Revista UIS Ingenierías (Aug 2021)
Use of blast furnace dust to improve the properties of granular material for pavements
Abstract
The granular base and sub-base materials used in the construction of road surface structures must comply with certain requirements. In some cases, the requirements are not complied with and it is necessary to search for alternatives to improve the properties of the materials and thereby enable the use of these materials in the construction of roadways. Blast furnace dust is a residue from the production of steel that is of little use and is causing a negative environmental impact due to its accumulation. This study was carried out to analyse the possibility of utilizing blast furnace dust to improve the properties of granular materials, as an alternative that mitigates the environmental problems caused by the disposal and accumulation of these residues, which affect the areas of influence of these companies. To achieve this goal, the chemical and physical properties of blast furnace dust were determined and a analysis was carried out on mixtures of granular base and sub-base materials with 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 percent dust. The analysis took place of determined characteristics including optimum humidity, maximum dry density, resistance, plasticity, and expansion in the presence of water. The results indicate that with the incorporation of 6% of BFD the properties of the granular material are improved and it can be used as an optimal material in road construction.
