Evaluation of the replacement of commercial coarse aggregate by Attalea funifera Martius (Piaçava) in concrete manufacturing

In recent decades, technological advances and increased urbanization have instigated remarkable growth in the construction industry, and consequently an increase in environmental impacts both in obtaining raw materials and in the disposal of construction waste. Some studies are being carried out in Brazil for the application of natural fibers as a reinforcing element to produce concrete. According to these facts, the focus of this work is to comparatively evaluate the mechanical strength of commercial concrete with concrete produced with piaçava fiber sludge. Attalea funifera Martius, commonly known as piaçavas, is a solitary, thornless, erect, caulescent palm from the Aracaceae family. It reaches an average height of 8 to 15 meters with a stem diameter of 20 to 25 cm, having 8 to 10 leaves, each 9 meters long. Ten specimens were produced to carry out compression tests. Water, common Portland cement (CP I), sand, gravel and piassava obtained in the municipality of Barcelos-AM were used in the preparation. After curing the specimens, compression tests were carried out until the specimens ruptured. We also observed that the most resistant specimens were those produced with the addition of crushed stone, since the resistance of the specimen with crushed stone was approximately 22 MPa against 19 MPa of piaçava concrete. The main conclusions verified is that with the use of piaçava in the concrete mixture there is a drop in mechanical resistance, despite being a material that presents resistance to cracks, it does not have the same capacity as concrete with gravel as a coarse aggregate.