An Experimental Investigation on Partial Replacement of Fine Aggregate Using Various Types of Slags in Hot Mix Asphalt

Abstract

India possesses the second-largest road network globally, spanning over 67 lakh newlinekilometers. To accommodate economic expansion, the country is now extending its road network newlineat a rate of 37 kilometers per day. Asphalt is extensively utilized in the construction of almost all newlinesignificant Indian roadways, and this trend is expected to persist. The hot mix asphalt (HMA) newlineprocess is the most widely employed method for constructing asphalt pavement. Approximately newline90% of the overall weight of the asphalt mixture consists of natural particles. Approximately newline30000 metric tons of aggregate are needed to construct one kilometer of pavement. The newlineenvironment and ecosystem are degrading rapidly due to the over extraction of natural aggregate newlineresources through quarrying. Hence, it is imperative to explore and cultivate novel alternative newlinematerials to replace natural aggregate to conserve natural resources. A straightforward and precise newlinestrategy for developing sustainable pavements is to replace natural aggregates with industrial byand#65534;products and trash. This technique not only mitigates the rate of natural resource depletion, but newlinealso prevents garbage accumulation in landfills, resulting in environmental advantages. Utilizing newlinethese rejected resources in asphalt mixes not only benefits the environment but also contributes to newlinethe objectives of sustainable construction. newlineIndustries generate substantial quantities of electric induction furnace steel slag (EIFS) and newlinecopper slag (CuS) as byproducts, which provide significant economic and environmental newlinechallenges when it comes to their disposal. Utilizing these slags in pavement has the potential to newlinealleviate environmental concerns and encourage the preservation of finite resources. This thesis newlinefocuses on examining the physical, mechanical, chemical, morphological, and moisture-induced newlineexpansion behavior of both slag materials to compare their properties with those of natural granite newlineaggregate, ensuring their effective use in asphalt mix production without compromising t