This study was conducted by Kim Van Tittelboom , Nele De Belie , Willem De Muynck , Willy Verstraete. In this report, the researchers highlight the use of Ureolytic bacteria as a repair material to repair cracks in concrete. The bacteria Bacillus sphaericus englobed with silica was used. It was in silica gel so that its cell wall was not damage due to the high pH. The cracks were induced using two different methods namely the standardized crack method and the realistic crack method. In each case, the effect using of bacteria and the traditional repair material (SIKADUR 52 and SIKATOP 111) was carried out and compared. The crack repairs were evaluated through permeability tests, ultrasonic measurements, visually and through thermogravimetric analysis. Based on the results, it was then concluded that some of crack repairs may be achieved through the use of the bacteria. It was also concluded that this is a highly desirable way of repair because it was natural and pollution free.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF EPOXY REPAIRING OF CRACKS IN CONCRETE This study was carried out by Camille A. Issa , Pauls Debs. In this study, the investigators researched on the effect of repairing cracks using Epoxy. The Epoxy used was Sikadur 52 which is a two component solvent-free epoxy resin. Different cubes were prepared in which a metal plate so as to create a crack upon removing it. It was then repaired by gravity filling using the epoxy as per the specification. Some cubes were not repaired so as to investigate the effect of not repairing cracks as well. Ultimately, there was a control cube in which no cracks were induced. The compressive strength of the cubes was tested. It was noted that the cubes which were repaired failed at a higher compressive strength than that which was not repaired.
A METHOD TO REPAIR CONCRETE LEAKAGE THROUGH CRACKS BY SYNTHESIZING SUPER-ABSORBENT RESIN IN SITU This study was carried out by X.F. Song, J.F. Wei and T.SH. He This work presented a method to repair concrete leakage through cracks by synthesizing super- absorbent resin (SAR) in situ. The procedures of this method are to inject the precursor solution of polymer(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) with initiator and crosslinker into concrete cracks, then use infrared radiation to make the precursor copolymerize. The synthesized SAR can absorb water and swell, so that the cracks are filled and the leakage is prevented. The impermeability of concrete core with through-thickness cracks repaired by SAR was tested before and after being subjected to the attacks of acid, alkali, salts, drywet cycles and ultraviolet aging. Meantime, the absorbency of SAR was also evaluated by measuring the swelling ratio before and after the attacks of the same deteriorating factors. The experimental results show that the equilibrium swelling ratio of SAR sharply decreases after the attacks of acid and salts, and the impermeability of concrete cracks repaired with SAR is mainly governed by the swelling ratio of SAR and the width of cracks.