Construction and Building Materials 12 Ž1998.

195]201

Improving slurry seal performance in Eastern Saudi Arabia using

steel slag

Muhammad Imran Khan a , H.I. Al-Abdul Wahhab b,U

a
Department of Ci¨ il Engineering, King Fahd Uni¨ ersity of Petroleum and Minerals, P.O. Box 44, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
b
Department of Ci¨ il Engineering, King Fahd Uni¨ ersity of Petroleum and Minerals, P.O. Box 1625, Dhahran 31261,
Saudi Arabia

Received 25 July 1997; revised 20 December 1997; accepted 23 February 1998

Abstract

Harsh climate, heavy traffic and, most importantly, use of low-quality aggregates have resulted in unsatisfactory slurry seal
performance in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, blast furnace steel slag, a superior aggregate type with
excellent strength and surface properties, is being wasted as a by-product during the steel manufacturing process. This research
was carried out to assess and improve the performance of slurry seal mixtures in the laboratory using the Aggregate Blend
Improvement Technique by incorporating steel slag aggregate. Aggregate blends consisting of slag and limestone were evaluated
to form an improved slurry seal mixture that will generate simultaneously greater wear-resistance and improved bonding
characteristics with bitumen. Results indicate that significant improvements in mixtures are guaranteed through improved
aggregate blending of slag with limestone. Q 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Slurry seal; Slag aggregate; Bitumen emulsion

1. Introduction ditions w3x. Research by Naji indicated that aggregate

The principal materials in any slurry-surfacing mix-
ture are crushed aggregate, bitumen emulsion, water
and additives such as mineral fillers and liquid- or
dry-set control additives. These ingredients are mixed
together according to a design-mixture in the labora-
tory w1,2x. Slurry seal is generally considered as the
most promising technique towards cheaper, faster and
better solution of various functional failures of de-
teriorated pavements including stripping, ravelling, ex-
cessive wear and low skid-resistant surface. The service
life of a slurry seal depends mainly on the selection of
material, effectiveness of design adopted, method of
placement, and prevailing environment and traffic con-
U terioration within a very short period of time.
Corresponding author. Tel.: q966 3 8602550; fax: q966 3
8602879.
type and quality have a dominating effect on the ser-
vice performance of slurry seal w4x.
Slurry sealing has been employed previously in the
eastern part of Saudi Arabia using locally-available
limestone aggregate, but its performance has never
been satisfactory. The slurry seal layers have always
deteriorated within 6]12 months, especially during the
summer with air temperature ranging between 408C
and 458C when the bitumen is relatively soft and has
less tendency to hold aggregate w4x.
Limestone aggregates are hydrophobic and normally
produce good bonding with bitumen. However, they
have low crushing strength, low abrasive resistance and
low soundness value w5x. Hence, when used with slurry
mixtures under harsh environment and heavy traffic
conditions, these aggregate types show complete de-
Locally available steel slag is a waste by-product of

0950-0618r98r$19.00 Q 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

PII S0950-0618Ž98.00005-1
196 M.I. Khan, H.I. Al-Abdul Wahhab r Construction and Building Materials 12 (1998) 195]201

