Concrete is the most common building material used in construction activities, but concrete cracks are inevitable thus is one of its major disadvantages. The major downside of the concrete is its lower Splitting Tensile Strength (STS) attributable to the micro crack. Bacteria have recently been utilized to self-heal concrete, treat cracks, and consolidate different construction materials. However, since the testing of the mechanical properties of concrete is time-consuming, involves destructive methods, poses material wastage, and is labor-intensive, an alternative precise strength evaluation technique is required to minimize effort and time. In the current investigation, various computational techniques, such as M5P, Random Forest (RF), Support vector machine (SVM), and Linear regression (LR), were used to predict the splitting strength of concrete using experimental datasets. The Pearson VII kernel function-based SVM (SVM-PUK) strategy was determined to be the most effective and accurate technique to predict the splitting strength value compared to other used models using Correlation Coefficient (CC) values based on statistical assessments, Box plot, and Taylor diagram. Results of the sensitivity analysis, among the other input variables used in this study to predict concrete splitting strength, reveal that curing time in days (T) is the most significant variable.

Nanotechnology has emerged as a transformative approach to enhancing the concrete properties. This research examines the impact of nano-titanium dioxide (NT) on the concrete properties. NT was incorporated in varying dosages (0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% by weight of the cement) to assess its impact on strength, toughness, and resilience. The results demonstrated a significant enhancement in mechanical properties, with a peak compressive strength of 65.20 ± 1.03 MPa, a split tensile strength of 3.44 ± 0.17 MPa, and a flexural strength of 9.5 ± 0.47 MPa at a 1.5% NT dosage after 28 days of curing. Furthermore, the long-term performance was notable, as the compressive strength further increased to 75.25 ± 1.10 MPa at 180 days, confirming the sustained strength-gain potential of NT-incorporated concrete. Also, durability assessments were conducted under aggressive conditions, including exposure to 4% NaCl, HCl, and H₂SO₄ for 90 days. Additional tests, including rapid chloride penetrability test (RCPT), surface resistivity, freeze-thaw resistance, and accelerated carbonation, were conducted to assess long-term durability along with its economic feasibility. The NT-incorporated concrete demonstrated enhanced resistance to chloride ingress, acid attack, and elevated temperatures (200–600 °C), with improved modulus of elasticity and fire resistance. Furthermore, durability assessments revealed a noteworthy contrast, i.e., while resistivity tests classified NT-incorporated concretes as having ‘very low’ chloride penetrability, RCPT values remained in the ‘moderate’ category. This divergence underscores the need for multiple durability indices in evaluating nano-concretes. Microstructural analyses using scanning electron microscopy confirmed the densification effect of NT, leading to a refined pore structure and improved bond efficiency within the cementitious matrix. Moreover, economic analysis confirms the economic viability of nano-titanium concrete, demonstrating significant long-term savings through service life extension despite higher initial investment. This research highlights the potential of NT in developing high-performance, durable concrete, reinforcing the importance of nanotechnology in construction industry.