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In order to reduce heat loss and diffusion of underground heating pipelines, this research incorporated phase change material (PCM) into the controlled low-strength material (CLSM) to prepare a pipeline backfill material with temperature control performance. In response to the problem that PCM leaks easily, a new type of paraffin–rice husk ash composite PCM (PR-PCM) was obtained by adsorbing melted paraffin into rice husk ash. Through mixing PR-PCM with dredged sediment (DS) and ordinary Portland cement (OPC), a controlled low-strength material (CLSM) with temperature control performance was prepared. The flowability, mechanical properties, microscopic characteristics, thermal characteristics, and durability of CLSM were analyzed through flowability, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and phase change cycle tests. The results show that when water consumption is constant, as the PR-PCM content increases, the flowability of CLSM increases, and the strength decreases. The CLSM has an obvious paraffin diffraction peak in the XRD pattern, and its microstructure is dense with few pores. The melting point of CLSM is 50.65 °C and the latent heat is 4.10 J/g. Compared with CLSM without PR-PCM, the maximum temperature difference during the heating process can reach 3.40 °C, and the heat storage performance is improved by 4.1%. The strength of CLSM increases and the melting point decreases after phase change cycles. CLSM containing PR-PCM has the characteristics of phase change temperature control, which plays a positive role in reducing heat loss by heating pipelines and temperature change in backfill areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing consideration of sustainability in infrastructure materials, both modified asphalt and warm-mix asphalt have received remarkable attention. However, little is known about characteristics of warm-mix styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modified asphalt with foaming technique (FWMA-SBS). The present study is dedicated to optimizing fabrication of the FWMA-SBS binder and investigating the performance of the foamed SBS-modified asphalt mixture. To achieve desirable foaming characteristics, the FWMA-SBS binder is produced at foaming temperature of 130°C, water content of 2.0%, and air pressure of 0.55 MPa. The production temperature of the FWMA-SBS mixture is significantly lowered by 20°C compared to traditional SBS-modified asphalt mixture. It has demonstrated that engineering performance of FWMA-SBS binder coincides with the mixture. The FWMA-SBS mixture features better low-temperature cracking resistance and fatigue performance, while it exhibits lower rutting resistance and similar moisture stability in comparison with a traditional SBS-modified asphalt mixture. The sustainability assessment verifies that compared to conventional SBS-modified asphalt mixture, the production of 1 ton of FWMA-SBS mixture leads to energy savings of 9.8%, cost reduction of $1.81, and less energy associated with CO2 by 9.8%. The research accomplishments promote the utilization of the foamed SBS-modified asphalt, realizing the pavement sustainability from principles to practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve the resource utilization of high moisture content shield soil in underground engineering and explore the feasibility of using geopolymer materials to solidify shield soil, this paper adopts slag-base geopolymer to solidify shield soil. By studying the influences of alkali activator modulus, mineral ratio, alkali activator dosage and temperature on unconfined compressive strength and engineering performance of different types of shield-cured soil, the design of cured soil mix proportion was determined. The influence of geopolymer content on water stability of cured soil was studied. Microscopic analysis of shield-cured soil using SEM to reveal the solidification mechanism. The results show that under the proposed water solid ratio in the test, the two kinds of fluid shield-cured soil with different soil properties have good mechanical and engineering properties. The aggregate of slag base produces amorphous gel, which enhances the cementation and compactness between soil particles. The unconfined compressive strength of shield-cured soil with 22% dry soil mass as cementing agent can reach 5.38 MPa in 28 d under standard curing, 8.08 MPa under 40 °C curing, and the water stability coefficient can reach 0.98. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling steel slag into asphalt concrete is an important way to save natural resources and protect the environment. The high asphalt absorption and adsorption and the sensitivity of steel slag aggregate (SSA) to the combined damage of temperature and moisture (volume expansion and poor durability under freeze-thaw cycle damage) still pose risks for the use of SSA in asphalt concrete. It is urgent to develop new utilization methods of steel slag. With this in mind, the material properties of steel slag powder (SSP) and performance characteristics of asphalt concrete incorporating SSP filler were evaluated in this research. The SSP was prepared in the laboratory by grinding steel slag with a particle size of 2.36–4.75 mm. Firstly, the material properties of SSP including the specific surface area, particle gradation, apparent density, chemical compositions, and thermal stability were analyzed. Steel slag (2.36–4.75 mm) and common limestone powder (LP) filler were used as control groups. The grindability of steel slag and the advantages of using SSP as a filler in asphalt concrete were preliminarily analyzed based on the test results of material properties. Then, the Superpave method was used to design asphalt concrete incorporating SSP and LP. Considering that steel slag is sensitive to the combined damage of temperature and moisture, the main engineering performance of asphalt concrete after the combined damage of temperature and moisture was evaluated to further reveal the feasibility of using SSP as a filler. Two combined damage modes, namely hot water damage and freeze-thaw cycle damage, were applied. Results suggest that although the steel slag is more difficult to grind compared to limestone particles, grinding steel slag into SSP has improved the uniformity of its material properties. Good uniformity of material properties, high alkalinity, and excellent thermal stability of SSP give it some advantages in its application in asphalt concrete. Although the freeze-thaw cycle damage has a slightly more significant effect on the engineering performance of asphalt concrete than hot water damage, compared to the asphalt concrete with LP filler, even after freeze-thaw cycle damage for three cycles asphalt concrete incorporating SSP still possesses comparable or better volume stability, mechanical performance, high-temperature deformation resistance, low-temperature crack resistance, fatigue crack resistance, and fatigue durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The safe treatment of marine sediment has been a global-scale challenge. To reduce the environmental impacts associated with Portland cement (PC), an environment-friendly binder consisting of quicklime and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) was used in the stabilization/solidification of natural marine sediment. Although the combination of lime and GGBS is used to stabilize the sediment with very low water content or moderate water content in previous studies, the natural marine sediment with such a high water content has not been treated by the quicklime–GGBS binder up to now. Therefore, a series of tests were performed to study the physicochemical, mechanical, and microstructural characteristics of quicklime–GGBS stabilized sediments. The results indicated that the quicklime–GGBS solidified/stabilized sediment had a similarly low water content at a proper quicklime-binder ratio to that of PC-stabilized sediments. The pH of quicklime–GGBS solidified sediments gradually decreased as the quicklime-binder ratio decreased and the curing period increased. