Exploring Fungal-Induced Carbonate Precipitation (FICP) for Healing Concrete Cracks

Bao, Nuo; Lin, Hai; Su, Yen-Fang

i

Exploring Fungal-Induced Carbonate Precipitation (FICP) for Healing Concrete Cracks

2026-07-01
By Bao, Nuo ; Lin, Hai ; Su, Yen-Fang

File Language:

English

Details

Creators:

Bao, Nuo ; Lin, Hai ; Su, Yen-Fang
Corporate Creators:

Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, La.). Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering ; University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Corporate Contributors:

United States. Department of Transportation. University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program ; United States. Department of Transportation. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology ; Transportation Infrastructure Precast Innovation Center (TRANS-IPIC) Tier-1 University Transportation Center (UTC)
Subject/TRT Terms:

Bacteria Bacterial Treatment Biodeterioration Calcium Carbonate Cement Chemical Precipitation Concrete Crack Healing Cracking Durability Tests Fungal-induced Carbonate Precipitation Self-healing Materials Structural Analysis Testing Water Water Absorption
Publication/ Report Number:

LS-23-RP-03
Resource Type:

Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:

United States
Edition:

Final Report: January 2024 – June 2025
Corporate Publisher:

Transportation Infrastructure Precast Innovation Center (TRANS-IPIC) Tier-1 University Transportation Center (UTC)
Abstract:

Cracking in cement-based materials significantly compromises their durability and long-term structural performance. This study investigates a bio-mediated self-healing strategy by incorporating bacterial and fungal agents into mortar samples. Artificial cracks were induced via split tensile testing, and healing behavior was evaluated through ultrasonic wave velocity measurements and water absorption tests over a 16-day curing period. Wave speed and water absorption measurements indicated signs of partial healing in samples treated with Sporosarcina pasteurii combined with either Aspergillus niger (ATCC 9029) or Neurospora crassa (FGSC 2489), compared to the untreated control group. Compressive strength tests at 28 days revealed that samples treated with Aspergillus niger or Neurospora crassa achieved higher strength than the control group before cracking was introduced. These preliminary findings suggest that microbial-based approaches may offer promising potential for enhancing crack management in cementitious materials.
Format:

PDF
Funding:

69A3552348333
Collection(s):

University Transportation Centers
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:608ca4d4b6d5f1100025b2b796869dd6626d0c63f0c7c860263223b90c15a32ad1fabd6cc1fa550349aef76a8b1bbf46de323f6fb7fb775bfcf673c76e3109ab
Download URL:

https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/89199/dot_89199_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 2.56 MB ]

File Language:

English

ON THIS PAGE

Details

ROSA P serves as an archival repository of USDOT-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, guidelines, recommendations, or other information authored or co-authored by USDOT or funded partners. As a repository, ROSA P retains documents in their original published format to ensure public access to scientific information.