DEVELOPMENT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION

MATERIALS BACTERIAL CONCRETE,

BASALT REINFORCEMENT BARS AND
SYNTHETIC STRUCTURAL FIBER REINFORCED
CONCRETE

V. Ramakrishnan
Regents Distinguished Professor Emeritus

Outline of Presentation
Basalt

3D reinforced concrete and

basalt reinforcing rods
Bacterial concrete biosealants
Construction of highway structures
with synthetic FRC

Concrete is a Design
Material

Reinforced Basalt Fiber Concrete Composites

Dr. V. Ramakrishnan
Regents Distinguished Professor
Civil Engineering Department
South Dakota Tech, USA

Chopped Basalt Fiber Strands

3- Dimensionally
Reinforced Basalt Fiber
Concrete

Basalt Fabrics

Basalt Geo-Mesh

Basalt Rebars

Basalt Rebars and Rebar

Reinforced Concrete

Concrete Reinforced With Basalt

Fiber Composite Rebars

Properties of Basalt Rebar

This rebar consists of 80% fibers

It is made, by utilizing a resin (epoxy) binder.
Tensile strength is three times that of the steel bar.
Basalt rebar has one-third of the weight of steel.
1 Kg of Basalt can replace 9 Kg of steel.
The thermal expansion coefficient is very close to that
of concrete.
High mechanical performance/price ratio.
High corrosion resistance.
High Resistance to alkaline attack.
Potential for replacement of steel in reinforced

Comparison Chart
Properties

Basalt Wires

Metal Hot
Rolled Steel

Tensile Strength (Mpa)

1080-1380

390-450

Compressive Strength (Mpa)

460-480

180

Modulus of Elasticity (Mpa)

100,000-110,000

200,000

Fracture Elongation

2.0 %

38 %

Water absorption (24 hrs) %

0.01

Density g/cm3

1.8

7.8

Melting Temperature

1350C

1500C

Tension Test on Basalt Rod

Failed Specimens Basalt Cables

Stress Vs. Strain Graph

1600

Modulus of Elasticity = 62100 MPa

Dia. Of Rod = 14.2 mm

1400

Stress (MPa)

1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
0

0.005

0.01

0.015

0.02

Strain (mm/mm)

0.025

0.03

Test Set-Up

Failure Pattern

PHASE II Modified Rebars

PHASE II Modified Rebars

Principle of Smart Memory Alloy

Anchors

PHASE II - Research Tasks

To study the bond between the modified basalt

rebars and cables, and concrete by conducting bond
tests according to the procedure of ASTM C 234.
To determine the cracking and ultimate moment of
two extremely under-reinforced beams, and to
determine the mode of failure of the modified basalt
rebar reinforced concrete beams.
To determine the cracking and ultimate moment of
five lightly under-reinforced beams, and to determine
the mode of failure of the modified basalt rebar
reinforced concrete beams

Task 1: Bond Test on Basalt Rebars

(ASTM C 234)

Bond Stress Vs. Slip

12

Bond Stress (MPa)

4 - Slot Basalt Bar

10

8 - Slot Basalt Bar

Plain Basalt Bar

8
6
4
2
0
0

Slip (mm)

Failure Pattern

Findings

There was no slip of the rebars in any of the

specimens tested and there was no evidence of bond
failure between the concrete and the modified basalt
rebars.

Failed Specimens

Corrugated Basalt Rebar Beam

(Failure Pattern)

Manually Twisted Basalt Strand

Rebar Beam

Manually Twisted Basalt Strand

Rebar Beam (Failure Pattern)

Manufacturer Supplied Basalt Strand

Rebar Beam

Manufacturer Supplied Basalt Strand

Rebar Beam (Failure Pattern)

Fe-Mn-Ni Smart Alloy Anchor Basalt

Rebar Beam

Fe-Mn-Ni Smart Alloy Anchor Basalt

Rebar Beam (Failure Pattern)

Fe-Mn-Ni Smart Alloy Anchor Basalt

Rebar Beam (Failure Pattern)

Ti-Ni Smart Alloy Anchor Basalt

Rebar Beam (Failure Pattern)

Ti-Ni Smart Alloy Anchor Basalt

Rebar Beam (Failure Pattern)

Load (KN)

Load Vs. Deflection Graph

200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0

Average deflection at the

center of the beam

First crack of
concrete

Deflection (mm)

10

12

14

Load (KN)

Load Vs. Compressive Micro Strain

200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0

Strain gauge located at 6.35 mm from the

top (compression side) at the center of
the beam

First crack of
concrete

500

1000

1500

2000

Compressive Micro Strain

2500

3000

Load (KN)