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of quicklime–GGBS stabilized sediments was 1.4 times higher than that of the corresponding PC-stabilized sediments using the same test conditions. The hydration products effectively bonded the sediment particles and filled the pores between the sediment particles, facilitating the improvement of the UCS of the quicklime–GGBS stabilized sediment. The findings indicated that the use of GGBS and a small amount of quicklime can replace PC to stabilize natural marine sediment with high water content. This would be to provide binder dosage and component proportion for the field application of quicklime–GGBS binder and to significantly improve the economical and environmental effects of the treatment of high water content sediment. Innovative lime-activated GGBS is used as a binder in the improvement of sediment with ultrahigh water content. The water content, pH, and UCS of lime–GGBS stabilized sediments are contrastively studied. The engineering performances of lime-GGBS stabilized sediments are better than those of PC-stabilized sediment. An optimal and appropriate lime-binder ratio is suggested. Microstructure mechanism of lime–GGBS stabilized sediment is revealed through series of micro-tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) of high performance, as a relatively ideal partial or complete substitute for steel, could increase the possibility of adapting structures to changes in harsh weather environments. While GFRP is combined with concrete in the form of bars, the mechanical characteristics of GFRP cause the bonding behavior to differ significantly from that of steel-reinforced members. In this paper, a central pull-out test was applied, according to ACI440.3R-04, to analyze the influence of the deformation characteristics of GFRP bars on bonding failure. The bond–slip curves of the GFRP bars with different deformation coefficients exhibited distinct four-stage processes. Increasing the deformation coefficient of the GFRP bars is able to significantly improve the bond strength between the GFRP bars and the concrete. However, while both the deformation coefficient and concrete strength of the GFRP bars were increased, the bond failure mode of the composite member was more likely to be changed from ductile to brittle. The results show members with larger deformation coefficients and moderate concrete grades, which generally have excellent mechanical and engineering properties. By comparing with the existing bond and slip constitutive models, it was found that the proposed curve prediction model was able to well match the engineering performance of GFRP bars with different deformation coefficients. Meanwhile, due to its high practicality, a four-fold model characterizing representative stress for the bond–slip behavior was recommended in order to predict the performance of the GFRP bars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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• PUSSPCMs granular was synthesized in the laboratory by pre-polymerization reaction and Chain extension reaction. • Determine the suitable particle size of PUSSPCMs as fine aggregate. • Design the PUSSPCMs granular asphalt mixture and determine the maximum content of PUSSPCMs. • Study the temperature regulation stability of PUSSPCMs- asphalt mixtures. The application of phase change materials (PCMs) in asphalt pavement is one of the effective methods to adjust the pavement temperature. In this study, polyurethane-based solid–solid PCMs (PUSSPCMs) was synthesized by two-step solution polymerization, the asphalt mixtures using PUSSPCMs as fine aggregate were formed. The suitable particle size of PUSSPCMs was determined by the viscoelastic properties of asphalt mortars, the maximum content of PUSSPCMs was determined by the engineering performance of asphalt mixtures, and temperature regulation properties of asphalt mixtures was tested by self-designed experiment. It is demonstrates that the viscoelastic properties of PUSSPCMs-asphalt mortars was related to curing temperature, loading frequency, PUSSPCMs content and particle sizes. The elastic modulus of PUSSPCMs-asphalt mortars plays a leading role at low temperature, as the temperature increases, the viscosity modulus is dominant. The sample 2 # can absorb more light components in the asphalt and have greater interference on the viscoelasticity of the asphalt mortar, PUSSPCMs with 0.6–2.36 mm particle size is recommended. The high-temperature performance and low-temperature performance of 1–20 % asphalt mixtures increased by 26.2 % and 14.2 %, respectively. However, PUSSPCMs-asphalt mixtures show a worse water stability, and the residual stability of 1–30 % sample failed to meet the requirements. The heating rate of PUSSPCMs sample is always lower than that of the control samples during heating process, and the temperature difference between control sample and 1–20 %, 1–10 % samples is 4.6 ℃ and 3.3 ℃. In conclusion, the PUSSPCMs with 0.6–2.36 mm particle size, and volume replacement level with 20 % (1–20 % sample) is recommended to prepare temperature regulation asphalt pavement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the maladies of high labor intensity, the low efficiency of ice and snow removal, and environmental pollution in traditional ice-deicing and snow-melting methods, we successfully developed a material that can effectively reduce the adhesive force between ice and snow with the pavement, aimed at the characteristics of the road ice de-icing and snow melting. According to the evaluation index and method of de-icing performance, we determined the ratio of the three components of the film-forming component, the adhesive component, the modified ice suppression component, and the preparation technology. It has no perfect evaluation index and method for the viscosity-reducing and ice-defending materials at present, this paper further evaluates the performance of the viscosity-reducing and ice-defending materials from the aspects of ice-deicing performance, durability, and environmental performance. The results show that the viscosity-reducing and ice-defending material has good permeability and water resistance. The material still has good ice-deicing performance after seven rounds of cycle tests at the same time, indicating that it has a good slow-release performance. It is verified that the viscosity-reducing and ice-defending materials have good durability using the low-temperature accelerated test. Finally, from the analysis and evaluation of the environmental protection performance of the viscosity-reducing and ice-defending materials, the materials have no effect on the growth of plants and their average corrosion rate is much lower than the average corrosion rate of the snow melting test piece, which means that the viscosity-reducing and ice-defending materials have good environmental performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) is an important way for pavement construction to move toward a low impact and sustainable practice, but there are still many problems in the preparation of recycled asphalt mixtures with a high percentage of RAP. In this study, an RAP gradation subdivision method was proposed and used to divide RAP gradation into four types. Based on two kinds of RAP gradations after pretreatment and four kinds of RAP gradations after subdivision, a pretreated recycled asphalt mixture (RAM-PR) and a subdivided recycled asphalt mixture (RAM-SR) with different RAP contents were prepared. By testing Marshall design indices and high-temperature performance, it was found that the coefficients of variation in stability, flow, dynamic stability and rutting depth of RAM-SR containing 60 % RAP were 11.9 %, 68.1 %, 88.3 % and 20.7 % lower than those of RAM-PR, respectively. Combined with the research results of the long-term engineering performance of RAM-SR, the maximum tensile strain of RAM-SR containing 40 % RAP and rejuvenator after long-term aging was 9.6 % higher than that containing 35 % RAP without rejuvenator, and the rejuvenator can also improve the long-term water stability of RAM-SR. In areas with low requirements for low temperature performance, the maximum RAP content of RAM-SR in the group with the rejuvenator can reach 60 %.