the steel manufacturing process that poses a disposal

problem unless utilized. Slag aggregate has rough angu-
lar and durable particles, which makes it suitable for
surface treatment applications. Slag aggregate shows
better surface characteristics than limestone aggregate,
specifically, higher skid-resistance, lower sand equiv-
alent value, higher crushing strength, better resistance
to polishing and high soundness value w6x. However, the
use of the slag aggregates alone in the slurry mixtures
may lead to segregation, stripping and mixing prob-
lems. This is due to the higher density, less affinity for
bitumen as compared to limestone and very rough
surface texture of slag aggregate particles w6x.
Fig. 1. Aggregate gradation for ISSA type III.
The objective of this study is to improve the perfor-
mance of the slurry seal and to find out an optimum
mixture design to minimize the early deterioration of improved durability, higher friction and larger-sized
the slurry surfaces in the practice. In this study, aggre- particles, which are better on high traffic volume streets
gates were proportioned using the Aggregate Blend in summer w1,2x. The slag and limestone aggregates
Improvement ŽABI. technique. Advantages of both slag utilized in this investigation were originated from East-
and limestone were utilized so that, after curing, the ern Saudi Arabia near Hadeed steel factory and Abu-
desired surface texture and strength characteristics Hadriyah limestone quarry. The gradation curves of the
were obtained. aggregates are shown in Fig. 1. The most important
This paper presents the results of the laboratory characteristics determined by standard tests are also
tests in which the feasible use of slag aggregate to form summarized in Table 1.
an improved slurry seal surface showing less abrasive
loss was examined. These tests were carried out accord- 2.2. Filler
ing to the standards of International Slurry Seal As-
sociation ŽISSA. and the Ministry of Communications Fine limestone was used as a filler material. The
ŽMOC. Saudi Arabia Žadaptation of ASTM D 3910.. mixtures containing slag alone consisted of slag passing
The laboratory investigation consisted of 16 different a no. 200 sieve size.
combination of slag and limestone slurry seal mixtures
blended with selected bitumen emulsion content. The 2.3. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)
results were used to determine an optimum mixture
design utilizing statistical analyses. OPC was used to adjust initial set-time, cure-time
and to increase the workability and the aggregate bond-
ing. Three percent of OPC Žtype I. was used as a part
2. Materials of the filler mixture. The addition of Portland cement is
standardized in ASTM D 3910 w7x.
2.1. Aggregate
2.4. Emulsion
For this study, coarse aggregate type III standardized
by ISSA was incorporated. This aggregate type has Slow-setting cationic bitumen emulsion type ŽCss-1h.

