ABSTRACT
Sisal, a natural fiber, has several advantages such as easy cultivation, being a biodegradable material that comes from renewable sources, and good thermal and acoustic insulation properties. Such factors combined with its high toughness, abrasion resistance, and low cost make sisal one of the most studied and used natural fibers, Reis. It is mostly used in marine and agricultural industries as well as in crafts. The introduction of fibers may improve the mechanical performance of blocks. For masonry concrete blocks the rupture is usually caused by indirect tension caused by compressive stresses. The role of the fibers in concrete blocks is to resist those tension stresses, enabling higher energy absorption, higher toughness, ductility, and greater capacity to absorb post-cracking loads. Pozzolanic materials such as silica and blast furnace slag present in the PC 40 RS III may react with the cementitious matrix, affecting the hydration process.
