Strength-Gain Characteristics and Swelling Response of Steel Slag and Steel Slag–Fly Ash Mixtures

The shear strength and stiffness characteristics of steel slag indicate that it can potentially be utilized as a competent base/subbase material of bound and unbound pavement layers. However, concerns with respect to the utilization of steel slag remain due to its long-term swelling, corrosivity, and leaching characteristics. In this study, long-term swelling and corrosivity tests were performed on basic-oxygen-furnace steel slag (BOFSS) and electric-arc-furnace ladle steel slag [EAF(L)SS] generated in Indiana, USA. In order to reduce the 1D swelling strains of these slags, 5%, 10%, and 20% Class C fly ash (CCFA) and 10% ground rubber replacement ratios were used to prepare steel slag mixtures for testing. The improvement due to CCFA replacement was evaluated by performing unconfined compression and long-term swelling tests on selected steel slag–CCFA mixtures. The seven-day unconfined compression strengths of 90% EAF(L)SS + 10% CCFA and 90% BOFSS + 10% CCFA mixtures were 2,387 and 3,768 kPa, respectively. After nine months of monitoring, the maximum 1D swelling strains of soaked samples of BOFSS and EAF(L)SS mixtures prepared with 10% CCFA replacement were 0.1% or less. The unconfined compression and swelling test results for the steel slag–CCFA mixtures indicated superior strength gain characteristics and negligible swelling strains with time than for steel slags.