OTIMIZAÇÃO DE MISTURAS DE CONCRETO PARA REDUÇÃO DE CUSTOS COM USO DE POZOLANA

Concrete is the primary source for the development of civil engineering projects. In Brazil, its use reaches approximately 40 million cubic meters per year. As a result, concrete production is a central element in civil engineering, being used in a wide range of applications, from foundations to large structures. However, the costs associated with concrete production represent a significant portion of the total costs of a project. Therefore, the search for methods that can reduce these costs without compromising the quality and durability of structures is of utmost importance for the sector. The main objective of this work is to explore effective methods for optimizing concrete mixtures using additives or applying alternative materials in order to guarantee the quality of the product, with the aim of improving its physical-mechanical and economic characteristics. To achieve this goal, the following specific objectives were defined: to analyze the physical and mechanical properties of different concrete formulations, to identify the main factors that influence concrete production costs, to develop optimization models for concrete mixtures based on economic and performance criteria, and to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of the proposed solutions in case studies. During the development of the research, comprehensive literature reviews were carried out to understand the latest trends and practices related to concrete production. In addition, laboratory experiments were conducted to analyze the physical and mechanical properties of different concrete formulations, taking into account the influence of variables such as type of aggregate and the use of pozzolan as an additive to improve concrete. Based on the data researched and the tests developed, it was possible to present pozzolan as a satisfactory additive for addition to concrete, since it reduces production costs while maintaining the essential properties of concrete, such as compressive strength, durability and workability. And because it is a more sustainable material, it reduces environmental damage.