Effect of Petrified Wood as a Coarse Aggregate Substitute on the Compressive Strength of Concrete

Concrete is one of the most essential construction materials in the building industry.This study investigates the use of petrified wood as a partial and full substitute for coarse aggregate in concrete mixtures, exploring its potential as an environmentally friendly alternative.Petrified wood, formed from fossilized remains of trees preserved over long periods, is lightweight and possesses physical characteristics that may benefit concrete performance.The experimental work employed cylindrical specimens, with petrified wood substitution levels of 0%, 50%, 75%, and 100% by total coarse aggregate weight.Each variation included three samples.The concrete mix design followed SNI 7656-2012, and compressive strength tests were conducted at 28 days of curing.Results showed that increasing the proportion of petrified wood led to a gradual decrease in slump value, attributed to its smooth surface texture, which enhances concrete flowability.Compressive strength also decreased with higher substitution levels, with recorded values of 28.40 MPa (0%), 23.40 MPa (50%), 22.93 MPa (75%), and 19.34 MPa (100%).Despite this decline, all mixtures met the minimum design requirement of 19 MPa, indicating that petrified wood can be considered a viable coarse aggregate alternative for sustainable concrete production.