Enhancing physical-mechanical properties of coarse slag aggregate via selective crushing for asphalt concrete

Air-cooled blast furnace slag is a solid metallurgical waste that can serve as coarse aggregate in asphalt concrete mixtures. However, its application is limited by considerable variability in key physical and mechanical properties, including compressive strength (ranging from 2 to 30 MPa), water ab...

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Main Authors: Vyacheslav Kunaev, Gulzhainat Akhmetova, Bakhyt Zhautikov, Alibek Batyrbek, Ilgar Tavshanov, Dmitriy Charnyi, Saltanat Kydyrbayeva, Saule Kamarova, Mohamad Syazli Fathi, Bakhtiyar Suleyev
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Results in Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025014380
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author Vyacheslav Kunaev
Gulzhainat Akhmetova
Bakhyt Zhautikov
Alibek Batyrbek
Ilgar Tavshanov
Dmitriy Charnyi
Saltanat Kydyrbayeva
Saule Kamarova
Mohamad Syazli Fathi
Bakhtiyar Suleyev
author_facet Vyacheslav Kunaev
Gulzhainat Akhmetova
Bakhyt Zhautikov
Alibek Batyrbek
Ilgar Tavshanov
Dmitriy Charnyi
Saltanat Kydyrbayeva
Saule Kamarova
Mohamad Syazli Fathi
Bakhtiyar Suleyev
author_sort Vyacheslav Kunaev
collection DOAJ
description Air-cooled blast furnace slag is a solid metallurgical waste that can serve as coarse aggregate in asphalt concrete mixtures. However, its application is limited by considerable variability in key physical and mechanical properties, including compressive strength (ranging from 2 to 30 MPa), water absorption (1–30 %), aggregate crushing value (18–37 %), and frost resistance. This highlights the need for preliminary enrichment of the material through selective crushing, during which low-quality grains are destroyed and strength grains retain their integrity and can be used in asphalt concrete production. This paper presents a study on how selective crushing duration affects the physical and mechanical properties of air-cooled blast furnace slag. Selective crushing in a ball mill for 30–40 min, using a grinding medium consisting of 50 % balls and 50 % cylpebs, effectively destroys low-quality (high-porosity and low-strength) grains while preserving high-quality (low-porosity and high-strength) grains. As a result of low-quality grain removal, the bulk density of air-cooled blast furnace slag increased from 1169 kg/m³ to 1396 kg/m³. Water absorption decreased from 4.96 % to 2.38 %, aggregate crushing value decreased from 30.98 % to 18.4 %, mass loss after sulfate soundness testing decreased from 5.48 % to 1.23 %, and surface pore content decreased from 45.06 % to 15.68 %. Thus, pre-enrichment by selective crushing enhances the mechanical properties of air-cooled blast furnace slag and expands its potential for effective use in asphalt concrete mixtures.
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spelling doaj-art-a2258b13233342a6ac6d30fd5e3de5dd2025-08-20T02:30:14ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-06-012610536810.1016/j.rineng.2025.105368Enhancing physical-mechanical properties of coarse slag aggregate via selective crushing for asphalt concreteVyacheslav Kunaev0Gulzhainat Akhmetova1Bakhyt Zhautikov2Alibek Batyrbek3Ilgar Tavshanov4Dmitriy Charnyi5Saltanat Kydyrbayeva6Saule Kamarova7Mohamad Syazli Fathi8Bakhtiyar Suleyev9Department of Technological Machines and Transport, Karaganda Industrial University, Temirtau, Kazakhstan; Corresponding author.Department of Metallurgy and Material Science, Karaganda Industrial University, Temirtau, KazakhstanDepartment of Artificial Intelligence Technologies, Karaganda Industrial University, Temirtau, KazakhstanDepartment of Artificial Intelligence Technologies, Karaganda Industrial University, Temirtau, KazakhstanDepartment of Technological Machines and Transport, Karaganda Industrial University, Temirtau, KazakhstanDepartment of Civil Engineering, Karaganda Industrial University, Temirtau, KazakhstanDepartment of Technological Machines and Transport, Karaganda Industrial University, Temirtau, KazakhstanDepartment of Energetics, Karaganda Industrial University, Temirtau, KazakhstanRazak Faculty of Technology & Informatics, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Transport Technics and Logistic Systems, Abylkas Saginov Karaganda Technical University, Karaganda, KazakhstanAir-cooled blast furnace slag is a solid metallurgical waste that can serve as coarse aggregate in asphalt concrete mixtures. However, its application is limited by considerable variability in key physical and mechanical properties, including compressive strength (ranging from 2 to 30 MPa), water absorption (1–30 %), aggregate crushing value (18–37 %), and frost resistance. This highlights the need for preliminary enrichment of the material through selective crushing, during which low-quality grains are destroyed and strength grains retain their integrity and can be used in asphalt concrete production. This paper presents a study on how selective crushing duration affects the physical and mechanical properties of air-cooled blast furnace slag. Selective crushing in a ball mill for 30–40 min, using a grinding medium consisting of 50 % balls and 50 % cylpebs, effectively destroys low-quality (high-porosity and low-strength) grains while preserving high-quality (low-porosity and high-strength) grains. As a result of low-quality grain removal, the bulk density of air-cooled blast furnace slag increased from 1169 kg/m³ to 1396 kg/m³. Water absorption decreased from 4.96 % to 2.38 %, aggregate crushing value decreased from 30.98 % to 18.4 %, mass loss after sulfate soundness testing decreased from 5.48 % to 1.23 %, and surface pore content decreased from 45.06 % to 15.68 %. Thus, pre-enrichment by selective crushing enhances the mechanical properties of air-cooled blast furnace slag and expands its potential for effective use in asphalt concrete mixtures.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025014380Coarse aggregateAir-cooled blast-furnace slagSelective crushing durationAsphalt concrete mixture applicationPreliminary enrichmentPhysical-mechanical properties improvement
spellingShingle Vyacheslav Kunaev
Gulzhainat Akhmetova
Bakhyt Zhautikov
Alibek Batyrbek
Ilgar Tavshanov
Dmitriy Charnyi
Saltanat Kydyrbayeva
Saule Kamarova
Mohamad Syazli Fathi
Bakhtiyar Suleyev
Enhancing physical-mechanical properties of coarse slag aggregate via selective crushing for asphalt concrete
Results in Engineering
Coarse aggregate
Air-cooled blast-furnace slag
Selective crushing duration
Asphalt concrete mixture application
Preliminary enrichment
Physical-mechanical properties improvement
title Enhancing physical-mechanical properties of coarse slag aggregate via selective crushing for asphalt concrete
title_full Enhancing physical-mechanical properties of coarse slag aggregate via selective crushing for asphalt concrete
title_fullStr Enhancing physical-mechanical properties of coarse slag aggregate via selective crushing for asphalt concrete
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing physical-mechanical properties of coarse slag aggregate via selective crushing for asphalt concrete
title_short Enhancing physical-mechanical properties of coarse slag aggregate via selective crushing for asphalt concrete
title_sort enhancing physical mechanical properties of coarse slag aggregate via selective crushing for asphalt concrete
topic Coarse aggregate
Air-cooled blast-furnace slag
Selective crushing duration
Asphalt concrete mixture application
Preliminary enrichment
Physical-mechanical properties improvement
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025014380
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