Study of the properties of ash-slag mixtures from thermal power plants in the context of their application in road construction

The existing network of regional and local roads is characterized by a relatively low transport and operational condition. Given the extensive length of the road network, the application of effective and economical technologies is necessary to bring these roads to standardized condition. Such technologies should involve the use of technogenic waste, particularly ash-slag waste from thermal power plants. Despite numerous studies, the potential for large-scale application of ash-slag waste in road construction under continental and polar climate conditions has been insufficiently explored. The number of road infrastructure projects constructed using these materials in the Russian Federation is minimal. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the feasibility of large-scale application of ash-slag mixtures in road construction. The research examines the chemical and physicomechanical characteristics of various ash-slag mixtures from the Irkutsk region. It has been established that, within the scope of this research regarding the use of ash-slag mixtures in road construction, the construction and technical properties of these mixtures are approximately uniform across ash-disposal areas. The most promising applications for ash-slag mixtures in road construction include their use in embankments as both cement-stabilized and unstabilized technogenic soils; in road surfaces as cement-stabilized technogenic soils for the construction of base layers; and as components of ash-soil and ash-mineral compositions combined with gravel, sand, and local soils.