Multi-Objective Prediction of the Mechanical Properties and Environmental Impact Appraisals of Self-Healing Concrete for Sustainable Structures

Kennedy C. Onyelowe, Ahmed M. Ebid, Ariel Riofrio, Haci Baykara, Atefeh Soleymani, Hisham A. Mahdi, Hashem Jahangir and Kizito Ibe
Additional contact information
Kennedy C. Onyelowe: Department of Civil & Mechanical Engineering, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Kampala 25454, Uganda
Ahmed M. Ebid: Department of Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Future University in Egypt, New Cairo 11865, Egypt
Ariel Riofrio: Facultad de Ingeniería Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil 090506, Ecuador
Haci Baykara: Center of Nanotechnology Research and Development (CIDNA), Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil 090506, Ecuador
Atefeh Soleymani: Department of Civil Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman 7616913439, Iran
Hisham A. Mahdi: Chairman Board of Trustees, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Future University in Egypt, New Cairo 11865, Egypt
Hashem Jahangir: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Birjand, Birjand 9717434765, Iran
Kizito Ibe: GGG Research Lab, Department of Civil Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike 440109, Nigeria

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 15, 1-28

Abstract: As the most commonly used construction material, concrete produces extreme amounts of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) yearly. For this resulting environmental impact on our planet, supplementary materials are being studied daily for their potentials to replace concrete constituents responsible for the environmental damage caused by the use of concrete. Therefore, the production of bio-concrete has been studied by utilizing the environmental and structural benefit of the bacteria, Bacillus subtilis , in concrete. This bio-concrete is known as self-healing concrete (SHC) due to its potential to trigger biochemical processes which heal cracks, reduce porosity, and improve strength of concrete throughout its life span. In this research paper, the life cycle assessment (LCA) based on the environmental impact indices of global warming potential, terrestrial acidification, terrestrial eco-toxicity, freshwater eco-toxicity, marine eco-toxicity, human carcinogenic toxicity, and human non-carcinogenic toxicity of SHC produced with Bacillus subtilis has been evaluated. Secondly, predictive models for the mechanical properties of the concrete, which included compressive (Fc), splitting tensile (Ft), and flexural (Ff) strengths and slump (S), have been studied by using artificial intelligence techniques. The results of the LCA conducted on the multiple data of Bacillus subtilis -based SHC mixes show that the global warming potential of SHC-350 mix (350 kg cement mix) is 18% less pollutant than self-healing geopolymer concrete referred to in the literature study. The more impactful mix in the present study has about 6% more CO 2 emissions. In the terrestrial acidification index, the present study shows a 69–75% reduction compared to the literature. The results of the predictive models show that ANN outclassed GEP and EPR in the prediction of Fc, Ft, Ff, and S with minimal error and overall performance.

Keywords: self-healing concrete (SHC); Bacillus subtilis; life cycle assessment (LCA); environmental impact; sustainable environment; sustainable construction; concrete strength and workability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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