Use of steel slag to improve the mechanical properties of subgrades in clayey soils

Abstract

Large quantities of steel slag are generated annually throughout the world. Some slag from steel manufacturing is reused in the generation of other materials, such as hot mix asphalt aggregate, pipe filling, concrete, among others. The research aims to enrich the mechanical characteristics of soils and minimize road construction costs. The objective of this research is to find a material that increases the mechanical properties of the subgrade in clay soils with different plasticity indices using Electric Arc Furnace Slag (EAF) in percentages: 5%, 15% and 25% of the weight of the soil. From the tests carried out on the soil samples using parameters, it was possible to classify them by the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) and also by the American Association of Highway Transportation (AASHTO) as low and high clays. plasticity. When testing the samples in their natural state and the samples with EAF, results were obtained that showed an improvement in the physical and mechanical properties of the clay soils with the addition of EAF, increasing the values of the Bearing Capacity Ratio (CBR) and the maximum dry density. of the clay soil as the percentage of HAE in the mixture increased. The optimal HAE addition content corresponds to 25% of the weight of the soil.