article · Cogent Engineering
This research evaluates the use of the fungus Trichoderma reesei as an agent for self-healing concrete. Prepared fungal water extracts at various concentrations were applied to cracked concrete cube specimens to assess their effect on compressive strength over 7, 14, and 28 days. Concrete treated with a concentration of 8.42 millilitres of fungal extract per litre of water achieved the highest compressive strength, reaching over 18.99 MPa at 28 days. To model and predict these mechanical properties, machine learning techniques including linear regression, lasso regression, and ridge regression were applied and evaluated using standard error metrics. Linear and ridge regression models demonstrated high predictive accuracy, achieving correlation coefficients above 0.98. The findings demonstrate that Trichoderma reesei effectively aids in concrete curing and improves the compressive strength of damaged samples.
Concrete structures routinely suffer from cracking, which weakens their integrity and leads to costly maintenance. Using biological agents such as fungi to heal these cracks offers an alternative approach to structural repair. Combining biological treatments with machine learning allows engineers to model and predict material recovery accurately, supporting the development of more durable construction materials.
This work points towards potential applications in bio-based concrete repair and infrastructure maintenance products. Construction material manufacturers and structural repair specialists could utilise biological healing agents to extend the life of concrete elements. The research represents early-stage laboratory testing, supported by predictive algorithmic models, and requires further real-world validation before commercial deployment.
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AbstractTrichoderma Reesei is a mesophilic and filamentous fungus. It is an anamorph of the fungus Hypocrea jecorina, in addition, T. reesei can secrete large amounts of cellulolytic enzymes and form dextrose PDA (potato dextrose agar) and potato injection. After the preparation of fungi, it is added to the cracked samples. The experimental samples were 150 mm3 cubic compression and 70 mm x 30 mm x 15 mm cracks on the surface of each cube. Different fungi water extracts were used with 0, 50.5, 6.37, and 8.42 liters of water per ml. The results show that the addition of 8.42 (ml) of the mushroom extract with one liter of water has the maximum compressive strength with more than 18.99 MPa for 28 days, 16.7 for 14 days, and 14.5 for 7 days. In this study, linear regression, lasso regression, and rigid regression have been used to predict compressive strength, also the cooperation between mushroom juice per milliliter and compressive strength has been predicted. To find the accuracy, Correlation Coefficient (R2), Mean Absolute Errors (MAE), and Root Mean Square Error have been used. The results of machine learning show that the results of linear regression and rigid regression R2 were more than 0.98. In addition, the relationship compressive strength prediction results showed that R2 for fungi broth with one liter of water was 5.05 mL was more than 0.98. Finally, this study shows that the fungus Trichoderma reesei is an effective agent for curing concrete and improving the compressive strength of concrete.
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DOI: 10.1080/23311916.2024.2307193
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