Table 1
Aggregates and standard test results

Property Standard tests Slag Limestone

aggregate aggregate

Sand equivalent ASTM D-2419 85% 60%

Soundness ASTM C-88 2.8% 12%
Bulk specific gravity Žcoarse. ASTM C-127 3.477 2.600
Bulk specific gravity Žfine. ASTM C-128 3.536 2.704
Apparent specific gravity Žcoarse. ASTM C-127 3.528 2.721
Apparent specific gravity Žfine. ASTM C-128 3.689 2.902
Water absorption Žcoarse. ASTM C-127 0.658% 2.741%
Water absorption Žfine. ASTM C-128 0.844% 3.623%
L.A abrasion ASTM C-131 18.3% 29.4%
Plasticity index AASHTO T-88 Non-plastic Non-plastic
 M.I. Khan, H.I. Al-Abdul Wahhab r Construction and Building Materials 12 (1998) 195]201
Fig. 2. Schematic diagram of slurry seal improvement laboratory
programme.
from the Sand Fix Company in eastern Saudi Arabia
was used. The emulsion had the following properties
according to the standard of ASTM D 2397 w8x:
v content of the bituminous residue, 62.5%;
v water content of emulsion, 37.5%;
v viscosity, Saybolt Furol Viscometer at 258C, 22 s;
and
v particle charge of emulsion droplets, positive Žq..
2.5. Water
Regular potable water was used in all mixes. The
percentages of emulsion, water and OPC were selected
based on the dry weight of the aggregate.
3. Experimental programme and mixture design
The common practice in the slurry sealing jobs is to
test the selected materials for quality, construct a suit-
197
able slurry seal mixture design matrix and check the
cone-consistency, set-time, cure-time and the wet-track
abrasion loss of the slurry seal. The same methodology
was adapted to this study. The three-step experimental
programme of the investigation is shown in Fig. 2.
The approximate bitumen emulsion content for trial
mixtures, using the Centrifuge Kerosene Equivalent
ŽCKE. and surface capacity of coarse aggregate w8x,
were calculated in the range of 6.6%, 8.4% and 10.2%.
The adjusted bitumen emulsion content to 60% bitu-
men residue Žstandardized by the CKE method. was
found to be 6.3%, 8.0% and 9.8%. For practical pur-
poses, the following four percentages of bitumen emul-
sion contents in the slurry seal mixture, 7%, 9%, 11%
and 15%, were tested. The main objective was to
develop a trend Žcurve. of slurry seal performance with
different bitumen emulsion content.
The mixture design, shown in Table 2, consisted of
16 different aggregate blends with different bitumen
emulsion content. Each of the blends was given a
notation code Žlegend. to specify the various material
proportions. Blend numbers starting with letters A, B,
C and D correspond, respectively, to limestone alone,
slag plus limestone passing a no. 8 sieve size, slag plus
limestone passing a no. 30 sieve size and slag alone. At
the same time, the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 indicate that
the particular blend was proportioned with 7%, 9%,
11% and 15% bitumen emulsion, respectively. Hence,
for example, blend reference ‘B2’ translates to slag plus
limestone passing a no. 8 sieve size with 9% bitumen
emulsion content.
3.1. Testing
All test procedures were carried out according to
ASTM D 3910 specifications. Firstly, premixing of
water was carried out to enhance the surface properties
of the aggregates. Afterwards, optimum proportions of
aggregate, bitumen emulsion, mineral filler and water
giving a specified consistency to qualify the field work-
ability and flow conditions were determined using the
cone consistency test readings. Set-time and cure-time
were then determined by curing specimens. Disk-shaped
samples, 11 inches in diameter, were prepared for the
Wet Track Abrasion Test ŽWTAT.. Also, to keep the
testing temperature constant, each sample was fully
covered with water having a temperature of 308C in the
WTAT machine. In all tests, conditions regarding
curing and testing of samples were maintained under
an air ventilation system in order to simulate actual
field conditions.
4. Results and discussion
The results of the present investigation are discussed
198 M.I. Khan, H.I. Al-Abdul Wahhab r Construction and Building Materials 12 (1998) 195]201

Table 2
Selected aggregate blends and properties

Blend Aggregate type Emulsion Adjusted Adjusted Surface area of Bitumen film
no. Ž%. bulk apparent the aggregates thickness
density density Žm2rkg.a Ž m m.b

A1 100% limestone 7 2.486 2.636 9.074 2.510

A2 100% limestone 9 2.486 2.636 9.074 3.888
A3 100% limestone 11 2.486 2.636 9.074 5.265
A4 100% limestone 15 2.486 2.636 9.074 8.020
B1 Slagq limestone
passing no. 8 sieve 7 2.489 2.973 8.973 3.582
B2 Slagq limestone
passing no. 8 sieve 9 2.489 2.973 8.973 4.975
B3 Slagq limestone
passing no. 8 sieve 11 2.489 2.973 8.973 6.368
B4 Slagq limestone
passing no. 8 sieve 15 2.489 2.973 8.973 9.155
C1 Slagq limestone
passing no. 30 sieve 7 3.176 3.260 8.783 4.165
C2 Slagq limestone
passing no. 30 sieve 9 3.176 3.260 8.783 5.588
C3 Slagq limestone
passing no. 30 sieve 11 3.176 3.260 8.783 7.011
C4 Slagq limestone
passing no. 30 sieve 15 3.176 3.260 8.783 9.875
D1 100% slag 7 3.522 3.554 8.565 4.851
D2 100% slag 9 3.522 3.554 8.565 6.310
D3 100% slag 11 3.522 3.554 8.565 7.769
D4 100% slag 15 3.522 3.554 8.565 10.688c
a
California Highways method.
b
Public Works ŽHVEEM. method.
c
Highest observed value.

