[sudo-discuss] Yo Biohackers: civil engineering apps incl. self-repairing concrete

[GtwoG PublicOhOne]

YOs-

Biohackers take note:

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20130520-greening-the-cities-of-tomorrow/all

One of the applications that could go online sooner than later is
self-repairing concrete.  This makes use of bacteria and a food source,
mixed into the concrete, to catalyze reactions that seal and bond cracks
in the concrete over the lifespan of the structure:

http://www.raeng.org.uk/international/activities/pdf/frontiers_engineering_symposium/Henk_Jonkers.pdf

The above PDF is a power-point presentation and doesn't include the
details of the types of bacteria and food sources used, but a keyword
search of the author may yield results.  This stuff is probably patented
like crazy, but last I checked, it's OK for people to experiment with
patented tech on their own, so long as they aren't selling it to others.

Self-repairing concrete could be highly useful in the Bay Area, as it
would seal small cracks formed during smaller earthquakes, maintaining
structural integrity of buildings against larger quakes that we know are
coming (e.g. 30% of a 7.0 on the Hayward Fault over the next couple of
decades). 

Biohackers could get involved in the process of getting these new
materials approved in CA, performing independent tests, and advising
building owners of their options for new construction, foundation
replacement, etc.  This also has potential for do-it-yourself projects
for home improvement, such as walkways, where the main advantage is
improved longevity of the work.

-G