Laboratory Evaluation of Mix Design Parameters of Open-Graded Friction Course Mixes with Electric Arc Furnace Steel Slag

The presented work investigated the feasibility of utilizing electric arc furnace (EAF) steel slag in open-graded friction course (OGFC) mixes. The existing level of investigation on the use of industrial wastes, especially steel slag, in the production of OGFC mixes, is very limited, particularly in developing countries. To fill this gap, this study evaluated the OGFC mixes with EAF steel slag as a replacement of conventional natural aggregates. Mixes with five ratios of natural aggregate to EAF slag were evaluated. The ratios were 100:0 (control), 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100. These five mix combinations were evaluated with two types of modified binder (polymer-modified binder and crumb rubber–modified binder). Performance and volumetric parameters, such as stone-on-stone contact criteria, air void content, unaged abrasion loss, aged abrasion loss, and binder draindown, were evaluated for OGFC mixes with and without EAF slag. Results indicated that EAF steel slag as a coarse aggregate improves the performance of OGFC mixes. Abrasion loss results showed that the durability of OGFC mixes with EAF slag is better than those with the conventional natural aggregates. Statistical analysis was performed through analysis of variance to examine the significance of binder content and slag replacement percentage.