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

Concrete structures can develop cracks during early-stage curing and long-term aging processes, reducing load-bearing capacity and affecting the service life of concrete structures. This research aims to explore fungal-induced carbonate precipitation (FICP) to heal cracks and improve the durability of concrete. FICP is a natural biomineralization process involving calcifying fungi's metabolic activities to induce CaCO3 precipitation. This research investigates the performance of several fungal strains (e.g., their growth behavior and efficiencies of FICP versus time) on the surface of cement mortar. The optimal fungal strain will be used to assess its healing capability on concrete cracks.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Sponsor Organizations:

  University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory
  Urbana, IL  United States  61801-2352

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Performing Organizations:

  Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

  P.O. Box 94245, Capitol Station
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70803
• Principal Investigators:

  Lin, Hai

• Start Date: 20240101
• Expected Completion Date: 20241231
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calcium carbonate; Concrete; Cracking; Durability; Fungi; Precipitation (Chemistry)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01903257
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Infrastructure Precast Innovation Center
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Dec 24 2023 8:27AM