Performance Evaluation of Steel Slag Asphalt Mixtures for Sustainable Road Pavement Rehabilitation

Abstract

The demand for more sustainable transport infrastructure has led to a broader acceptance of waste materials in pavements. An excellent example of this trend is the incorporation of steel slag aggregates (SSA) in asphalt mixtures. This work evaluates the mechanical performance of asphalt mixtures that include SSA in their composition. Asphalt mixtures were evaluated through laboratory tests for affinity between binder and aggregate, Marshall and volumetric properties, stiffness, resistance to fatigue, permanent deformation, and water sensitivity. Two rates of SSA incorporation—20% and 35%—were considered. In general, results indicated that incorporating SSA has not impaired the behavior of the asphalt mixtures. In some cases, the presence of SSA has improved mechanical performance. It was the case of the resistance to permanent deformation, stability, flow, and water sensitivity. This work confirms the suitability of the SSA application in asphalt mixtures beyond the benefit of promoting industrial waste in pavement engineering.