Enhancing the durability and longevity of substructure concrete is essential for sustainable infrastructure development. Chemical enhancement methods, including pozzolanic activation and microbial self-healing, have been employed to improve the mechanical and durability properties of concrete. Although both methods have shown individual promise, there is a lack of direct comparative analysis using robust statistical techniques. This research aims to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of pozzolanic activation and microbial self-healing in optimizing the durability and mechanical properties of substructure concrete. Concrete specimens were prepared with pozzolanic materials (fly ash and silica fume) and microbial agents (Bacillus subtilis spores immobilized in lightweight expanded clay aggregates). Standard curing procedures were followed to ensure consistency. The statistical significance of performance differences between the techniques was assessed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Multiple regression analysis was employed to develop predictive models correlating treatment methods with concrete performance metrics, conducted using IBM SPSS. Compressive strength, permeability, and crack-healing performance were evaluated over a specified period. The collected data were statistically analyzed to identify performance patterns and correlations. Pozzolanic activation significantly reduced permeability and increased compressive strength. Microbial self-healing effectively promoted crack closure and partial recovery of strength. The integration of pozzolanic activation and microbial self-healing offers a synergistic approach to enhance substructure concrete performance. Developed statistical models provide a predictive framework for assessing concrete behavior under these treatments, supporting the design of more durable and sustainable concrete structures.