Solidification/stabilization (S/S) is one of the most widely used techniques in the disposal of heavy-metal-contaminated soil, though the long-term effectiveness of S/S technology remains implicit. Temperature is an important factor affecting the leaching behavior of heavy metals and the long-term effectiveness of S/S treatment. This study systematically explored the influence of temperature on the leaching behavior of lead in an S/S monolith through semi-dynamic leaching test at different temperatures. The results showed that an increase in temperature could accelerate the leaching concentration and cumulative leaching amount of lead ions in the S/S monolith. The cumulative leaching amount of lead ions in the S/S monolith after 11 days at 55 °C was about 5.8 times that at 25 °C. The leaching rate of lead ions in the S/S monolith increased with the increase in temperature. The leaching index of lead ions was larger than 9, which met the requirements for "controlled utilization" in the environment. The leaching mechanism of lead ions was diffusion control and did not change in the temperature range of 25–55 °C. These findings indicate that temperature affects the leaching behavior and the long-term effectiveness of S/S treatment, and temperature variation should be considered in the effectiveness evaluation of S/S treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable management of healthcare waste (HCW) has been a substantial challenge for decades, further intensified by the increased usage of healthcare equipment during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. A considerable portion of this waste comprises polymeric materials encompassing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as facemasks, gowns, gloves, goggles, face shields, and coverall suits, as well as other health-gear items like silicone catheters, plastic syringes, sanitizer bottles, and PCR tubes. The global generation and disposal of polymeric healthcare waste (PHCW) have emerged as pressing environmental and public health concerns. Recycling PHCW in asphalt pavement is one promising approach for sustainable waste management. This paper provides a thorough review of the processing, engineering performance, and economic and environmental impacts of recycling PHCW in asphalt pavement. Existing literature indicates that incorporating plastic-based PHCW into asphalt pavement through wet or dry methods enhances rutting, tensile strength, resilient modulus, and moisture resistance. However, challenges related to compatibility, storage stability, and low-temperature performance have been identified. The proposed mitigation strategies were discussed. Future research should extend the examination of plastic-based, rubber-based, and pyrolytic-based PHCW, ensuring the safety of the handling and processing methods, prioritizing improvements in compatibility and low-temperature performance, and evaluating long-term performance, aging effects, fatigue, and lifecycle economic and environmental impacts. Existing studies predominantly focus on COVID-19-generated PPE, particularly facemasks. Further research is encouraged to investigate other health-gear items and routine non-COVID-19 related PHCW from various healthcare facilities. The recycling of PHCW in asphalt pavement is in its early stages and advancing research requires concerted efforts among healthcare providers, researchers, and industry stakeholders. This review consolidates current knowledge on the progress of utilizing PHCW in asphalt pavement while pinpointing areas for exploration and advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the use of SBS and SBR as the main modifiers to prepare composite modified asphalt (CMA) binder and CMA mixture for the complex climate of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and compared with the performance of SBS and SBR modified asphalt binder and asphalt mixture. The AC-13 was selected for the gradation of asphalt mixture. The effects of long-term thermal oxygen aging on their mechanical and rheologic properties were studied, and the relationship between the properties of asphalt binder and asphalt mixture before and after aging was analyzed. The results show that SBS and SBR modifiers could effectively improve the high- and low-temperature rheological performance of CMA binder, respectively. Furthermore, the comprehensive effect of modifiers could effectively improve the aging resistance of CMA binder. Affected by the performance of CMA binder, CMA mixture could combine the excellent properties of two different modifiers to improve its high temperature rutting resistance, low temperature crack resistance, water and aging resistance performance. Therefore, it has favorable engineering properties before and after aging. By comparing the relationship between CMA binder and CMA mixture properties during the aging process, it was possible to predict asphalt pavement performance trend and life after aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) of high performance, as a relatively ideal partial or complete substitute for steel, could increase the possibility of adapting structures to changes in harsh weather environments. While GFRP is combined with concrete in the form of bars, the mechanical characteristics of GFRP cause the bonding behavior to differ significantly from that of steel-reinforced members. In this paper, a central pull-out test was applied, according to ACI440.3R-04, to analyze the influence of the deformation characteristics of GFRP bars on bonding failure. The bond–slip curves of the GFRP bars with different deformation coefficients exhibited distinct four-stage processes. Increasing the deformation coefficient of the GFRP bars is able to significantly improve the bond strength between the GFRP bars and the concrete. However, while both the deformation coefficient and concrete strength of the GFRP bars were increased, the bond failure mode of the composite member was more likely to be changed from ductile to brittle. The results show members with larger deformation coefficients and moderate concrete grades, which generally have excellent mechanical and engineering properties. By comparing with the existing bond and slip constitutive models, it was found that the proposed curve prediction model was able to well match the engineering performance of GFRP bars with different deformation coefficients. Meanwhile, due to its high practicality, a four-fold model characterizing representative stress for the bond–slip behavior was recommended in order to predict the performance of the GFRP bars.

