Fly ash for sustainable roads: A comprehensive review on mechanisms and performance optimization

作者：Yingxin Hui, R.L. Zhang, Guangyu Men, Huaqiang Yuan, Shizhou Gu, Li Ma, Di Wang · 发表于：Journal of Road Engineering · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.jreng.2025.07.001 · 被引用次数：10 · 研究领域：Concrete and Cement Materials Research、Coal and Its By-products、Recycling and utilization of industrial and municipal waste in materials production

Fly ash (FA), a major solid waste from coal-fired industries, represents a critical pathway for the green disposal of bulk solid waste and the low-carbon construction of transportation infrastructure, holding significant strategic importance. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted on the mechanisms, optimization, and applications of FA-based road engineering materials. This review focuses on FA-based road engineering material systems, synthesizing previous studies from three perspectives: cement concrete pavement materials, asphalt mixture pavement materials, and stabilized soil road materials. The findings reveal that FA significantly enhances road material performance through its pozzolanic activity, micro-nano filling effects, and interfacial strengthening. In cement concrete systems, the synergistic interaction of pozzolanic reactions and microsphere filling achieves microstructural densification. Integrating particle size optimization, nano-modification, and alkali activation techniques can overcome the mechanical strength and durability limitations of traditional FA systems. For asphalt mixtures, leveraging FA’s porous adsorption characteristics and chemical bonding effects optimizes the asphalt-aggregate interface adhesion, while alkali activation further extends its application scope. In stabilized soil systems, FA enhances soil integrity by forming cementitious networks, with structural reinforcement achievable through alkali activation and composite ...