Development of a two-phase biological additives for self-healing cement-based mortar
Project Manager:
Zeynep Başaran Bundur
Section:
Civil Engineering
Research Areas:
Construction Technologies
Project Start Year:
2018
Project End Year:
2022
Phone:
0 (216) 564 9453
E-Mail:
About the Project:
Early age cracking can significantly decrease the service life of concrete structures. These cracks can provide pathways for harmful chemicals to ingress; thus, create durability problems and can lead to loss of structural integrity. The proposed project is an extensive study undertaken to design a two-phase system to induce self-healing via biomineralization in cement-based materials. Up-to-date, even though there are various studies focusing on immobilization of cells, the information regarding use of organic materials is limited. First of all, there is not enough information regarding the impacts of self-healing on possible durability that can occur upon cracking. Within the scope of this project, the impact of self-healing on corrosion resistance will be evaluated once the cracks were sealed with biogenic precipitate. Within the scope of proposed project, the influence of bio-based additives on the amount plastic shrinkage and shrinkage cracks will also be evaluated. The information obtained from this study will provide a new and novel insight about self-healing mechanism via biomineralization; thus it will take this idea one step closer to practical application. Upon completion, the self-healing mortar design with this 2-phase biological additive will be presented to the mortar and concrete manufacturers. These developments might lead to design of more durable and sustainable structures in our country wherein the construction industry is actively growing.
Project Finding:
With this project, it is aimed to fill the gap in the literature and get one step closer to the practical use of this innovative method. As a result of this study, unanswered questions about the self-healing mechanism offered by biomineralization will be answered, and cement-based mortar to be prepared with powdered biological additives are offered to companies in the market. With these developments, an important step will be taken towards the design of longer-lasting and sustainable structures in our country where the construction industry is highly active. The project has so far culminated into two master’s theses, 3 Q1 articles, and 5 conference proceedings.