Performance Evaluation of Colored Slurry Seal Mixture with Steel Slag as a Substituent of Natural Aggregates

Abstract

Colored asphalt mixtures have recently found extensive applications in roads and public spaces due to their contribution to traffic management as well as aesthetics and landscaping. The development of durable colored asphalts using various materials has been a hot research topic in recent years. Colored asphalt can be developed through the durable colored slurry seal mixture (CSSM) technology. The desired quality of CSSM requires particular attention to the mechanical performance and resistance against crack propagation due to temperature variations and traffic loads. This research aimed at investigating the effect of steel slag (SS) aggregate compared with natural aggregate (NA) on the fracture behavior and performance of CSSM in five different mixtures: NA100% (control sample), SS10%+NA90%, SS20%+NA80%, SS30%+NA70%, and SS40%+NA60%. The performance of CSSM was evaluated using an edge-notched disk bend (ENDB) specimen fracture test at three different temperatures (0°C, −10°C, and −20°C). Additionally, cohesion test, wet track abrasion test, loaded wheel test (LWT)-displacement and LWT-sand adhesion were carried out to further examine the samples. Comparison of the fracture behavior of colored mixtures revealed that the SS40%+NA60% mixture outperformed other mixtures. The results of other performance tests showed that the unique characteristics of SS40%+NA60% mixture improved CSSM performance against vertical displacements, bleeding, cohesion, and moisture sensitivity by approximately 40.2%, 4 7.3%, 28.6%, and 52.7%, respectively. This comprehensive assessment offers valuable insights into the effectiveness of SS as a proper alternative to NA in CSSMs.