Sustainability in Road Base and Sub-base Applications: The Role of Steel Slag Use

The large amount of industrial waste and its disposal are becoming increasingly serious problems, growing year by year. With technological advancements in various fields, it is crucial to effectively evaluate the use of steel slag (SS) waste. SS is a durable by-product formed during crude steel production, and one of the common methods for handling it involves storing it in specific disposal sites for slag. Throughout the years, the substantial production of steel slag and the ongoing utilization of disposal sites have caused significant utilization of land resources and brought about serious environmental concerns. Stabilization of steel slag with existing industrial by-products is also feasible and has attracted growing interest from researchers. When bulk steel slag is used in combination with other potential waste materials, significant economic and environmental benefits can be achieved. Consequently, extensive studies have been conducted to explore various methods for stabilizing steel slag to enhance its strength and durability for widespread use in road base and sub-base layers. The present research provides an overview of the chemical, physical characteristics, and mechanical behavior of steel slag while examining the existing studies on its application in base and subgrade layers of roads.