under three categories: Ži. cone consistency, set-time
and cure-time test results; Žii. Wet Track Abrasion Test
ŽWTAT. results for the qualifying aggregate blends
using previous tests results; and Žiii. results of a two-
factor analysis with aggregate blend type as one factor
and bitumen emulsion content as the other.
4.1. Cone-consistency, set-time and cure-time test results
(ASTM D 3910)
The cone-consistency test Žslump test. is used to
determine the proper consistency Žmix-design with
proper ratio of aggregate, filler, water and emulsion. as
related to flow and workability for slurry seal surface
placement in the field w9x. The set-time test determines
the time required for a slurry seal mixture to reach the
initial setting Žinitial setting of bitumen emulsion
droplets. with the paper bolt method w9x. A cure-time
test is used to determine initial cohesion of slurry
surface and resistance to traffic with complete removal
of water content. Total cure of a slurry surface is
obtained when complete cohesion between bitumen-
coated aggregate particle occurs. A cohesion-testing
device Žtorque measurement system of the slurry seal
surface . is used to measure cure-time. Disk-shaped
samples are placed below the pneumatically actuated
rubber foot Ž1 inch in diameter. with a pressure of 28
psi which is considered to be equivalent to that pro-
duced by an average automobile. The rubber foot is
twisted by means of a hand torque tester and the
torque value is taken. The torque procedure is re-
peated at specified intervals until the highest torque
reading obtained remains constant. The time required
to reach a constant maximum torque or until the
rubber foot rides freely on the slurry seal sample
without any aggregate particles being dislodged, is
recorded as the cure-time w9x.
Normally, the flow reading value in cone consistency
test between 20 and 30 mm is considered optimum for
field applications w10x. At the same time, set-time and
cure-time values should not exceed the values of 2 h
and 24 h, respectively w10x. Results of this section have
been summarized in Table 3. The mixtures containing
higher percentages of limestone must contain a higher
water amount to achieve the desired consistency flow.
This phenomenon can be related to the higher porosity,
absorption and surface adsorption of limestone par-
ticles w5x as compared to slag, which need lower quan-
tities of water for similar flow Žconsistency.. It was also
observed that the consistency of the mixtures contain-
 M.I. Khan, H.I. Al-Abdul Wahhab r Construction and Building Materials 12 (1998) 195]201 199

Table 3
Cone-consistency a results for different aggregate blends

Blend type Emulsion Pre-mix water Ž%.

Ž%.
6 7 8 8.5 9 10 10.5 11.5 12 12.5 13 13.5 14.5 15 15.5 16 20
b b
Limestone 7 } } } } } 11 } } } } } } } 20 } 28 42
alone 9 } } } } } } } } } } } } } } 27b } }
ŽA2]A4. 11 } } } } } } } } } } 18 } 27b } } } }
15 } } } } } 15 } } } } 26b } } } } } }
Slagq limestone 7 } } } } } 15 } } 21b } } 26b } } } } }
passing no. 8 9 } } } } } } } } } 27b } } } } } } }
sieve 11 } } } } } 19 } } 27b } } } } } } } }
ŽB2]B4. 15 } } } } } } 25b } } } } } } } } } }
Slagq limestone 7 } } } } } 17 } 27b } } } } } } } } }
passing no. 30 9 } } } } } 21b 26b } } } } } } } } } }
sieve 11 } } } } } 27b } } } } } } } } } } }
ŽC2]C4. 15 } } } 24b } } } } } } } } } } } } }
Slag alone 7 } } } } 28b } } } } } } } } } } } }
ŽD2]D4. 9 } } 23b } } } } } } } } } } } } } }
11 } 15 28b } } } } } } } } } } } } } }
15 29b } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } }
a
ASTM D 3910.
b
Acceptable mixtures readings.
} No reading for this value.

