Pervious Concrete Pavement Research Articles

Effects of Mixture Proportions and Molding Method on the Performance of Pervious Recycled Aggregate Concrete

The use of pervious concrete pavement systems with recycled aggregates is a sustainable and innovative solution to major urbanization challenges such as repurposing construction waste, alleviating urban waterlogging, and reducing heat-island effects. This study aims to investigate the effects of mixture proportions and molding methods on the performance of pervious recycled aggregate concrete (PRAC). To this end, the coarse aggregate size (4.75~9.5 mm, 9.5~16 mm, and 16~19 mm), the molding method (layered insertion-tamping and vibration molding with vibration times of 5 s, 10 s, or 15 s, respectively), and the replacement rate of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) (0%, 30%, 50%, and 100%, respectively) are considered. The results reveal that the addition of RCA to permeable concrete weakens its permeability. However, the compressive strength of PRAC reaches its maximum value when the RCA replacement rate is 50%. A larger aggregate particle size (16~19 mm) enhances the compressive strength of PRAC, yet decreases the permeability of PRAC. By using vibration molding to fabricate PRAC, an extension to the vibration duration increases the compressive strength, yet concurrently decreases the permeability. Based on the compressive strength and permeability coefficient of PRAC, the optimal mixture proportions and molding method are suggested.

Evaluating the effectiveness of innovative pervious concrete pavement system for mitigating urban heat island effects, de-icing, and de-clogging

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect and water runoff pose significant challenges in urban environments. This research aimed to mitigate the UHI effect through the implementation of an innovative pervious concrete pavement (IPCP) system. Furthermore, the study investigated the main obstacles associated with conventional permeable pavements, such as clogging and vulnerability to freeze-thaw damage. To achieve this goal, a physical model apparatus was developed to simulate temperature variations, de-icing processes, and clogging incidents in the IPCP system. This apparatus was specifically designed with distinct sections for both the pervious concrete layer and the subbase layer. The findings revealed that careful selection of an appropriate subbase material significantly contributed to reducing the temperature rise (up to 37 %) under varying environmental conditions by enhancing evaporative cooling capacity. Additionally, the pavement simulation apparatus featured a dual-function drainage system. This system not only regulated the water level within the pavement by draining excess water but also addressed clogging (with up to 97 % permeability recovery) and de-icing concerns through the application of air pressure and hot water injection, respectively.

Acid rain resistance of geopolymer recycled pervious concrete featuring top-bottom interconnected pores under freeze-thaw cycles and fatigue loads

While pervious concrete with top-bottom interconnected pores enhances the performance of pervious concrete pavements, its resistance to acid rain under combined freeze-thaw cycles and fatigue loads remains unexplored. To fill this gap, this study investigated the influence of three different qualities of recycled coarse aggregates on the acid resistance, acid neutralization, and permeability of geopolymer recycled pervious concrete (GRPC) (Low-quality, middle-quality and high-quality geopolymer recycled pervious concrete (L-GRPC, M-GRPC and H-GRPC)) under the couple effects of simulated acid rain wet-dry cycle spraying, fatigue loads and freeze-thaw cycles. After experiencing the combined action of fatigue load and freeze-thaw cycle, only the compressive strength of L-GRPC increased slightly by 9.1 % after acid rain spraying, but it had a negative impact on the flexural strength. With the increase of coupling environmental factors, the neutralization depth of GRPC was less than 4 mm, and the permeability coefficient was higher than 0.5 mm/s. Furthermore, more gypsum crystals were observed in the SEM images, and new peaks corresponded to the gypsum phase (CaSO4) appeared at 2θ = 29.4° and 2θ = 21.6° in the XRD spectra. The research results provide a broader perspective for the application of GRPC in concrete pavement engineering in acid rain area.