To explore the strength development characteristics and engineering performance of different coal-based solid waste filling materials cemented into filling body, coal gangue was used as coarse material, fly ash, desulfurization gypsum, gasification slag, and furnace bottom slag as fine material, and cement as a gelling agent. The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and bleeding rate of coal-based solid waste cemented backfill (CBSWCB) were tested by an orthogonal experiment, and the influencing factors of mechanical properties and strength development were analyzed. The multiple generalized linear model of strength and bleeding rate was established, and the optimal filling material ratio was determined. The engineering performance index of CBSWCB with the optimal ratio was tested. The results show the following points: (1) the concentration and content of desulfurization gypsum had a great influence on the early compressive strength of CBSWCB, while fly ash, gasification slag, and furnace bottom slag had little influence on the early compressive strength. (2) High concentration, high content of fly ash and furnace bottom slag, low content of desulfurization gypsum, and gasification slag can significantly improve the early strength. High concentration and high content of fly ash, low content of gasification slag, furnace bottom slag, and desulfurization gypsum are beneficial to the later strength increase. (3) Under the optimal ratio scheme, the bleeding rate of CBSWCB was 1.6%, the slump was 16.6 cm, the cohesion was general, the segregation resistance was good, the initial setting time was 5.42 h, the final setting time was 7 h, and the early strength after curing for 8 h reached 0.24 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of reactive magnesia (MgO)-carbonated silt in respect to long-term stability have not been well understood in severely cold climate despite the usage of reactive MgO in enhancing the engineering performances. Under the binder content of 15% and initial water content of 25%, MgO-admixed silt specimens were carbonized for 3 h and 6 h and then subjected to different numbers of freezing-thawing (F-T) cycles. After different F-T cycles, the physico-mechanical properties of MgO- carbonated silt were analyzed in comparison with Portland cement (PC)-stabilized silt through physical and unconfined compression tests. Besides, a series of micro tests on MgO-carbonated specimens was performed including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) tests. The results demonstrate that both mass change ratio and moisture content of carbonated/stabilized silt decrease, and these values of MgO-carbonated silt are significantly lower while the density is higher compared to PC-stabilized silt. The strengths and moduli of MgO-carbonated silt are still two times higher than those of PC-stabilized specimens and the strength change ratio of keeps above 0.8 after F-T cycles. There is no visible transformation between nesquehonite and dypingite/hydromagnesite, although the XRD peaks of nesquehonite decrease and the bonding and filling effects weaken slightly. After 6 and 10 F-T cycles, the pore-size characteristics changed from a unimodal distribution to a three-peak and bimodal distribution, respectively. The total, macro and large pore volumes increase obviously while the medium and small pore volumes decrease except for intra-aggregate pore. The findings show better F-T durability of MgO-carbonated silt, which would be helpful for facilitating the application of MgO carbonation in the soil treatment.

The product design process in manufacturing involves iterative design modeling and analysis to achieve the target engineering performance, but such an iterative process is time consuming and computationally expensive. Recently, deep learning-based engineering performance prediction models have been proposed to accelerate design optimization. However, they only guarantee predictions on training data and may be inaccurate when applied to new domain data. In particular, 3D design data have complex features, which means domains with various distributions exist. Thus, the utilization of deep learning has limitations due to the heavy data collection and training burdens. We propose a bi-weighted unsupervised domain adaptation approach that considers the geometry features and engineering performance of 3D design data. The proposed method is the first to apply domain adaptation to deep learning-based engineering performance prediction to overcome the problem of insufficient industrial data. In addition, we present a source instance weighting method called the bi-weighting strategy to consider the geometry features and engineering performance of 3D design data and avoid negative transfer for accurate prediction. Domain-invariant features can be extracted through an adversarial training strategy by using hypothesis discrepancy, and a multi-output regression task can be performed with the extracted features to predict the engineering performance. The proposed model is tested on a wheel impact analysis problem to predict the magnitude of the maximum von Mises stress and the corresponding location of 3D road wheels. This mechanism can reduce the target risk for unlabeled target domains on the basis of weighted multi-source domain knowledge and can efficiently replace conventional finite element analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of waste plastic into asphalt concrete paving mix (ACP) has been explored in recent literature to improve the functional properties of the mix. However, exploration on their recyclability potential at the end of its service life remains scarce. This study explores the potential of recycling aged waste plastic-modified asphalt concrete (AACP) for road pavements, with focus on four commonly disposed household plastics: high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PET). Marshall stability test, Cantabro abrasion test, indirect tensile strength test, resilient modulus (M R) test, Hamburg's wheel tracking test and stripping test were performed to evaluate the engineering properties of recycled waste plastic-modified asphalt concrete (RACP) containing proportions ranging from 20 % to 100 % aged component (AACP) blended with virgin mixtures. This paper highlights significant engineering performance of RACP, and most notably for RACP containing PP with 20 % aged content which exhibits 1.6 times greater resistance to moisture damage compared to conventional recycled asphalt concrete (RAPA). Although RACP with HDPE and PP (consisting of 20 % and 40 % AACP in mix) yield improvements in resilient modulus over RAPA, this improvement is less pronounced for RACP with PS and PET. Overall, RACP with 40 % aged components exhibits better rutting, moisture damage and abrasion loss performance, along with improved stability and flow value. Environmental impact in terms of water leachability was also found to be negligible in this study and RACP can be considered a feasible sustainable pavement material, with potential for second and more lives. • The recyclability potential of plastic-modified asphalt concrete was investigated. • Recycling mix containing 20 % to 100 % aged content enhance overall performance. • Polypropylene-modified recycling mix outperforms other plastic-modified mixes. • Water contaminants leaching is minimal on plastic-modified recycled asphalt mixes. • Waste Plastic-modified asphalt is recyclable for full circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study developed a sustainable concrete incorporating high-volume steel slag waste for the large-scale road construction project in Vietnam. The engineering performance, microstructure and sustainability of concrete mix were characterised using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, Scanning electron microscopy / Energy dispersive spectroscopy, together with life cycle and cost assessment. The findings indicated that the slag-enriched concrete can achieve comparable strengths with traditional concrete over curing age. The presence of steel slag particles facilitates hydration precipitation of C-S-H and ettringite. Regarding sustainability, using high-volume steel slag concrete for 1 m3 functional unit exhibits a significant reduction of total energy consumption (18.5%), global warming impact (GWI) (22.3%), and total cost (28.7%), compared to the traditional concrete. Translating into the project scale of 2000 m3 of concrete, these benefits can turn into a significant energy savings (555,180 MJ), lower total GWI emissions (119,180 kg CO 2-eq) and reduced total costs (US$27,660). This research outcomes showcased the practical application of high-volume steel slag clinkerless concrete for future sustainability in construction. [Display omitted] • SS waste as SCM and aggregate alternative was utilised up to 60% by mass of concrete. • SS accelerates the formation of hydration products (esp. ettringite) and offers pore-filling effects. • High Ca/Si and Ca/(Si+Al) and Al/Si ratios are found in cement matrix incorporating SS. • For 1 m3 unit, FS-SA reduced energy consumption (18.5%), GWI (22.3%), and cost (28.7%). • This project achieves energy savings (555,180 MJ), lower GWI (119,180 kg CO 2-eq) and reduced cost (US$27,660). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the maladies of high labor intensity, the low efficiency of ice and snow removal, and environmental pollution in traditional ice-deicing and snow-melting methods, we successfully developed a material that can effectively reduce the adhesive force between ice and snow with the pavement, aimed at the characteristics of the road ice de-icing and snow melting. According to the evaluation index and method of de-icing performance, we determined the ratio of the three components of the film-forming component, the adhesive component, the modified ice suppression component, and the preparation technology. It has no perfect evaluation index and method for the viscosity-reducing and ice-defending materials at present, this paper further evaluates the performance of the viscosity-reducing and ice-defending materials from the aspects of ice-deicing performance, durability, and environmental performance. The results show that the viscosity-reducing and ice-defending material has good permeability and water resistance. The material still has good ice-deicing performance after seven rounds of cycle tests at the same time, indicating that it has a good slow-release performance. It is verified that the viscosity-reducing and ice-defending materials have good durability using the low-temperature accelerated test. Finally, from the analysis and evaluation of the environmental protection performance of the viscosity-reducing and ice-defending materials, the materials have no effect on the growth of plants and their average corrosion rate is much lower than the average corrosion rate of the snow melting test piece, which means that the viscosity-reducing and ice-defending materials have good environmental performance.