ing higher percentages of slag particle was sensitive to
any increase in the water percentage after a certain
level of water content. For example, the blend contain-
ing slag alone ŽD2]D4. indicates little improvements in
cone-consistency test readings up to 11% water con-
tent. After this level, a sudden change in flow is noticed
with any further increase in water content. This pheno-
menon is associated with the roughness and angularity
of slag particle surfaces w6x. Hence, a specified amount
of water is always required to lubricate slag particles in
order to achieve the required cone consistency flow.
Mixture blend consisting of 7% emulsion content was
discouraged from further tests because it failed to
produce satisfactory bonding characteristics with aggre-
gates due to the low bitumen emulsion content. Table 4
lists the mixture blends which will be tested further.
Slag particles have a relatively low affinity for bitu-
men as compared to limestone, low surface porosity
and rough and angular surface texture w6x. This was
confirmed at the end of set-time and cure-time tests
and final torque values as higher readings are observed
for mixtures containing higher amounts of slag par-
ticles. In addition, hairline cracks were noticed on
mixtures containing slag alone ŽD2, D3 and D4. result-
ing in an early failure of such specimens. This is related
to the addition of slag filler producing less bonding

Table 4
Mixture coding sheet for set-time, cure-time and wet track abrasion tests

Blend Type Emulsion Pre-mix Film

no. Ž%. water thickness
Ž%. Ž m m.

A2 100% limestone 9 15.5 3.888

A3 100% limestone 11 14.5 5.265
A4 100% limestone 15 13 8.020
B2 Slagq limestone passing no. 8 sieve 9 12.5 4.975
B3 Slagq limestone passing no. 8 sieve 11 12 6.368
B4 Slagq limestone passing no. 8 sieve 15 10.5 9.155
C2 Slagq limestone passing no. 30 sieve 9 10.5 5.588
C3 Slagq limestone passing no. 30 sieve 11 10 7.011
C4 Slagq limestone passing no. 30 sieve 15 8.5 9.875
D2 100% slag 9 8 6.310
D3 100% slag 11 8 7.769
D4 100% slag 15 6 10.688
200 M.I. Khan, H.I. Al-Abdul Wahhab r Construction and Building Materials 12 (1998) 195]201

Table 5
Set-time and cure-time readings a

Blend Set-time Žmin. Cure-time Žh. Final torque

no. Ž120-min max.. Ž24-h max.. Žg cmy1 .

A2 75 16 10 080
A3 68 16 9720
A4 70 15.5 10 080
B2 65 16 9864
B3 65 18 10 800
B4 55 21.5 10 296
C2 65 19 10 200
C3 67 23 10 008
C4 70 23 9730
D2 93 26 10 512
D3 109b 26 10 810
Fig. 4. Effect of emulsion contents on wet track abrasion test loss.
D4 97 26.5b 11 232b
a
ASTM D 3910. results indicates that both blends no. B2 and B3 show
b
Highest observed value. even greater loss of WTAT when compared with lime-
stone alone mixtures. This is a consequence of the slag
characteristics. Results of set-time, cure-time and final particles failing to get adequate bitumen emulsion con-
torque for selected mixtures blends are shown in Table tent to produce effective bonding as the larger amount
5. of porous limestone particles have already utilized the
major portion of the emulsion. That is why when bitu-
4.2. Wet track abrasion test (WTAT) results (ASTM D men emulsion content is increased to 15%, the per-
3910) formance of this blend is greatly improved. Although,
mixtures with slag alone give the least WTAT loss
Wet track abrasion loss indicates the slurry seal values but developed hairline cracks, as explained pre-
performance in the field w7,11x. Twelve mixture blends viously due to the lack of filler content, and hence are
were tested with different bitumen emulsion content considered to have failed. The best performance is
and the results are shown in Figs. 3 and 4. As expected, attained by mixtures containing slag aggregate plus
mixtures containing higher percentages of slag have limestone passing a no. 30 sieve size ŽC2]C4. which
produced higher values of WTAT resistance. This is give low WTAT loss and higher values of torque Ž10 200,
because slag particles are highly resistant to polishing 10 008 and 9730 g cmy1 , respectively. with acceptable
and abrasion. For mixtures containing slag aggregate, readings of initial set-time and cure-time readings.
the increase in bitumen emulsion content has shown
less WTAT loss. Due to the lower affinity for bitumen, 4.3. Statistical analysis of WTAT results
higher percentages of bitumen emulsion are needed to
A statistical analysis in the form of the analysis of
produce adequate bonding between slag aggregate par-
variance ŽANOVA. using two-factor analysis was em-
ticles. Mixtures containing slag aggregate and lime-
ployed in order to check the significance of the main
stone passing no. 8 sieve size have not shown better
treatment effects, namely, blend type and emulsion
performance, except for blend no. B4 which contains
content on wear loss. The analysis of variance for this
15% bitumen emulsion content. A close look at the
design is shown in Table 6, assuming that both factors
are fixed. The first factor Žrows. includes the four
mixture blends, i.e. A, B, C and D, and the second
factor Žcolumns. includes the three emulsion contents,
i.e. 9, 11 and 15%. All tests are evaluated at the 5%
level of significance ŽS.L... In this two-factor analysis,
both row Žaggregate blend type. and column Žemulsion
content. factors or treatments are of equal interest.
Specifically, the interest was to test the hypothesis
about the equality of row Žblend type. treatment effects
w12x:

