The US military researches bio-concrete that self-heals damage from within

The US military is working to use microorganisms in combination with construction materials such as concrete to create self-healing structures.

Buildings that can 'self-heal' before cracks spread or concrete runways that self-fill bomb craters, allowing planes to continue taking off and landing, are being researched and produced by the US military.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), part of the US Department of Defense, is implementing a project to produce self-healing concrete for use in military facilities.

In literature and movies, concrete is often portrayed as the antithesis of life. But the 'Concrete Buildings Rehabilitation Program' - BRACE project actually incorporates biological organisms to create a vascular system within concrete.

The BRACE project is expected to last 4.5 years, involving many laboratories and military contractors with different approaches to developing technology production.

This circulatory system can heal cracks from the inside before they reach the surface of a structure, allowing concrete to 'heal' like living organisms. It can also be used to diagnose why concrete is deteriorating.

' BRACE's central hypothesis is that concrete can be infused with self-repairing abilities commonly found in living organisms, inspired by the human vascular system and the vast networks of filamentous fungi that can spread over large areas similar to buildings ,' DARPA said in a press release, 'such systems could provide a healing transport network within the material to repair stains. cracks before they reach the surface and cause damage'.

Scientists will test several biological methods inspired by fungi and bacteria, Matthew Pava, program manager at DARPA's Biotechnology Office, told Popular Mechanics. In addition, enzyme-based approaches and ceramic materials have also been considered. The ultimate goal is to get BRACE 'in the cracks and voids of old concrete to initiate repair, then maintain a presence to heal additional cracks that appear over time'.

Concrete is a challenging biological environment. It is highly alkaline 'like a drain cleaner' , Pava said , and has very few organic compounds, such as proteins, to sustain life. On the other hand, concrete also has its own unique microflora.

Although it is still too early to confirm whether the new type of concrete can be used in combat zones, strategically, DARPA said, large structures such as missile silos, bridges Naval ships or tactical roads will be applied new technology.

The BRACE project is expected to last for 4.5 years, involving many laboratories and military contractors with different approaches to developing new concrete production technology .