The deposition of textile waste into landfill has reached an unsustainable level and raises serious environmental issues across the world. Transforming textile waste into fiber reinforcement in cementitious composites offers a sustainable resolution toward a circular textile economy. This article presents a comprehensive review of environmental concerns, recycling routes for textile waste, together with an in-depth review of the engineering properties of concrete incorporating recycled textiles. In general, the incorporation of these recycled fibers from textile waste enhances strain capacity, crack control, durability, and energy absorption of concrete via dual effects: bridging action (direct mechanism) and refinement of pore distribution (indirect effect). An improvement in compressive strength can be achieved by the utilization of a small dosage of recycled fibers or recycled fiber fabrics in concrete (strength < 40 MPa). Finally, the cost and environmental benefits for eco-efficient building application are also evaluated to draw the attention of researchers toward these potentially recyclable waste materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is one of the most abundant resources in the ocean, which provides food for several important species in the Antarctic Ocean, and is targeted commercially by humans for many decades. To sustainably manage and harvest the species, energy-efficient, catch-efficient, and selective fishing gears should be developed for the Antarctic krill trawl fishery. This study investigates the effect of twine area and the liner length on the engineering performance of trawl through flume tank testing of trawl model to predict the performance of the full-scale midwater trawl used in the Antarctic krill fishery. Four 1/35th scale trawl model nets with varying lengths of the liner, based on the traditional trawl used in the Antarctic krill fishery, were designed using modified Tauti’s law and were tested in a flume tank at different towing speed, door spread, heavy bob weight, and the ratio of buoyancy to the fishing line (F/G). The results showed that the reduction in liner length by 25 and 50% from the traditional trawl net led to the decrease in twine area by 11.01 and 19.31% and, consequently, resulted in reductions in the lower bridle tension by 12.44 and 19.78%, and increases in energy efficiency by 17.98 and 25.73%, respectively. In addition, the reduction in liner length by 25 and 50% were found to increase the net mouth opening by 2.63 and 5.38% and the swept area by 6.52 and 8.38%, respectively, both of which are proportional to catch rates. Although the trawl net with 50% liner length is more energy-efficient and large mouth opening than those of the trawl net with the liner length over 75% of the trawl body, the large mesh section without a liner can result in the escape of the krill from the trawl, reducing overall catch efficiency. We, therefore, recommend the trawl with 75% of liner length as a suitable design for Antarctic krill considering energy efficiency and catch efficiency.

Solidification/stabilization (S/S) is one of the most widely used techniques in the disposal of heavy-metal-contaminated soil, though the long-term effectiveness of S/S technology remains implicit. Temperature is an important factor affecting the leaching behavior of heavy metals and the long-term effectiveness of S/S treatment. This study systematically explored the influence of temperature on the leaching behavior of lead in an S/S monolith through semi-dynamic leaching test at different temperatures. The results showed that an increase in temperature could accelerate the leaching concentration and cumulative leaching amount of lead ions in the S/S monolith. The cumulative leaching amount of lead ions in the S/S monolith after 11 days at 55 °C was about 5.8 times that at 25 °C. The leaching rate of lead ions in the S/S monolith increased with the increase in temperature. The leaching index of lead ions was larger than 9, which met the requirements for “controlled utilization” in the environment. The leaching mechanism of lead ions was diffusion control and did not change in the temperature range of 25–55 °C. These findings indicate that temperature affects the leaching behavior and the long-term effectiveness of S/S treatment, and temperature variation should be considered in the effectiveness evaluation of S/S treatment.

