healing approach prevails the other treatment techniques due to the efficient bonding capacity and compatibility with concrete compositions. This study provides an overview of the microbial approaches to produce calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Prospective challenges in microbial crack treatment are discussed, and recommendations are also given for areas of future research.

Mechanical properties of bio self-healing concrete containing immobilized bacteria with iron oxide nanoparticles

Concrete is arguably one of the most important and widely used materials in the world, responsible for the majority of the industrial revolution due to its unique properties. However, it is susceptible to cracking under internal and external stresses. The generated cracks result in a significant reduction in the concrete lifespan and an increase in maintenance and repair costs. In recent years, the implementation of bacterial-based healing agent in the concrete matrix has emerged as one of the most promising approaches to address the concrete cracking issue. However, the bacterial cells need to be protected from the high pH content of concrete as well as the exerted shear forces during preparation and hardening stages. To address these issues, we propose the magnetic immobilization of bacteria with iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs). In the present study, the effect of the designed bio-agent on mechanical properties of concrete (compressive strength and drying shrinkage) is investigated. The results indicate that the addition of immobilized Bacillus species with IONs in concrete matrix contributes to increasing the compressive strength. Moreover, the precipitates in the bio-concrete specimen were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The characterization studies confirm that the precipitated crystals in bio-concrete specimen were CaCO3, while no precipitation was observed in the control sample.

Ductility in concentrically loaded reinforced concrete columns

Abstract In recent years, the use of high-strength concrete materials has been regulated into Australian design standards. The use of high-strength concrete is desirable in many cases. For instance, in reinforced concrete columns of high rise buildings, the columns can carry more load with a smaller cross section compared to reinforced concrete columns built of normal strength material. However, there are some disadvantages, one being the reduction of ductility. The Australian Concrete Standard AS3600 deals with this issue by changing the tie arrangement in reinforced columns for different concrete strength grades. This study reviews the ductility index used to measure the ductility of reinforced concrete columns and uses an analytical model to predict the ductility index of several practical example columns. These columns are designed and detailed using the requirements of the Australian Concrete Standard. The outcome of a parametric study shows that the columns designed and detailed using the rules in the Australian Concrete Standard may not necessarily have the ductility index which the code assumes. Another well-known deficiency observed in the behaviour of reinforced high-strength concrete columns is premature spalling of the cover concrete. The Australian Concrete Standard addresses premature cover spalling by modifying a reduction factor which is applied to the strength of the concrete when the squash load of a reinforced concrete column is calculated. This reduction factor accounts for many issues not only premature cover spalling. Using an analytical model, it is shown that the code formula for estimating the squash load is too conservative and needs adjustment for very large columns with small cover to core ratio.