Abstract:
The increase in industrial waste is a significant threat to the environment
and economy, as most of it is non-biodegradable. The utilization of waste
materials in road construction is effective in terms of recycling, economy, and
ecology. The objective of the research is to investigate the potential use of
four different industrial wastes – red mud (RM), blast furnace slag (BFS), lime
production waste (LPW), and natural loam (NL) – as base materials in road
construction. The mechanical and chemical properties of these materials were
investigated through X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, atomic absorption
spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy,
and axial compressive strength testing. The structural performance was also
conducted for different compositions of the materials by varying ratios of these
materials. The results indicate that the combination of 40% RM, 35% BFS, and
8% LPW exhibited the maximum compressive strength of 14.21 MPa after 365
days with lower linear expansion. The mineral composition analysis confirms the
absence of heavy metal contaminants and hazardous compounds, which will be
environmentally friendly. The findings suggest that a mixture of RM, BFS, LPW,
and NL can be considered construction materials in the transportation sector.
