Experimental evaluation of slag application of Ahvaz steel plant in fixing bed of east sixth bridge in Ahvaz

Wastes and by-products of industrial plants can be useful in road construction. One of these wastes is the slag of Ahvaz steel plant, which produces about one million tons per year. The lack of riverbeds and aggregates in country, especially in Ahvaz, is hampering construction projects and increasing construction costs in these areas. All construction projects in Ahvaz are made of non-renewable river or mountain materials. Slag is one of these materials that can be a useful replacement for river or mountain materials. The high utilization of lime-based materials for bed consolidation in road infrastructure has led this study to investigate the use of slag as a substitute for Kopal-Lime mixture in road construction. In this study, a thorough review of the use of slag as a substitute for natural materials from viewpoint of quality, time, cost and environmental protection is undertaken. It was found that the bearing strength in the saturated mixture containing 70% slag and 30% soil was increased by 62% compared to of kopal-lime mixture application with a concentration of 150 kg/m3, and 30% in the dry mix condition. The Rial estimate for project implementation as per Cost List 1398 with a mixture containing 70% slag and 30% soil was reduced by 65% compared to the Kopal-Lime mixture. The optimal mix design time is 80% less than the kopal-lime mixture. Overall, the results are remarkable from a qualitative and economic viewpoint, so the use of slag as a substitute for river materials is strongly recommended.