ABSTRACT
According to the routine tests and criteria for natural materials, these materials have generally been considered, in the past, as unsuitable for use in geotechnical works, as many other non-traditional materials. Therefore, the waste management strategy should favor the exploitation of its potential, namely through re-use solutions. In this context it is desirable to apply to these materials the principles of sustainable development: (i) reducing the quantities of waste that is disposed of in landfill; (ii) creating a new and important national market; and (iii) preserving natural raw materials. It is, therefore, necessary to demonstrate that the use of non-traditional materials, instead of natural ones, will assure, at least, the same construction quality and long term performance. On this basis, a Research and Development Project (R&D) is undertaken in Portugal, which is intended to study the re-use processed steel slag, actually named Inert Steel Aggregate for Construction (ISAC) produced in the Portuguese Steel Companies. The project, named “Application of waste in transportation infrastructures and geotechnical constructions-Re-use of steel slags”, is financially supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and Portuguese Steel Companies (SN), and also embraced by the Portuguese Roads Administration (EP) and the Institute for Waste Affairs (APA). It includes the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering (LNECcoordinator), the University of Minho (UM) and the Centre for Re-use of Waste (CVR). Its main purpose is to contribute to the creation of a mechanistic and environmental approach intended to promote the re-use of waste, in general, and processed steel slag, in particular.
