Microbial Mineralization-Based Rapid and High-Strength Simultaneous Repair of Surrounding Rock Fracture Zones and Lining Cracks

Abstract

Grouting technology based on microbial mineralization represents a novel approach to enhancing the properties of rock and soil. Widely studied for its combination of high efficiency and environmental friendliness, this method improves the strength and permeability of rock and soil. In this study, a novel approach involving bioslurry + filling particles was proposed to reinforce sand columns. It was observed that the addition of filling particles provided new nucleation sites for crystallization, significantly enhancing the cementation effect of sand particles. After 3 days of grouting treatment, sand columns containing 10% filling particles exhibited an order of magnitude reduction in permeability with the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) reaching 2.5 MPa, more than twice that of sand columns reinforced with bioslurry alone. Additionally, this study presented a method for the simultaneous repair of sand particles and concrete cracks. Results indicated that after 3 days of the grouting treatment, the interfacial shear strength between sand columns and concrete reached 100 kPa. Moreover, for concrete with crack apertures less than 1 mm, the permeability coefficient was reduced by over 80%, while the recovery ratio of the splitting tensile strength reached 64.2%. These findings highlight the potential of microbial mineralized grouting technology in addressing practical challenges, providing a foundation for the rapid and high-strength simultaneous repair of tunnel-surrounding rock fracture zones and lining cracks.