Effect of the rheological properties of fresh binder on the compressive strength of pervious concrete

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of the rheological properties of fresh binder on the compressive strength of pervious concrete. Pervious concrete can be used to reduce stormwater runoff, urban heat island effect, or noise. Because of a limited amount of binder, the compressive strength of pervious concrete is one of the most critical properties for its structural applications. Although researchers have revealed the important factors contributing to the compressive strength of pervious concrete, still the effect of rheological properties of fresh binder have been rarely investigated. This study measured the plastic viscosity, yield stress, adhesion energy of fresh binder using a rotational rheometer; and the data were compared with the compressive strength of the pervious concrete. The experimental variables were flowability and water-to-cement (w/c) ratios of binder materials, target porosity, and the adoption of silica fume and fibers. The test results indicate that the adhesive energy results in the best correlation with compressive strength among various rheological properties. Three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) scanning test also demonstrates the effect of the rheological conditions of the binder on the homogeneity of pervious concrete.