Compressive Strength of Bacteria-Based Concrete Materials Using Bacillus Megaterium Bacteria
Mutia Gina Savira (a), Ujang Ruslan (a), Keryanti Keryanti (b), Luthfi Muhammad Mauludin (a*)

a) Civil Engineering Department, Politeknik Negeri Bandung, Indonesia
*luthfi-mm[at]polban.ac.id
b) Chemical Engineering Department, Politeknik Negeri Bandung, Indonesia

Abstract

In construction sector, especially in infrastructure, a concrete structure is the most commonly used. In fact, the concrete structure is weak in tension but strong in compression. Due to its weak tensile strength, it can cause cracks in the concrete. From small cracks, medium cracks and finally into wide cracks. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of Bacillus megaterium bacteria on compressive strength of concrete. In this paper, the type of bacteria used in concrete mixing is Bacillus megaterium which proportions of 1% and 2% are adopted in this study along with fly ash as additive. Bacillus megaterium bacteria, fly ash, and calcium lactate were added into the concrete mixing. The specimens were casted into the cylinder molds (diameter 150 mm and height 300 mm) with different percentages of fly ash and bacteria. The specimens were tested under uniaxial testing machine to observe its compressive strength. The compressive strength of bacteria-based concrete were examined for some particular periods, such as 14 days and 28 days. It is found that the compressive strength of bacteria-based concrete was increased up to 55,178% compared to the normal one.

Keywords: Compressive strength, Bacillus megaterium, cracks, fly ash

Topic: Civil Engineering