Rheological Characterization of Warm-Modified Asphalt Mastics Containing Electric Arc Furnace Steel Slags

Abstract

The environmental sustainability of road materials and technologies plays a key role in pavement engineering. In this sense, the use of Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA), that is, a modified asphalt concrete that can be produced and applied at lower temperature, is considered an effective solution leading to environmental and operational benefits. The environmental sustainability of WMA can be further enhanced with the inclusion of steel slag in partial substitution of natural aggregates. Nevertheless, such innovative material applied at lower temperatures containing warm additives and steel slag should be able to guarantee at least the same performance of traditional hot mix asphalts, thus assuring acceptable mechanical properties and durability. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the rheological behaviour of bituminous mastics obtained combining a warm-modified binder and a filler (material passing to 0.063 mm) coming from electric arc furnace steel slag. To evaluate the influence of both warm additive and steel slag, a plain binder and limestone filler were also used for comparison purposes. Complex modulus and permanent deformation resistance of bitumens and mastics were assessed using a dynamic shear rheometer. Experimental results showed that steel slag warm mastics assure enhanced performance demonstrating promising applicability.

Performance-Based Characterization of Bituminous Mortars Prepared With Ladle Furnace Steel Slag

“…First, it is worth noting the peculiar behavior of the polymer modified asphalt binder, with a limited viscous domain even at high temperatures and low frequencies. Moreover, in line with previous studies which investigated the linear viscoelastic properties of mastics and fine aggregate matrixes prepared with both virgin and steel slag aggregates [25,36], the plots show the stiffening and the elasticity effects in both the mastics and the mortars, especially with additions of LFS. The experimental findings seem also to suggest that a different aggregate source would lead to different chemo-physical interactions between the bitumen and the aggregates, as appreciable differences in complex moduli and phase angles were measured for both the mastics and the mortars.…”

Balancing the Performance and Environmental Concerns of Used Motor Oil as Rejuvenator in Asphalt Mixes

“…Overall, neat asphalt binders had the lowest storage and loss moduli values, neat asphalt binders modified by CRM only had the highest moduli values, and neat asphalt binders modified by CRM-UMO had moduli values between those for neat and neat modified by CRM. Frequency sweep test results obtained through a wide range of temperatures and frequencies can be used to draw Cole-Cole plots [16], measured at a reference temperature 60 °C. The Cole-Cole plot presents the relation between G' and G''.…”

“…The Cole-Cole plot presents the relation between G' and G''. This plot can be used to understand the overall change Frequency sweep test results obtained through a wide range of temperatures and frequencies can be used to draw Cole-Cole plots [16], measured at a reference temperature 60 • C. The Cole-Cole plot presents the relation between G and G". This plot can be used to understand the overall change in the shear complex modulus |G*| based on the changes in G and G" values [17,18].…”

Use of recycled fillers in bituminous mixtures for road pavements

“…Pasetto et al [27], studied the rheological characterization of warm-modified bituminous mastics containing electric arc furnace steel slags. Such innovative material applied at lower temperatures and containing warm additives and steel slag should be able to guarantee at least the same performance of traditional bituminous mixtures, thus assuring acceptable mechanical properties and durability.…”