Study on the Effects of Steel Slag on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Cement-Stabilised Base Course Mixtures

To address the environmental issues arising from the large-scale stockpiling of steel slag and to explore its efficient utilisation in road sub-bases, this study investigated the effects of cement dosage and steel slag content on the mechanical properties of cement-stabilised steel slag mixtures. Through unconfined compressive strength tests, compressive modulus of elasticity tests and splitting tensile strength tests, the study revealed the mechanisms by which cement dosage and steel slag content influence microstructure. The results indicate that as the cement content increases, the unconfined compressive strength, compressive modulus of elasticity and splitting tensile strength all show an upward trend, although the rate of increase gradually decreases. With increasing steel slag content, the unconfined compressive strength and splitting tensile strength first increase and then decrease slightly, whilst the compressive modulus of elasticity continues to rise. When 60% steel slag was incorporated, the 28-day unconfined compressive strength and splitting tensile strength reached their peak values, representing increases of 22.17% and 72.7% respectively compared to the control group. Further examination of the microstructure revealed that increasing the cement content and steel slag content enhances structural density and reduces surface porosity; however, excessive cement content and steel slag content have an adverse effect on mechanical properties. Consequently, the synergistic effect of an appropriate amount of steel slag and cement can significantly improve the mechanical properties and microstructure of the mixture. These findings are of great significance in promoting the green utilisation of solid waste materials, such as steel slag, in road engineering.