A Bibliometric Analysis and Review on Applications of Industrial By-Products in Asphalt Mixtures for Sustainable Road Construction

• Published in: Buildings (Basel) 2024-10, Vol.14 (10), p.3240
• Main Authors: Alnadish, Adham Mohammed, Bangalore Ramu, Madhusudhan, Kasim, Narimah, Alawag, Aawag Mohsen, Baarimah, Abdullah O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregates; Asphalt; Asphalt mixes; Bibliographic coupling; bibliometric analysis; Bibliometrics; Bottom ash; By products; Byproducts; Chemical reactions; China; Citation analysis; Co authorship; Copper; copper slag; Environmental engineering; Environmental impact; Environmental protection; Environmental sustainability; Fly ash; Foundry sands; Highway construction; India; industrial by-products; Industrial wastes; International economic relations; Moisture resistance; Natural resources; Phosphorus; Product introduction; Red mud; Resource consumption; Road construction; Road construction industry; Silica; Silica fume; Slag; Software; Steel; steel slag; Sustainability; Sustainable development; Sustainable practices; Trends; Visualization
• ISSN: 2075-5309; 2075-5309
• DOI: 10.3390/buildings14103240

The growing consumption of natural resources to meet the needs of road construction has become a significant challenge to environmental sustainability. Additionally, the increase in industrial by-products has raised global concerns due to their environmental impacts. The utilization of industrial by-products in asphalt mixtures offers an effective solution for promoting sustainable practices. The objective of this article is to conduct a bibliometric analysis and citation-based review to characterize and analyze the scientific literature on the use of steel slag aggregates, copper slag, phosphorus slag, bottom ash, fly ash, red mud, silica fume, and foundry sand in asphalt mixtures. Another aim is to identify research gaps and propose recommendations for future studies. The bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer software version 1.6.18, focusing on authors, co-authorship, bibliographic coupling, and countries. A total of 909 articles were selected for the bibliometric analysis. The findings indicate that more effort is needed to expand the application of industrial by-products in asphalt mixtures. Furthermore, these by-products should be utilized in different types of asphalt mixtures. The incorporation of industrial by-products into asphalt mixes also requires field validation and further laboratory investigations, particularly concerning aging and moisture resistance. In addition, the effects of chemical reactions involving industrial by-products on the long-term performance of asphalt layers should be evaluated. Finally, this article encourages engineers and researchers to intensify their efforts in utilizing industrial by-products for environmental sustainability.