Fracture properties of asphalt mixtures containing electric arc furnace slag at low and intermediate temperatures

The present study made an effort to investigate the impact of partial and full replacement of mineral aggregate with Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steel slag on the fracture and temperature susceptibility properties of both Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) and Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA). For this reason, the Semi-Circular Bending (SCB) and Pull-off adhesion tests were carried out. With respect to SCB test at 0 degrees C and -20 degrees C, dependent and independent Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanic (LEFM) approaches were employed over specimens, containing 50% fine, 50% and 100% coarse EAF slag. Pull-off adhesion test was conducted to evaluate temperature susceptibility of bituminous mastics in the presence of EAF slag filler. Based on the LEFM investigation, by increase of EAF slag content, the asphalt mixtures revealed highly dependency on the testing temperature. In addition, application of Elastic Plastic Fracture Mechanic (EPFM) approach manifested that the Fracture Process Zone (FPZ) size of various asphalt mixtures could be correlated to the mixture composition, aggregate and asphalt binder types. Subsequently, the presence of EAF slag in the Sasobit modified asphalt mixtures had a positive synergic effect in declining the temperature susceptibility of asphalt fracture resistance at low-temperature compared with HMA. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.