DIFFERENT METHODS OF SELF-HEALING CONCRETE IN COMPARISON TO ENCAPSULATION

Abstract

In the construction industry, the usage of concrete is inevitable and massive. Cracks appearing on the concrete decrease the service life and components of concrete and may even pose a warning. The process of detecting and repairing is often expensive and contributes to environmental pollution. Therefore, in recent years, there has been an increasing amount of attention to the topic of self-healing concrete. Concrete with the ability to heal cracks on its own also improves or recovers concrete's original qualities, which are lost when cracks first emerge. Concrete with self-healing properties would considerably reduce the requirement for manual crack detection and repair. This will contribute towards a longer service life and durability of the concrete structure. Self-healing techniques come in many forms, including direct bacterial application to concrete, shape memory alloys, superabsorbent polymers, encapsulation, etc. The focus of this study will be on the use of encapsulation and bacterial concrete. In comparison to traditional concrete, the results of the direct application of the bacterial concrete ( Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus, Sphaericus, and Bacillus Subtilis) enhance the concrete’s properties. The disadvantage of adding bacteria to concrete is that the survival rate appears to be low due to the mixing process. Encapsulation comprises of capsule shell to protect the healing agent sequester within. There are many combinations of encapsulation with different types of healing agents obtained from previous research conducted. However, the efficiency of self-healing was not shown through the healing of crack width. The limitation of bacteria can be eliminated through the use of encapsulation with bacteria. Future testing according to standardised guidelines and components should be taken note of and conducted for fair and accurate results.