Project 

Current Challenge

Aging concrete infrastructure across the United States faces growing maintenance backlogs, while conventional crack-repair methods remain labor-intensive, difficult to install, and prone to failure. More robust and accessible repair technologies are needed to enable preventive maintenance before deterioration becomes critical.

Research Goal

The goal of this project is to translate Regenerative Concrete Repair (RCR), a bacterial nanocellulose-based living material, into an easy-to-apply, durable, and self-healing technology for active and dormant concrete cracks. The research will investigate the environmental limits governing adhesion, viability, and compatibility between living organisms and concrete crack surfaces, while optimizing microbial strains and growth media to produce repair materials that remain tough and functional under real-world conditions. Ultimately, the project aims to advance RCR toward practical deployment as a scalable concrete maintenance technology.

Sponsor

National Science Foundation
Translation to Practice Program