The unquantified environmental impact and economic benefits of steel slag based asphalt mixture, as well as the difficulty in directly utilizing steel slag fine aggregate (SSFA) due to solidification, limit the utilization of steel slag in asphalt mixture. This research proposed an innovative method of using steel slag coarse aggregate (SSCA) and steel slag powder (SSP) filler prepared by grinding solidified SSFA to replace ordinary natural resources to prepare stone mastic asphalt (SMA) mixture. The feasibility of the proposed utilization method of steel slag was determined based on the analysis results of main engineering performance, environmental impact and economic benefits of steel slag SMA mixture (SSSM). The ordinary SMA mixture (OSM) was functioned as a control group. The investigated main engineering performance included fatigue performance, moisture stability, high-temperature deformation resistance and low-temperature crack resistance. Environmental impact was evaluated based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) method, and the relationship between the transportation distance of steel slag, common basalt and the emission characteristics was deeply analyzed. In addition, economic benefits were determined based on the cost calculation results. Results showed that SSSM was superior to OSM in terms of these main engineering performance. The emissions from SMA mixtures increased with the extension of transportation distance of steel slag or basalt. From the perspective of reducing emissions, choosing steel slag aggregate had advantages when the transportation distance was less than 365 km, otherwise, it was recommended to choose basalt. Under three different transportation distances (short, medium and long distance transportation), the introduction of steel slag in SMA mixture reduced the greenhouse gas emissions by 1.1%–8.6%, of which the raw material production stage contributed the most. Furthermore, SSSM exhibited higher economic benefits, with a functional unit of SSSM pavement saving the cost by 14.4%–19.8%. Therefore, using steel slag as a substitute for coarse aggregate and filler in SMA mixture can promote the reuse of solidified SSFA, reduce the environmental impact and total cost of all stages of constructing SMA pavement. • Steel slag powder prepared by grinding solidified fine steel slag was used as filler. • Add steel slag into SMA mixture (SSSM) simultaneously in the form of coarse aggregate and filler. • SSSM has better engineering performance than ordinary SMA mixture. • Steel slag is an environmental and economical substitute for natural aggregates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gangue grouting and backfilling for the subsequent space after coal mining can effectively address solid waste disposal and protect the ecological environment in the mining area. In this study, gangue sand (GS) with different particle size grading (A: 4.75 - 2.36 mm; B:2.36 - 1.18 mm; C: 1.18 - 0.6 mm; D: 0.6 - 0.3 mm; E: 0.3 - 0.15 mm; F: 0.15 - 0.075 mm; G: 0.075 - 0 mm) and water contents (H) were considered, and the fluidity, bleeding rate and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of the pure gangue backfilling slurry (PGBS) were determined as response objectives. Subsequently, fifty-two sets of proportion optimization schemes of the PGBS were generated by a D-optimal mixture design, the individual and interactive effects of influencing factors on the response objectives were studied, and the optimal proportion of the PGBS was globally obtained based on a multi-objective optimization algorithm. The variance (ANOVA) results show that the P -values of the prediction model for fluidity, bleeding rate, and UCS are less than 0.0001 (much less than 0.05), their lack of fit P -values are greater than 0.05, and their R 2 reaches 0.9225, 0.8780 and 0.8378, respectively. The three response-targeted prediction models are statistically significant and highly effective, demonstrating superior fitting to experimental data and accurate forecasting of the PGBS performance. The gangue sand with a particle size of 0.075 - 0 mm (G) and water content (H) have decisive effects on the three response objectives, and G exhibits a similar effect to that of cementitious powder in PGBS. Additionally, the two influencing factors A-F, A-H, D-G, and E-G have significant interactive effects on fluidity, and D-H has a significant interactive effect on bleeding rate. The optimal proportion of PGBS obtained by the multi-objective optimization algorithm is A: B: C: D: E: F: G: H = 0.15: 0.13: 0.04: 0.06: 0.099: 0.1: 0.184: 0.237. The results of repeated experiments suggest that the error between the predicted value and the measured value of the three responses is less than 6%, and the optimization results are accurate and reliable. Moreover, the surface of the PGBS sample with the optimal proportion exhibits fewer pores, and the powder (<10 µm) uniformly adheres to the surface of GS with different particle sizes. These features facilitate the formation of a tightly-connected flocculent structure and the improvement of pumping characteristics and mechanical properties of the slurry. The research provides an empirical and pragmatic foundation for achieving the large-scale, efficient, and environmentally friendly disposal of coal gangue. [Display omitted] • The composition of pure gangue backfilling slurry (PGBS) contains only gangue sand (GS) of particle size grading and water. • A multi-objective optimization design method of mixture design and differential evolution algorithm was employed. • The fluidity, bleeding rate, and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of PGBS are investigated experimentally. • The powder (<10 µm) uniformly adheres to the surface of GS with different particle sizes, which significantly affects the transport characteristics and mechanical properties of PGBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the strength development characteristics and engineering performance of different coal-based solid waste filling materials cemented into filling body, coal gangue was used as coarse material, fly ash, desulfurization gypsum, gasification slag, and furnace bottom slag as fine material, and cement as a gelling agent. The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and bleeding rate of coal-based solid waste cemented backfill (CBSWCB) were tested by an orthogonal experiment, and the influencing factors of mechanical properties and strength development were analyzed. The multiple generalized linear model of strength and bleeding rate was established, and the optimal filling material ratio was determined. The engineering performance index of CBSWCB with the optimal ratio was tested. The results show the following points: (1) the concentration and content of desulfurization gypsum had a great influence on the early compressive strength of CBSWCB, while fly ash, gasification slag, and furnace bottom slag had little influence on the early compressive strength. (2) High concentration, high content of fly ash and furnace bottom slag, low content of desulfurization gypsum, and gasification slag can significantly improve the early strength. High concentration and high content of fly ash, low content of gasification slag, furnace bottom slag, and desulfurization gypsum are beneficial to the later strength increase. (3) Under the optimal ratio scheme, the bleeding rate of CBSWCB was 1.6%, the slump was 16.6 cm, the cohesion was general, the segregation resistance was good, the initial setting time was 5.42 h, the final setting time was 7 h, and the early strength after curing for 8 h reached 0.24 MPa.