Load Vs. Tensile Micro Strain

200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0

Strain gauge located at 444.5 mm from one

end of the beam, and on the slot of the
rebar

First crack of
concrete

2000

4000

6000

Tensile Micro Strain

8000

10000

Load Vs. Deflection Graph (Cable as Rebar)

45
40

Load (KN)

35
30
25

Average deflection at the center of

the beam

20
15
10
First crack of concrete

5
0
0

10
15
Deflection (mm)

20

25

Load Vs. Deflection Graph (Plain Rebar)

80
70

(Beam Size = (304.8mm x 304.8mm x 1295.4mm)

(Diameter of Bar = 14.2mm)

Load (KN)

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0

0.5

1.5
Deflection (mm)

2.5

Basalt Rod Impressions on

Concrete

Comparison of the Calculated and Actual

Moments (Modified Basalt Rebars)
Beam Actual Moments Calculated Moments
No. Ultimate Cracking Ultimate Cracking
N-m
N-m
N-m
N-m
BRC-3

8407

3107

8619

3260

BRC-4

12577

2551

12983

3376

BRC-5

1137

481

765

505

BRC-6

33184

6475

29685

6199

BRC-7

38724

6610

32047

6160

Type of Failure

Primary flexural failure and

secondary shear failure.
Typical flexural failure with
partial fracture of strands
Beam failed primarily in
flexure by splitting into two
pieces after fracture of
rebar
Primary flexural failure and
secondary shear failure.
Primary flexural failure and
secondary shear failure.

Conclusions: 2-Dimensionally
Reinforced Basalt Fiber Concrete

The bond between all the modified basalt rebars and

concrete was extremely good.
The ultimate moment was much higher than the first
crack moment in all the beams tested, indicating a
good bond between rebar and concrete.
The deflections were
adequate ductility.

considerable

indicating

All the beams had primary flexural failure and a few

beams had secondary shear failure.
There was no slip of the rebars in any of the beams
tested and there was no evidence of bond failure.

Bacterial Concrete
Concrete External Remediation
Bacteria can act as a sealant in remediating
already existing cracks by precipitating calcite.
It also increases the strength characteristics of
already cracked concrete.
Concrete Internal Remediation
When mixed in concrete bacteria can act as a selfremediating biomaterial in reducing the micro
cracks.
It also increases the durability performance.
It also reduces the plastic shrinkage cracks in
concrete.
RAEM 2006

Principle of Bacterial Mineral

Precipitation
Microorganisms (cell surface charge is negative)
draw cations including Ca2+ from the environment
to deposit on the cell surface.
Ca2+ + Cell
Cell - Ca2+ + CO32-

Cell - Ca2+
Cell - CaCO3

RAEM 2006

Concrete micro cracks

RAEM 2006

Plastic shrinkage micro crack in

concrete

RAEM 2006

Close-up view of micro crack

RAEM 2006

Partially remediated micro crack

RAEM 2006

Cluster of Calcite Crystals

RAEM 2006

Cluster of Calcite Crystals

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Cluster of Calcite Crystals

RAEM 2006

Full Grown Calcite Crystals

RAEM 2006

Full Grown Calcite Crystals

RAEM 2006

Percentage reduction in plastic

shrinkage crack area

External Remediated Slabs

100
90
80
70
60
50

C11 - Slab remediated with Bacteria

and medium (Placed at the Bottom)
C12 - Slab remediated with Bacteria
and medium (Placed at the Top)
C21 - Slab remediated with only
medium
C22 - Slab Remediated with only
water

40
30
20
10
0

Slabs
RAEM 2006

Modulus of Rupture (MPa)

Comparison of Modulus of Rupture of Cracked

Specimens Remediated with Different Concentrations
of Bacteria and Uncracked Specimens (Control)
5
4
3
2
1
0
Control

10^9
Cells/ml

8.6 x
10^8
10^7
No
10^8 Cells/ml Cells/ml Cells/ml
Cells/ml
RAEM 2006

Specimens

Findings
The principle of microbiologically induced calcite

precipitation could be effectively used in reducing

the plastic shrinkage cracks in concrete.
Bacteria suspended in Urea-CaCl2 medium
performed better in reducing the cracks.
External remediation was more effective than
internal remediation.

RAEM 2006

Durability Characteristics
of Bacterial Concrete

Objectives

RAEM 2006

Alkali Aggregate Reactivity (ASTM C 1260)

Specimens were cured in

Urea - CaCl2 for 7 days.

Oven at 80 2.00C (176
3.60F) for 24 hrs.
Initial reading
1N NaOH (40 gms of
Sodium hydroxide in 1000
ml of water) and were
placed in the oven.
The length comparator
readings were taken on 3,
7,11 and 14th day.

