CONFERINŢA INTERNAŢIONALĂ

DEDUCON 70
DEZVOLTARE DURABILĂ ÎN CONSTRUCŢII
Iaşi, 11 noiembrie 2011
Conferinţă dedicată aniversării a 70 ani de învăţământ superior în construcţii la Iaşi

E16 USE OF STEELWORKS CRUSHED SLAG IN ASPHALT

MIXTURES
USED TO ROADS

BY

SILVIU CRISTIAN IRICIUC11 AND GHEORGHE GUGIUMAN

“Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iaşi

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Building Services

Abstract. In recent years studies on environmental quality have shown that the
steel industry is one of the industries whose activity involves significant consumption of
natural resources and energy, is also generating waste that due to the valorification
potential can be transformed into by-products.
This paper will present some experimental data on the development of asphalt
mixtures with steelworks slag aggregate. For this two recipes of asphalt mixtures were
made (BA8, BA16), for which laboratory determinations were made and have been set
the main physico-mechanical properties of these mixtures.
The results of this analysis highlighted the real possibility of using these
aggregates as building materials used in asphalt mixtures for roads and streets.
Keywords: steelworks crushed slag,Waste,Asphalt concretes, Physico-
mechanical characteristics, optimal binder content

1. Introduction
In recent years studies on environmental quality have shown that the
steel industry is one of the industries whose activity involves significant
consumption of natural resources and energy, is also generating waste that due
to the valorification potential can be transformed into by-products.
Experience has shown that recovery by recycling organic waste has
both an ecological motivation as well as an economic motivation. Therefore,
speaking about waste as a source of profit, should be considered both aspects:
environmental and economic benefits.
It was found, especially in developed countries with concerns to limit
the waste industry, the steelworks slag remaining after extraction of ferrous
scrap, sorted and cleaned of impurities, successfully replace natural aggregates
specific to road construction works.

1
Corresponding author: e-mail: [email protected]
 Silviu Cristian Iriciuc and Gheorghe Gugiuman
2. Laboratory tests
Steelworks slag aggregates are used primarily in foundation layers or
base layers of road structures, but can be used also in asphalt layers, replacing
the classic chippings.
To support this information laboratory tests were made at the Faculty of
Civil Engineering from Iasi, on two asphalt mixtures used mainly in technical
class roads III ... V, namely: BA8, BA16.
Aggregates that is used in the preparation of asphalt mixtures are
natural and artificial aggregates, according to SR EN 13043-2003 and
STAS 667-2000.
To achieve these asphalt mixtures recipes were needed the
following sorts of aggregates: crushed slag aggregate 0-4 mm, crushed
slag aggregate 4-8 mm, crushed slag aggregate 8-16 mm, natural sand
0-4 mm, limestone filler.
Given the granularity of each aggregate, wich results from
laboratory tests, were established the following percents of aggregates for
achieving the asphalt recipes, according to Table 1:
Table 1
The percentages of aggregates used to produce asphalt mixes recipes
Aggregate / Recipe BA 8 BA16

Limestone filler (%) 10,00 11,00

natural sand 12,00 9,00

0-4 mm (%)
crushed slag aggregate 35,00 28,00
0-4 mm (%)
crushed slag aggregate 43,00 28,00
4-8 mm (%)
crushed slag aggregate - 24,00
8-16 mm (%)
The asphalt mixtures were prepared with a D50/70 bitumen, bitumen
corresponding to the warm climatic zones - Annex A-SR174-1/2009,
whose main characteristics are presented in Table 2:
Table 2
Bitumen characteristics used in the preparation of asphalt recipes
Bitumen Values obtained in the
SR EN12591-2009
characteristics D50/70 laboratory:
(STAS 754-99)

Penetration at +25oC, 66 66…70

1/10 mm (50…70)

Softening point (I.B.), 51.8 49…55

o
C (46…54)
 DEDUCON 70 – DEZVOLTARE DURABILĂ ÎN CONSTRUCŢII
Penetration index I.P. -0.158 -1,5…+0,7

To establish the optimal dosage of binder were made Marshall type

specimens with different dosages of bitumen, for which were determined the
following characteristics:
 determination of asphalt mixture density;
 determination of water absorption;
 determination of Marshall stability;
 determination of swelling on Marshall specimens.

