Repairing concrete cracks using microorganisms.
Social Infrastructure (Saitama University Research Seed Collection 2025-27 p.15)
Keywords: Concrete structures, cracks, durability, repair, East bacteria, Bacillus bacteria, calcium carbonate, alkali-silica reaction, moisture penetration.
Concrete has low tensile strength, making it prone to cracking. Moisture and harmful ions can penetrate the interior of the concrete through these cracks, potentially affecting the long-term durability of the structure. Traditional repair methods often involve injecting or filling repair materials and covering the cracked surfaces with waterproofing materials; however, there is a possibility of re-cracking or deterioration of the covering layer, as well as environmental concerns due to the outflow of repair materials during construction. On the other hand, in recent years, innovative repair methods using microorganisms have been proposed. This technique involves the reaction between carbon dioxide, a metabolic product of microorganisms, and calcium ions in the cracks, resulting in the formation of calcium carbonate that seals the cracks. In addition to reducing environmental impact through the use of harmless microorganisms, there is a potential advantage that if the microorganisms continue to live in the repaired area, they can seal the cracks again when they reoccur. Currently, research and development of crack repair materials using microorganisms such as yeast and Bacillus are underway, and experiments have confirmed that after repair, the cracks were sealed, and the penetration of moisture, which is a factor of deterioration, significantly decreased compared to before the repair.
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Yao Luan, Assistant Professor Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Department of Environmental Social Infrastructure, Field of Social Infrastructure Creation 【Recent Research Themes】 ● Development of repair materials for concrete structures using multiple self-healing mechanisms ● Research on the strength development and chloride penetration resistance of concrete using a large amount of blast furnace slag ● Research on the practical application and durability of fiber-reinforced cement composite materials with multiple fine cracks ● Establishment of a probabilistic evaluation method for the deterioration of reinforced concrete structures considering cracks ● Development of geopolymer aggregates using coal ash and incineration ash
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【Appeal Points to the Industry】 ● By incorporating encapsulated microorganisms into concrete mixtures, self-healing capabilities can be imparted to concrete. ● Applying repair materials that utilize microorganisms to the surface of concrete allows for the restoration of existing cracks. ● Reduction of environmental impact through the use of harmless microorganisms such as yeast and Bacillus. 【Examples of Practical Application, Case Studies, and Utilization】 ● Experimental research on the repair of ASR cracks in concrete using microorganisms (Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 72, pp. 328-335, 2018; ACI Materials Journal, Vol. 118, pp. 133-142, 2021).
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The Saitama University Open Innovation Center is a center that functions as a liaison office for industry-academia-government collaboration. It consists of three departments: the Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Department, the Intellectual Property Department, and the Startup Support Department, each staffed with coordinators well-versed in various fields. The center's activities include solving technical challenges in companies, supporting the implementation of joint research, and conducting technology transfer aimed at introducing and utilizing Saitama University's intellectual property.
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