RAEM 2006

Effect of Different Concentrations of

Bacteria on AAR of Concrete Beams
Mean expansion (%)

0.05

Zero cells/ml (Control)

10^7 Cells/ml
10^8 Cells/ml
10^9 Cells/ml

0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0.00
0

10

Age (Days)
RAEM 2006

12

14

16

Effect of Bacteria Suspended in Different

Mediums on AAR of Concrete Beams
Control (Without Bacteria)
Bacteria in Water
Bacteria in Phosphate-Buffer
Bacteria in Urea-Calcium Chloride

Mean expansion (%)

0.06
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0.00
0

Age (Days)
RAEM 2006

10

12

14

16

Sulfate Attack (ASTM C1012)

Specimens were cured in

Urea - CaCl2 for 7 days.

Initial comparator reading
were taken before placing
the specimens in sodium
sulfate solution (pH of
7.2).
Readings were taken at
every 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8
weeks.
RAEM 2006

Mean expamsion (%)

Effect of Different Concentrations of Bacteria

on Sulfate Attack Resistance of Concrete Beams
0.020

Zero Cells/ml (Control)

10^8 Cells/ml
8.6 X 10^8 Cells/ml
10^9 Cells/ml

0.015
0.010
0.005
0.000
0

Immersion Age (Weeks)

RAEM 2006

Mean expansion (%)

Effect of Bacteria Suspended in Different

Mediums on Sulfate Attack Resistance of
Concrete Beams
Control (Without Bacteria)
Bacteria in Phosphate-Buffer
Bacteria in Water
Bacteria in Urea-Calcium Chloride

0.020
0.015
0.010
0.005
0.000
0

Immersion Age (Weeks)

RAEM 2006

Freeze Thaw Durability (ASTM C 666)

Specimens were cured in

Urea - CaCl2 for 7 days

Pulse time, weight change
and length comparator
readings were recorded for
every 30 cycles until the
completion of 210 cycles
of freezing and thawing
Pulse time was used to
calculate
the
pulse
velocity, and the durability
factor

RAEM 2006

Mean expansion (%)

Effect of Different Concentrations of Bacteria

on Freeze Thaw Durability of Concrete Beams
0.15

Zero Cells/ml (Control)

1 x 10^7 Cells/ml

1 x 10^6 Cells/ml
1 x 10^8 Cells/ml

0.10

0.05

0.00
0

30

60

90

120

150

Freeze thaw cycles

RAEM 2006

180

210

240

Durability Factor (%)

Effect of Different Concentrations of Bacteria

on Freeze Thaw Durability of Concrete Beams
0 cycles

180 cycles

100
80
60
40
20
0
Zero Cells/ml
(Control)

1 x 10^6
Cells/ml

1 x 10^7
Cells/ml

Mix Designation
RAEM 2006

1 x 10^8
Cells/ml

Durability Characteristics of
Bacterial Concrete
Scanning Electron Microscopy Investigation

RAEM 2006

Bacteria acting as nucleation sites

RAEM 2006

Scanning Electron Microscopy

Investigation

SURFACE II

SURFACE I

RAEM 2006

Scanning Electron Microscopy

Investigation

SURFACE II

SURFACE I

Element

Element %

Compound

Compound %

Na

0.3

Na2O

0.4

Mg

0.05

MgO

Al

7.1

Al2O3

13.5

Si

25.9

SiO2

55.4

SO3

Cl

0.2

15.2

K2O

18.4

Ca

8.4

CaO

11.7

Fe

0.3

Fe2O3

0.4

42.5
RAEM 2006

Scanning Electron Microscopy

Investigation
SURFACE II

SURFACE I

Element

Element %

Compound

Compound %

Na

0.5

Na2O

0.7

Mg

0.6

MgO

1.0

Al

0.2

Al2O3

0.4

Si

1.0

SiO2

2.2

SO3

Cl

K2O

Ca

68.8

CaO

96.3

Fe

Fe2O3

29.2

RAEM 2006

Scanning Electron Microscopy

Investigation
SURFACE I

SURFACE II

RAEM 2006

Bacterial Impressions in Calcite Crystals

RAEM 2006

Findings
The

presence of bacteria increased the

resistance of concrete towards alkali, sulfate,
freeze-thaw attack and drying shrinkage.
Phosphate-buffer proved to be an effective
medium for bacteria than the other two
mediums.
Bacteria in water did not perform well as
expected.
Durability of concrete increased with the
increase in the concentration of bacteria.
RAEM 2006

RAEM 2006