2.1 Determination of asphalt mixture density

The determination is performed according to SR EN 12697-6 /2004 –

Asphalt mixtures – Test methods for hot asphalt mixtures – Determination of
the apparent mass volume of bituminous specimens.
This test is used to determine the apparent mass volume of bituminous
specimen after compaction. The method is applicable to specimens
compacted in the laboratory.
The results of laboratory measurements are specified in Table 3:
Table 3
Density values on the Marshall specimens
Bitumen percentage Bitumen a ,
% type
kg/m3

BA 8
6,00 D 50/70 2,621
6,25 2,641
6,50 2,627
6,75 2,640
BA 16
5.00 D 50/70 2,629
5.25 2,654
5,75 2,696
6,00 2,691
6,25 2,680

2.2 Determination of water absorption

Determination of water absorption is performed according to SR EN

174 /1 -2009 - Annex B . Road Works. Hot bituminous pavements. Technical
requirements for asphalt mixtures.
Water absorption is the amount of water absorbed by a specimen
submerged in water for three hours at a vacuum of 15-20 mmHg, and then for 2
hours in the same water at atmospheric pressure.
Volume absorption values are shown in Table 4:
 Silviu Cristian Iriciuc and Gheorghe Gugiuman
Table 4
Values of volume absorption for Marshall specimens
Bitumen percentage Bitumen a , Volume absorption
% type %
kg/m3

BA 8
6,00 D 50/70 2,621 3,530
6,25 2,641 2,913
6,50 2,627 2,152
6,75 2,640 1,036
BA 16
5.00 D 50/70 2,629 4,823
5.25 2,654 2,395
5,75 2,696 1,316
6,00 2,691 1,250
6,25 2,680 0,929
2.3 Determination of swelling on Marshall specimens

Determination of swelling on Marshall specimens is performed

according to STAS 1338-2-87 – Hot asphalt mixtures and bituminous
pavements made . Methods for determining and testing.
The purpose is to determine the harmful influence of natural aggregates
components sensitive to swelling, such as clay.
It is recommended to determine the swelling after 3 days storage in
water, which allows a more sensible assessment of the materials. If swelling has
elevated after 3 days, then the influence of inappropriate materials is extremely
unfavorable. Swelling can take values up to 2.5% for asphalt mortars and
for asphalt mixtures up to 2.0%.
Swelling values within 7,14, 21 and 28 days on Marshall type
specimens are shown in Table 5:
Table 5
Swelling values on Marshall type specimens
Bitumen Bitumen 7 days 14 days 21 days 28 days Recommende
percentag type d values
e
%
BA 8
6,00 D 50/70 0,039 0,051 0,065 0,070 max 2,5%
6,25 0,041 0,045 0,067 0,071
6,50 0,055 0,058 0,059 0,059
6,75 0,050 0,054 0,063 0,068
BA 16
5.00 D 50/70 0,104 0,115 0,124 0,125 max 2,0%
5.25 0,080 0,102 0,118 0,130
5,50 0,089 0,098 0,116 0,135
5,75 0,140 0,140 0,141 0,142
 DEDUCON 70 – DEZVOLTARE DURABILĂ ÎN CONSTRUCŢII
6,00 0,114 0,118 0,127 0,148
6,25 0,125 0,128 0,139 0,149
2.4 Determination of Marshall stability

The determination is performed according to SR EN 12697-34+A1 –

Asphalt mixtures – Test methods for hot asphalt mixtures . Marshall testing.
Specimens remain first 30-35 minutes in a water bath at a temperature
of 60 ± 1 0C.
Specimen is loaded immediately with a speed of 50 ± 3 mm per minute.
When the task indicated by the dial begins to decrease the trying is stopt.
Maximum load indicated by the dial, expressed in daN, represents Marshall
stability and deformation read on the microcomparator, expressed in 1 / 10 mm,
is the value of the flow.
Marshall stability values S, creep I, and the S/I ratio, on the series
of asphalt mixtures prepared in the laboratory are presented in Table 6:
Table 6
Marshall stability values S, creep I, and the ratio S / I
Bitumen Bitumen S, I, S/I ratio,
percentage type kN mm kN/mm
%
BA 8
6,00 D 50/70 12,1 3,42 3,54
6,25 13,1 3,62 3,62
6,50 14,9 4,44 3,36
6,75 12,6 5,04 2,50
BA 16
5.00 D 50/70 12,1 3,45 3,51
5.25 10,5 4,38 2,39
5,75 14,1 5,74 2,46
6,00 14,7 5,86 2,51
6,25 14,7 6,41 2,29

Physical - mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures prepared

with non-paraffinaceous bitumen for roads must fall within the limits
shown in Table 7:
Table 7
Required values of Marshall stability and creep
Type of Bitumen Technical Required values by SR 174-1/2009
asphalt type class of the S, kN I, mm S/I ratio
mixture road
BA8 D50/70 IV min 6,0 1,5.....4,5 1,3…4,0
BA16 D50/70 II… III min 8.5 1,5.....4,0 2,0…6,3
IV...V min 6.5 1,5.....4,5 1,4…4,3
 Silviu Cristian Iriciuc and Gheorghe Gugiuman
The optimum dosage of bitumen determined from laboratory tests and
on Marshall samples are at the lower end of the standard, or even below the
indicative standard data (Table 8):
Table 8
Values of bitumen dosages after laboratory tests results
Type of Bitumen dosages after laboratory Recommended bitumen
asphalt mixture tests results , % dosage values STAS 174/1-
2009
BA 8 6,25 6,5… 7,5 %

