Suitability of EAF slag and GGBFS mix as cementitious base/subbase layer for low volume road construction

The purpose of the experimental study was to find the suitability of Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF) slag and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) in base/sub-base layer of Flexible Pavement. Different trail mixes of EAF slag + Cement and EAF slag +GGBFS were tested to find an optimum mix. The GGBFS proportions were taken 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of the total dry weight of mix and cement was added 3%, 4% and 5% of total dry weight. The mechanical and chemical properties of mixes were found to check the suitability of the material for the construction of cementitious base/sub-base in low volume road (LVR). The IITPAVE Software was used to find out the pavement thickness with the optimum mix. EAF Slag + 4% cement and EAF slag + 15% GGBFS satisfied the strength criteria of for Rural Road. The strains obtained from the IITPAVE software were in a permissible limit. Further, the results of Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP) analysis for various metals show that mixes of EAF Slag and GGBFS were a non-hazardous material. This study supports the use of industrial waste in the construction of low volume road in India.