Determination of the Basic Geotechnical Parameters of Blast-Furnace Slag from the Kremnica Region

Abstract

A decisive aspect of site evaluation for construction is the presence of anthropogenic materials occurring in the geological environment. The geotechnical properties of blast-furnace slag were investigated as a potential substitute for aggregates in the construction industry. The basic geotechnical parameters of the slag were determined, which are critical for evaluating its stability, environmental impact, and usability in geotechnical construction. The research focused on monitoring the physical and mechanical properties of the two samples, and also included mineralogical analysis. The obtained results demonstrated that the slag belongs to the category of poorly graded gravel, G2/GP, and gravel with an admixture of fine-grained soil, G3/G-F. In addition, other important parameters, such as the water disintegration of the slag aggregate, the minimum and maximum bulk densities, the California bearing ratio (CBR), the oedometric modulus (Eoed), and shear tests (the angle of internal friction φ and cohesion c), were determined. The results from this paper provide important information for the proper management of blast-furnace slag so to minimize its environmental impact and achieve sustainability in the mining industry. At the same time, it enables a better understanding of the use of slag as a substitute for aggregates in geotechnical tasks. Despite its local importance in relation to the investigated case, the presented study has significant educational and scientific value for the construction sector, where it is necessary to evaluate anthropogenic activities and materials.

Innovative Quality Assessment of Pavement Subgrades Using the Glegg Impact Soil Tester

“…• Identification of the ability of CIST to assess the quality of cohesive soils up to a compression value of 40 mm, corresponding to a CBR of 2.2% and a modulus of subgrade deformation of 20 MPa; Based on the objectified research results, the authors foresee the application of CIST for the systematic quality control (Figure 20) of the subsoil, including its modeling [27]. These are mainly clay subsoils, consolidations of weak soils, geogrid-stabilized soils, the performance of unsterilized and triaxially geogrid-stabilized sandy soils [28][29][30], and Blast-Furnace Slag [31]. Generally, CIST can be used for the quality control of fine-grained soils in the context of the current upgrading of the Slovak main railway lines, which are part of the significant European corridors AGC, AGTC, and TEN-T [25,26].…”