Annotated summary
Steward, A. (2016). The ‘living concrete’ that can heal itself. Retrieved 11 March 2020, from https://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/14/tech/bioconcrete-delft-jonkers/index.html
This article introduces the use of a ‘healing agent’ as a means to increase the durability of concrete by allowing the material to heal itself in the event of structural cracks. It highlights the reason why bacillus, a type of bacteria, was chosen as a ‘healing agent’. In the article, concrete is ‘extremely alkaline’ and the ‘healing agent’ that was to be chosen, had to be ‘dormant’ for an extended amount of years for a structural crack to form. Moreover, this ‘healing agent’ had to be able to produce a substance that could ultimately ‘heal’ the cracks. Thus, bacillus was selected as these bacteria are able to survive in high PH conditions, are able to last long without oxygen and when reacted with water, they produce limestone which acts as the healing material to cover the structural cracks within concrete.
The article also explains the process of how bacillus are incorporated into concrete mix designs and the process of how the bacteria ‘activate’ itself after a structural crack within concrete. The article states that bacillus are packed together in capsules to ensure that the bacteria are not dissolved during the concrete mixing process itself. When structural cracks as thin as 40 to 120 microns begin to form, water seeps into the concrete material and ultimately comes into contact with these capsules and triggers a chemical process where the bacteria react with water and produce limestone, which fills up the structural crack.
This article is a valuable source for our research project topic, where we are proposing to implement self-healing concrete to heal cracks in monumental buildings to maintain its structural integrity for years to come. The article sheds light on how self-healing concrete works and how it is planned on being implemented in the future. It gives my group and I a general idea of the main ingredients required to make our proposal to Building and Construction Authority (BCA) a reality one day.
Commented on Humaidi's blog (31/03/2020)
Commented on Sharif's blog (31/03/2020)
Commented on Wei Zhang's blog (31/03/2020)
This article introduces the use of a ‘healing agent’ as a means to increase the durability of concrete by allowing the material to heal itself in the event of structural cracks. It highlights the reason why bacillus, a type of bacteria, was chosen as a ‘healing agent’. In the article, concrete is ‘extremely alkaline’ and the ‘healing agent’ that was to be chosen, had to be ‘dormant’ for an extended amount of years for a structural crack to form. Moreover, this ‘healing agent’ had to be able to produce a substance that could ultimately ‘heal’ the cracks. Thus, bacillus was selected as these bacteria are able to survive in high PH conditions, are able to last long without oxygen and when reacted with water, they produce limestone which acts as the healing material to cover the structural cracks within concrete.
The article also explains the process of how bacillus are incorporated into concrete mix designs and the process of how the bacteria ‘activate’ itself after a structural crack within concrete. The article states that bacillus are packed together in capsules to ensure that the bacteria are not dissolved during the concrete mixing process itself. When structural cracks as thin as 40 to 120 microns begin to form, water seeps into the concrete material and ultimately comes into contact with these capsules and triggers a chemical process where the bacteria react with water and produce limestone, which fills up the structural crack.
This article is a valuable source for our research project topic, where we are proposing to implement self-healing concrete to heal cracks in monumental buildings to maintain its structural integrity for years to come. The article sheds light on how self-healing concrete works and how it is planned on being implemented in the future. It gives my group and I a general idea of the main ingredients required to make our proposal to Building and Construction Authority (BCA) a reality one day.
Commented on Humaidi's blog (31/03/2020)
Commented on Sharif's blog (31/03/2020)
Commented on Wei Zhang's blog (31/03/2020)
Dear Thoufeek,
ReplyDeleteYour annotated summary was a good read, very detailed and informative. It was interesting to discover that organic matter could be used to strengthen concrete. However, I felt that the summary writing style could be more creative. Instead of listing points, these points could transition from one point to another more artistically.
I feel that you have dissected the article to its core components, and it is these core components that enabled you to contribute content that would be beneficial in your report. You have linked these article with your research project well. Overall, your annotated summary was a good read.
Regards,
Muhammad Syahmi
Hi Syahmi,
DeleteI appreciate your comment and will try to make more efforts in improving my creative writing and create an artistic flow in my points. Thank you.
Regards,
Thoufeek Ansari
Hello Thoufeek,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the interesting information on self healing concrete. I like how you mention about your research project and then to how you have benefited from this article. I would suggest that this article can reduce some technical terms as many readers are not civil engineers. Overall, i think that it is well-written, great job!
Regards,
Zyn
Hi Zyn,
DeleteNoted on your comment and will be more mindful of the technical terms in my future writings. Appreciate your comment! Thank you.
Regards,
Thoufeek Ansari
Dear Thoufeek,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interesting read. I found your article to be very informative and it gave me a good idea on how self-healing concrete works. Your article was quite detailed on what happens with the process and that was great.
Anyways, thank you for your interesting summary!
Best regards,
Muhammad Humaidi
Hi Humaidi,
DeleteAppreciate your kind comment! Thank you.
Regards,
Thoufeek Ansari