Reliability of Unconventional Concrete: Improvement in Mix Design and Addition of Bacterial Admixture

Abstract

Portland cement is used by the construction industries, which is known to be a heavy contributor of carbon dioxide emissions and environmental damage. Adding of industrial wastes like demolished old concrete OF structures, silica fume (SF) fly ash (FA) as additional cementing materials (SCMs) could result in a substantial reduction of the overall Carbon dioxide trace marks of the final concrete product. Use of these additional materials in construction industry especially in the making of concrete is highly challenging. Remarkable research efforts are needed to study about the engineering properties of concrete incorporating such industrial wastes. Present research is an effort to study the properties of concrete adding industrial wastes such as demolished concrete, FA and SF The improvement of properties of RCA concrete with the incorporation of two ureolytic-type bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus sphaericus to improve the properties of RCA concrete. The experimental investigations are carried out by experts evaluate the improvement of the compressive strength, capillary water absorption and drying shrinkage of RCA concrete adding bacteria. Seven concrete mixes are manufactured using Portland slag cement (PSC) partially changed with SF ranging from 0 to 30%. The mix proportions were obtained as per Indian standard IS: 10262-2009 with 10% extra cement when SF is taken as per the above the construction practice by experts. Optimal dosages of SF for maximum values of compressive strength, tensile splitting strength and flexural strength at 28 days are determined. Keywords: Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus sphaericus, RCA, PSC, Silica Fume.