ABSTRACT
Rising temperatures due to climate change and increasing road traffic loads accelerate pavement distress triggering earlier-than-planned maintenance costs. Climate resilient and sustainable flexible pavements can be constructed using non-conventional materials like copper slag (CS). This study investigated partial replacement of fine natural stone aggregate (NSA) with CS in hot mix asphalt (HMA) made with pen 35/50 bitumen, a semi-hard binder not commonly used in hot climates. Weight proportions of 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% of CS replacing fine NSA, produced HMA with decreased optimum binder content and improved Marshall and strength properties. These results indicate enhanced resistance of the CS-pen 35/50 bituminous mixtures against pavement rutting and deformation - the desired performance characteristics of climate resilient flexible pavements in hot climates. Optimal proportions of 20% to 25% CS replacing NSA in the CS-pen 35/50 HMA was observed. Field performance evaluation of this CS-pen 35/50 HMA is recommended.