BA 16 5.75 6,5… 7,5 %

After establishing the optimal dosage of bitumen, asphalt specimens

were made for determination the freeze-thaw phenomenon.
2.5 Asphaltic specimens testing at freeze-thaw phenomenon

To determine the physical - mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures

at the freeze-thaw phenomenon, recipes of asphalt mixtures were prepared in
the laboratory with optimal bitumen dosage resulted in the laboratory. Test
specimens resulting from asphalt mixtures:BA8, BA16.
Some of the samples were used to determine the freeze-thaw
phenomenon at 28 days, while the other samples were witness samples that
were tested in comparison at swelling, Marshall stability, creep index and the S
/ I ratio.
The first test samples were subjected to 28 freeze-thaw cycles in
Atica TZ1 solution . This solution is a chemical fondant containing NaCl
and molasses ,solution prepared by the company "ATICA CHEMICALS
SRL Ramnicu Valcea. "
The samples used were held during the freeze-thaw cycles for 10
hours at the positive (+18 ...+220C) and 14 hours at negative temperatures
(-210C).
The results obtained at swelling, Marshall stability, flow index,
S / I ratio, for the samples used in freeze-thaw action are presented in
Table 9:
TabLE 9
Atica TZ1 solution treated samples to 28 days
Mixture Atica TZ1 solution treated samples to 28 days
Swelling, % Stability (S) at Flow index (I), S/I ratio,
60 0C, kN, mm mm kN/mm
BA8 0.090 10,1 3,75 2,69

BA16 0.196 10,8 4,31 2,50

 DEDUCON 70 – DEZVOLTARE DURABILĂ ÎN CONSTRUCŢII
Comparative measurements were made on control samples to determine
swelling to 28 days, Marshall stability, flow index, S / I ratio. The results are
presented in Table 10:
Table 10
Control samples at 28 days (normal conditions)
Mixture Control samples at 28 days
Swelling, % Stability (S) at Flow index (I), S/I ratio,
60 0C, kN, mm mm kN/mm
BA8 0.075 12,5 4,29 2,91

BA16 0.149 10,8 3,73 2,89

Analyzing the two tables, it can be concluded that aggregates of crushed

slag from steelworks used to produce asphalt mixtures, did not suffered
significantly changes after 28 freeze-thaw cycles . That means the values of the
swelling, Marshall stabilityand creep is substantially equal and after freeze-thaw
action.

3.Conclusions
Use of steelworks slag aggregates in the road technology leads to
numerous technical and economic advantages for both the user and the
manufacturer:
 diversification of road construction materials;
 reducing construction costs by replacing natural aggregates;
 elimination of waste disposal dumps made from steel mills
and therefore environmental protection;
 properties of steelworks slag aggregates allow the road
construction without affecting the environment at weather
factors (rain, freezing-thawing.);
 ensuring the service life of roads safe and comfortable, due to
texture that provides roughness and high resistance to skidding.
In terms of laboratory testing can be concluded the following:
 percentages of steelworks slag aggregate used in asphalt mixtures
making follow the recommendations of SR 174-2009;
 optimum binder content was determined taking into account asphalt
mixture density, water absorption, stability and swelling of the
Marshall specimens; resulted dosage in the preparation of bituminous
asphalt mixtures with steelworks slag aggregate is generally lower
than the recommended dosage for a classical mixture;
 bulk density of the asphalt mixture varies between 2.6 and 2.7 kg/m3,
being higher than the bulk density of a classical mixture. The
 Silviu Cristian Iriciuc and Gheorghe Gugiuman
difference is made by the higher density of steelworks slag aggregates
compared to the density of natural aggregates;
 swelling values determined on Marshall specimens at intervals of 7,
14, 21 and 28 days are lower than the maximum required;
 in the laboratory tests for determining Marshall stability can be
observed that the values of stability S, creep I and the S / I ratio is less
than the maximum imposed by the standard;
 after testing the freeze-thaw phenomenon, after the 28 freeze-thaw
cycles, it was found that the differences between a witness mixture
with steelworks slag aggregates and a mixture with steelworks slag
aggregates treated with a solution of Attica TZ1, does not present
significant differences in terms of swelling and Marshall stability;

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