Published Paper Details:

Concrete, the most widely used construction material in the world, is highly susceptible to microcracking due to the combined effects of environmental exposure and mechanical stress. Water, chlorides, and sulfates can penetrate through these microcracks, accelerating deterioration. Conventional repair methods are often labour-intensive, time-consuming, and costly. In contrast, self-healing concrete offers the ability to autonomously seal cracks and restore structural functionality. Microbial-based systems have gained significant attention due to their unique healing mechanism and performance characteristics. These systems rely on microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP), typically triggered by specific strains of urealytic bacteria. Polymer-based self-healing systems, particularly those utilizing superabsorbent polymers (SAPs), depend on physical swelling and water retention to block cracks and support autogenous healing. This comparative study evaluates both self-healing strategies with a focus on their crack-sealing capability, mechanical strength recovery, durability enhancement, and practical feasibility. The analysis is grounded in an extensive review of peer-reviewed literature. Microbial-based systems offer promising eco-friendly and sustainable healing, particularly in moist environments, but face challenges related to bacterial survivability and uniform distribution. On the other hand, SAP-based systems, though associated with higher costs and potential long-term chemical interactions, provide rapid and repeatable healing with better integration into the concrete matrix. The study suggests that hybrid and next-generation integrated systems represent a forward-looking approach to improving infrastructure resilience by tailoring self-healing strategies to specific structural and environmental conditions.