This study aimed to evaluate the durability and engineering performance of concrete mixed with locally produced ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) based on CaO content and ratio, and to derive the optimal CaO content range that can secure durability. Hence, tests were conducted by increasing the GGBS replacement ratio by 10% from 0% to 70%, while the unit binder weight was fixed at 330 kg/m3. The results indicated that the compressive strength exhibited a tendency to increase when the CaO content and basicity increased within 28 d of age, although similar compressive strength characteristics were observed at 56 d of age, irrespective of the CaO content and basicity. Additionally, four test items (i.e., carbonation depth, chloride penetration depth, relative dynamic elastic modulus, and weight reducing ratio) were measured to evaluate durability. The optimal CaO content satisfying all four parameters was observed as ranging between 53% and 56% (GGBS replacement ratio: 27.5%–47.1%). The results of the study can provide guidelines on the mixing proportions of GGBS concrete with excellent durability that can be applied to local construction sites and can be used as basic data to set chemical composition criteria for the development of binders to improve durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid rise in the number of plastic products, recycling plastic waste has become a crucial challenge worldwide. Recycling plastic waste in asphalt pavement has emerged as an alternative solution to traditional mechanical and chemical recycling methods. However, there has been limited research into the comprehensive exploration of using plastic waste in porous asphalt pavement, an ecologically sustainable and safer form of pavement. This study aims to assess whether recycling plastic in porous asphalt pavement through wet process is a sustainable strategy by analyzing its engineering, environmental, and economic implications. The engineering properties of plastic-porous asphalt pavement, including rutting resistance, moisture sensitivity, abrasion resistance, cracking susceptibility, and fatigue life, were evaluated to verify if this strategy can provide adequate performance and durability. In addition, this study also examines the potential impacts of plastic waste on the aquatic environment due to the crucial significance of water resources. Moreover, a life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) was performed to determine the economic benefits of incorporating plastic waste into porous asphalt pavement. The results indicate that the incorporation of plastic waste can enhance the rutting and stripping resistance of porous asphalt pavement, but excessive use of plastic waste may reduce its abrasion resistance. Furthermore, recycling plastic waste in porous asphalt pavement does not contribute to aquatic environmental pollution, and the appropriate use of plastic waste has the potential to generate economic benefits. Overall, this study proves that recycling plastic waste in porous asphalt pavement is a sustainable engineering solution to address the plastic waste crisis and create a circular economy for plastics. • Rutting and stripping resistance of porous asphalt improves by adding plastic waste. • Plastic waste degrades the cracking and abrasion resistance of porous asphalt. • Low-density polyethylene exhibits better performance than other types of plastic. • The utilization of plastic waste will not lead to water pollution. • Utilization of plastic waste reduces the life cycle cost of porous asphalt pavement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Evaluating the performance of wastewater treatment represents a challenging and complex task as it usually involves engineering, environmental and economic (3E) factors. In this study, we developed an 3E triangle model to evaluate the performance of environmental technologies (i.e., anaerobic-anoxic-oxic reactors, oxidation ditches, and membrane bioreactors) and ecological technologies (i.e., stabilization ponds, constructed wetlands, and slow-rate systems) for wastewater treatment. A total of 17 key performance indicators, such as energy consumption, pollutant removal, global warming potential and wastewater treatment fees, were considered in the 3E triangle model. The results indicated that, in terms of engineering performance, both the membrane bioreactors and constructed wetlands were stable, effective and reliable during their operating periods. When the environmental impacts of wastewater treatment technologies were compared via a life cycle assessment, the ecological technologies showed superior performance, in terms of environmental impacts, especially for the global warming potential and eutrophication potential. In general, environmental technologies exhibited higher treatment fees and unit construction costs because of their large power consumption and equipment costs. In contrast, ecological technologies had higher unit land use due to their large area requirements and low treatment capacity. In overall, both the membrane bioreactors and constructed wetlands showed excellent overall performance in the 3E triangle model. Wastewater treatment plant are typical case studies for addressing the interactions of water and energy elements. Reducing energy consumption is a hotspot for the research field of membrane bioreactors, while constructed wetlands are continually improved and optimized to have broad applications for rural wastewater treatment. Highlights • MBRs and constructed wetlands are superior in terms of engineering performance. • Ecological technologies have superior performance in terms of environmental aspect. • Environmental technologies have higher treatment fee and unit construction costs. • Ecological technologies have higher unit land use due to low treatment capacity. • Both MBRs and constructed wetlands showed excellent performance in the 3E triangle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The optimum preparation technology of CF-GT conductive asphalt mixture with low resistivity are clarified. • The resistance and stress of the mixture have an excellent linear correlation in NPC stage. • The feasibility of applying graphite tailings to prepare the conductive asphalt mixture is demonstrated. The massive accumulation of graphite tailings (GT) brings huge pressure to environmental engineers. Meanwhile, the conductive asphalt pavement industry is suffering from the high construction cost and the complex acquisition of conductive materials. The application of GT in asphalt mixture as a conductive material may be a win–win solution for the above concerns. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of preparing carbon fiber graphite tailings (CF-GT) conductive asphalt mixture. The optimum preparation technology and material ratio were explored. The service performance tests of the conductive asphalt mixture were conducted, including conductive characteristics, electrothermal performance and pavement performance. Based on the experimental results, 0.3% (mass fraction) 6 mm-polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fiber (CF) and 12% (mass fraction) GT were selected as conductive materials to prepare conductive asphalt mixture with resistivity of 5.75 Ω∙m. The addition of GT reduced the resistance by a maximum of 59.8%. The temperature-sensitive and pressure-sensitive characteristics of the mixture have staged characteristics. Moreover, the resistance and stress of the mixture have an excellent linear correlation in the positive pressure coefficient (PPC) effect stage and negative pressure coefficient (NPC) effect stage respectively, especially NPC. Conductive asphalt mixture has a good heating effect after being powered on. GT combined with CF enhanced the high-&low-temperature performance but deteriorated the moisture damage resistance performance of the asphalt mixture. The feasibility of CF-GT conductive asphalt mixture was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the durability and engineering performance of concrete mixed with locally produced ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) based on CaO content and ratio, and to derive the optimal CaO content range that can secure durability. Hence, tests were conducted by increasing the GGBS replacement ratio by 10% from 0% to 70%, while the unit binder weight was fixed at 330 kg/m3. The results indicated that the compressive strength exhibited a tendency to increase when the CaO content and basicity increased within 28 d of age, although similar compressive strength characteristics were observed at 56 d of age, irrespective of the CaO content and basicity. Additionally, four test items (i.e., carbonation depth, chloride penetration depth, relative dynamic elastic modulus, and weight reducing ratio) were measured to evaluate durability. The optimal CaO content satisfying all four parameters was observed as ranging between 53% and 56% (GGBS replacement ratio: 27.5%–47.1%). The results of the study can provide guidelines on the mixing proportions of GGBS concrete with excellent durability that can be applied to local construction sites and can be used as basic data to set chemical composition criteria for the development of binders to improve durability.

