Use of Steel Slag as an Alternative to Aggregate and Filler in Road Pavements

Today the use of Construction and Demolition Materials (CDM) can be considered as a suitable solution for the construction or the rehabilitation of road pavements. In this context, it is central to minimizing waste production, favoring the reuse through new production cycles to replace virgin natural raw materials. As illustrated in this study, steel slag has mechanical properties that justify its use as aggregate in the manufacture of bituminous mixes. In road construction, their use is focused on the substitution of fine aggregate and filler in bituminous mixtures. Mechanical characterizations, Marshall stability and indirect tensile resilient modulus (ITSM) tests were used to evaluate the laboratory performance of the mixtures. The research aims are to provide the use of these materials for the construction of the entire road pavement structure; in this study authors used these materials both in the characterization of cementitious layers and in those with bituminous conglomerate. In both cases, the use of steel slag has favored an increase of stiffness in the mixtures.

Automated summary

The use of CDM can be a suitable solution for the construction or rehabilitation of road pavements, helping to minimize waste production. Steel slag as aggregate in bituminous mixes has shown stability and increased stiffness in laboratory performance tests.