Concrete pavements with electric arc furnace slag as aggregate

Steelmaking industry generates vast amount of waste aggregates. The practical use of electric steelmaking furnaces is divided into two stages: the primary melting-oxidizing processes and the secondary-reducing processes. In the first, an Electric Arc Furnace will generate slag (EAFS) in proportions of 150 to 180 kg per ton of steel. In Spain, approximately 70% of total steel is produced in electric arc furnaces representing around 15% of total European EAF steel, and leaving more than 1 Million tons of EAFS every year. In order to reduce these EAFS, many researchers around the world are studying applications for their incorporation. In the present research, mixes of steel slag concrete (CEAFS) were reinforced with fibers, and their properties in fresh and the hardened state were analyzed; likewise, some real slabs were constructed. The results were very promising, reaching the CEAFS reinforced with around 0.5% of fibers, good mechanical behavior, appropriate toughness, and suitable impact resistance for its use in pavements and slabs of buildings.