Mechanisms of encapsulation of bacteria in self-healing concrete: Review

Abstract

Fissures in concrete structures result from structural deterioration and inadequate building processes, among other factors. Traditional in siturepair is often expensive and complex. For this reason, self-healing techniques have been developed including the use of bacteria that precipitate calcium carbonate to seal fissures. However, adding bacteria directly to the concrete matrix reduces bacterial survival. We present a review of different methods of bacterial encapsulation and their effects on fissure repair and concrete resistance. We argue that encapsulation of Bacillussubtilis in clay is the most promising method, increasing concrete strength by 12% and repairing fissures of up to 0.52 mm.