Use of steel industry by-products as promoters of pavement repair solutions

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of microwave heating on the self-healing of asphalt mixtures. Three asphalt concrete mixtures were produced: i) conventional one; ii) with metallic fibres; iii) with steel slag aggregates and metallic fibres. After evaluating the microwave heating induced in the different asphalt mixtures through a thermographic camera, their healing capacity was determined through multiple cycles of induction, self-healing, and fracture. The heat induction results of cylindrical specimens demonstrated that steel slag and metallic fibres promoted higher healing temperatures than conventional mixtures for equal induction time. The asphalt mixture with steel slag and fibres presented the best healing capacity, with significant strength recovery after total damage in fracture tests, while the mixture with only metallic fibres presented the worst healing results.