Steel slag as a road construction material

Abstract

Steel slag is a byproduct obtained from steel industry. It is generated as a residue during the production of steel. Because of the high disposal cost as a waste material and the overall positive features of steel slag, it has been declared a useful construction material, not an industrial waste by most of the developed countries. Successively, it is recycled as an aggregate for the construction of roads, soil stabilization, and base and for the surfacing of flexible pavement. Despite this, a large amount of steel slag generated from steel industries is disposed of in stockpiles to date. As a result, a large area of land is being sacrificed for the disposal of this useful resource. Many researchers have investigated the use of steel slag as an aggregate in the design of asphalt concrete for the road construction. The best management option for this by product is its recycling. This leads to reduction of landfills reserved for its disposal, saving the natural resources and attaining a potential environment. The purpose of this paper is to review the engineering properties of steel slag and its utilization for road construction in different ways.