H 0 : t 1 s t 2 s t 3 s t4 s 0
Fig. 3. Effect of aggregate blend on wet track abrasion test loss. H 1: at least one t 1 / 0
 M.I. Khan, H.I. Al-Abdul Wahhab r Construction and Building Materials 12 (1998) 195]201
Table 6
Analysis of variance ŽANOVA. table for the two-factor factorial design
Source of variation Sum of Degrees of
squares ŽSS. freedom Žd.f..
Blend type 206 436.1 3 68 812.03
Emulsion content 19 514.94 2 9757.468
Interaction 6041.243 1 6041.24
Error 17 281.94 5 3456.388
Total 249 274.2 11
And the equality of column Žemulsion content. treat-
ment effects:
H 0 : b1 s b2 s b 3 s 0
H 1: at least one b j / 0
The analysis of variance disclosed that aggregate
blend type Žrow. has a significant effect on the wear
loss, whilst emulsion contents Žcolumn. and interaction
between aggregate blend type and emulsion content
have not shown any significance. Thus improving aggre-
gate blend type will lead to improved results than just
varying bitumen emulsion content.
5. Summary and conclusions
This research was conducted to improve slurry seal
performance in the laboratory using a better aggregate
blend. Limestone and slag aggregate, when used in
isolation, did not perform well because of particular
problems associated with their use. The approach was
to utilize, at the same time, the good properties of
limestone Žgreater affinity for bitumen. and slag
Žgreater crushing and abrasion resistance .. This paper
summarizes the laboratory study in which the effects of
aggregate type and blend, and bitumen emulsion con-
tent on slurry seal performance were investigated.
Based on the results, the following conclusions are
drawn:
1. Mixture blend type has a significant effect on the
performance of slurry seal.
2. Limestone and slag, when used separately showed
poor performances.
3. Highest abrasion loss was observed for the high
limestone content, limestone-slag blend no. B2,
because of inadequate bitumen emulsion content
for this case.
4. Mixtures with slag alone ŽD2]D4. showed least
WTAT loss but they developed hairline cracks re-
sulting in failure.
5. Slag plus limestone passing a no. 30 sieve size
ŽC2]C4. produced overall improved results which
were within allowable limits.
201
Mean square F value F critical
ŽMS.
19.9086 5.41
2.82302 5.79
1.7478 6.61
6. The best performance was attained by the blend of
slag plus limestone passing a no. 30 sieve size with
15% bitumen emulsion content, mixture C4.
7. Blend no. C2 Žslag plus limestone passing a no. 30
sieve size with 9% emulsion. or no. C3 Žslag plus
limestone passing a no. 30 sieve size with 11%
emulsion. may be considered for economic field
applications.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to acknowledge the support pro-
vided by the King Fahd University of Petroleum and
Minerals during this research.
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