The Use of Steel Slag in Asphaltic Concrete

Advanced testing and evaluation were performed on laboratory prepared Marshall specimens from eight asphalt concrete mixes. Five of these mixes contain steel slag aggregates. These were characterized and results were compared to the remaining three conventional asphalt concrete mixes commonly used in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. Advanced testing included indirect tensile strength, resilient modulus, creep and permanent deformation, moisture damage, and fatigue. Laboratory results showed that asphalt mixtures containing steel slag aggregates exhibited more superior characteristics than those of conventional mixes. Pavement performance of three idealized pavement cross-sections were modelled using VESYS and with material properties measured. Mixes which contained 100% steel slag aggregate had shown better resistance to rutting and to cold temperature cracking.