• MgO-DG-SS was used instead of cement to solidify dredged sediment. • Microscopic mechanism model of MgO-DG-SS solidified sediment is proposed. • MgO-DG-SS can significantly improve the sediment strength. • MgO-DG-SS can effectively immobilize the heavy metals in sediment. To improve the engineering performance of dredged sediment, a solidification study using reactive MgO in combination with desulfurization gypsum (DG) and steel slag (SS) was carried out. The results indicated that the optimum contents of MgO, DG and SS in the solidified sediment were 7.62%, 11.31% and 5.80%, respectively. The encapsulation, cementation and filling of hydration products of MgO-DG-SS made the soil microstructure more stable, thus significantly improving the mechanical properties of sediment. Meanwhile, the MgO-DG-SS could effectively immobilize the heavy metals in sediment through chemical bonding and adsorption of hydration products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the engineering performance and CO2 footprint of mortar mixers by replacing Portland cement with 10%, 20%, 40% and 60% fly ash, a common industrial waste material. Samples of self-compacting mortar (SCM) were prepared with four different water/binder ratios and varying dosages of superplasticizer to give three ranges of workability, i.e., normal, high and self-compacting mortar mix. The engineering performance was assessed in term of compressive strength after designated curing periods for all mixes. CO2 footprint was the environmental impact indicator of each production stage. The optimum mix obtained was at 10% replacement rate for all mixes. Total production emission reduced by 56% when the fly ash replacement rate increased from 0% to 60% (maximum). This is translated to a reduction of 80% in eco-points (assuming that the energy consumption rate of production with 0% fly ash is at 100%). Such re-utilization is encouraged since it is able to reduce possible soil toxicity due to sulfur leaching by 5% to 27% and landfill area by 15% to 91% on average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the modification of brucite fiber, fiber reinforced asphalt binder and asphalt mixtures were prepared and tested. Lignin fiber, basalt fiber and polyester fiber were used for comparative studies. Water absorption, oven heating, mesh-basket draindown were designed to evaluate the fiber wettability, thermostability, asphalt absorption and stabilization. Cone penetration test and dynamic shear rheometer test were applied to research the shear resistance rheological property and rutting resistance of fiber reinforced asphalt. In addition, the microstructure of fibers and reinforced asphalt binders were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, the engineering properties, containing high temperature stability, low temperature cracking resistance and moisture susceptibility, were conducted. Results show that brucite fiber has a better state of preservation in humid environment and thermostability than lignin fiber. It obtains a better effect on asphalt absorption and stabilization than basalt fiber and polyester fiber. Besides, the brucite fiber can effectively improve the rutting resistance and shear prevention of asphalt binders. The brucite fiber obtains a spatial networking to enhance the adhesion and stabilization of asphalt binders. The results also indicate that the asphalt mixture mixed with brucite fiber shows great high temperature stability, low temperature cracking resistance and moisture susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the engineering performance and CO2 footprint of mortar mixers by replacing Portland cement with 10%, 20%, 40% and 60% fly ash, a common industrial waste material. Samples of self-compacting mortar (SCM) were prepared with four different water/binder ratios and varying dosages of superplasticizer to give three ranges of workability, i.e., normal, high and self-compacting mortar mix. The engineering performance was assessed in term of compressive strength after designated curing periods for all mixes. CO2 footprint was the environmental impact indicator of each production stage. The optimum mix obtained was at 10% replacement rate for all mixes. Total production emission reduced by 56% when the fly ash replacement rate increased from 0% to 60% (maximum). This is translated to a reduction of 80% in eco-points (assuming that the energy consumption rate of production with 0% fly ash is at 100%). Such re-utilization is encouraged since it is able to reduce possible soil toxicity due to sulfur leaching by 5% to 27% and landfill area by 15% to 91% on average.

The rapid change in technology among organizations motivates the need for researchers and practitioners to form new practices by understanding, re-examining and integrating the key determinants of obsolete practices. In the same way, this study aims to compositely examine the role of leadership, concurrent engineering (CE) and teamwork in a Malaysian semiconductor manufacturing firm. A total of 226 survey responses were collected back from the 2100 surveys distributed and analysed using correlation and multiple linear regression analyses. The results showed that the relationship between leadership-CEteamwork and engineering performance was stronger than that of the other individuallytested relationships. Though best practices in leadership are important for achieving a team's goal, a more flexible and cooperative leadership may be formed with the integration of CE, teamwork and leadership. Top management should consider exploring more opportunities in all these components for improved engineering performance and synergy among engineering teams. Tactical strategies based on various leadership styles, team member competencies and CE approaches should also be formulated to strengthen the flexibility of current leadership styles. The results can be potentially used as general guidelines for the engineering management practice and research in engineering firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using steel slag to partially replace the natural aggregate in asphalt mixture to produce high-performance asphalt mixture has gained significant interest in recent years as a value-added option to recycle steel slag. However, the poor homogeneity of the material properties of steel slag aggregates remains a concern for this recycling approach. In this study, an innovative method of using industrially produced steel slag powder (SSP) to replace the mineral filler in asphalt mixture was proposed to address this concern. Five fillers, including four SSP fillers, obtained by grinding different steel slag aggregates with an industrialized production line, and one conventional limestone powder (LP) filler, were evaluated. The chemical compositions and micro-morphologies of the SSPs were first characterized to evaluate the material homogeneity and gain insights into the advantages of using SSPs as fillers. Then, asphalt mixtures with different fillers were designed and produced, and their moisture stability, rutting resistance, and low-temperature crack resistance, were characterized. It was found that the industrially produced SSPs possessed homogeneous properties, and improved the compatibility between filler particles and asphalt binder. Besides, the asphalt mixtures with SSP fillers showed better resistance to the moisture damage, permanent deformation, low-temperature crack in terms of fracture energy, than the asphalt mixture with LP filler. Therefore, it was concluded that using SSPs as a replacement of mineral fillers in asphalt mixture provided a reliable and value-added solution to recycle steel slag. • Steel slag powders (SSPs) were used to replace limestone powder (LP) filler. • The properties of SSPs were more homogeneous compared to steel slag aggregates. • SSPs showed some advantages when used as fillers in terms of material properties. • SSPs did better in improving engineering performances of asphalt mixture than LP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]