Optimization of Steel Slag Aggregates for Wearing
Course Mixes
U. Bagampadde, H. I. Al Abdul Wahhab
And S. A. Aiban
ABSTRACT:
Construction of road pavements in Eastern Saudi Arabia has received special consideration
due to scarcity of good quality materials. Crushed limestone and sandstone,
which lack the important desirable qualities for proper mix performance, are
extensively used as road construction aggregates. Fatigue cracking, rutting and
raveling are common distresses on many highways, constructed using these
aggregates. At the same time, large amounts of steel slag aggregates (SSA) with
good qualities are being produced and put to waste at Hadeed
Company in Jubail,
Saudi Arabia.
This investigation was made to evaluate
bituminous mixes made using steel slag aggregates. Mixes were reconstituted
based on Ministry of Communications (MOC) and the Strategic Highway Research Programme (SHRP) specifications. Mix combinations were made
by proportioning steel slag and limestone aggregates. Laboratory evaluation was
done using resilient modulus, stability, split tensile strength, fatigue and
permanent deformation tests. The results show that mixes prepared using coarse
steel slag blended with fine crushed sand have excellent performance.
KEYWORDS: Steel Slag, Limestone, Wearing
Course, Asphalt, Aggregates.