Comparative assessment of recycled concrete and recycled asphalt aggregate in pervious concrete: emphasis on strength and life cycle assessment

ABSTRACT Pavements create an impermeable layer, contributing to a decrease in groundwater recharge and a rise in flood frequency in urban areas. Pervious concrete pavement (PCP) is considered one of the solutions to address the problems associated with impermeability. Due to the low-strength applications of PCP and to address the environmental issues associated with recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) and recycled asphalt pavement (RAP), studies have used them as replacements for natural aggregate (NA). Past studies recommended the optimum RCA or RAP content based on mechanical and durability investigations. This study investigates strength and environmental aspects of using RCA and RAP in PC by replacing NA with RCA and RAP at 30, 60, and 90% by volume. The compressive strength of RCA-PC mixtures at 7 days was found to be higher than that of RAP-PC mixtures, while RAP-PC mixtures displayed better abrasion resistance. Total embodied energy (TEE) and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) with 90% replacement of RCA and RAP were 6.5–7.5% and 12.5–13.42% lower than control mixtures for different transportation distances, respectively. The cost-per-strength ratio indicated that RCA-PC mixtures were more preferred than RAP-PC mixtures. Overall, the study recommends 30% RCA/RAP content in PC, considering strength, cost, and environmental aspects.

Exploring the efficacy of travertine pervious concrete pavement: A novel approach for urban runoff heavy metal mitigation

To reduce the dependence on natural aggregates and to improve the utilization of solid waste, travertine waste cutting stone pieces were used as aggregate to produce travertine pervious concrete (TPC). This paper focuses on the effect of various factors, including contact time, travertine replacement rate, cement amount used, contact area and competitive adsorption on the removal of Cd2+, Cu2+ and Pb2+ by TPC and travertine under the rapid method and immersion method. The results showed that the contact time between TPC and heavy metal solution directly affects the adsorption capacity. The removal rates of Cd2+, Cu2+ and Pb2+ (95.28–100.00 %) with the immersion method are greatly higher than that under the rapid method (only 12.38–27.45 %). Encased in cement paste, travertine aggregates in pervious concrete can only remove 1.52–4.80 % of heavy metal ions. As the main adsorbent for heavy metal ions, the cement paste reported in this study can remove almost all heavy metal ions in the solution under the long-term leaching tests. Furthermore, the travertine itself with porosity and high CaO also has a higher ability to remove heavy metals and its removal capacity was also directly affected by the contact area. Under the influence of ternary competitive mechanism, the adsorption capacity of TPC is Pb2+ > Cd2+ > Cu2+. Finally, a laboratory-scale TPC pavement (TPCP) with a rainfall system was built. The 72.17–96.23 % urban runoff could be removed by TPCP in one hour, and the removal rates of TPCP for Cd2+, Cu2+ and Pb2+ all exceeded 96.0 % within 30 minutes, demonstrating environmental friendliness.

Effect of eco-friendly pervious concrete pavement with travertine waste and sand on the heavy metal removal and runoff reduction performance

To address the negative environmental and economic impact of the large amounts of solid waste generated during travertine mining and to reduce the dependence on natural aggregates and cement for pervious concrete pavement applications, travertine waste, as aggregate and powder, was used for the travertine powder pervious concrete (TPPC) to improve the utilization of solid waste and decrease CO2 emissions. The experimental results showed that using 25% travertine aggregate and 5% powder results in a compressive strength reduction of only 9.8% to 25.92 MPa but a significant improvement in water permeability of 57.1% from 3.89 to 6.11 mm/s. To improve the performance of TPPC, further research was done on the effect of sand addition rate (SAR) on TPPC's density, compressive strength, porosity, water permeability, freeze-thaw resistance and heavy metal removal capacity to obtain an optimal incorporation ratio. As SAR rises, the compressive strength of TPPC with sand (STPC) initially increases and then decreases, while permeability behaves inversely. At 3% SAR, the compressive strength reached a maximum of 26.51 MPa, primarily due to the sand added to fill in some of the pores and stabilize the gradation. After 25 cycles, the strength loss rate of STPC varies from 11.39 to 17.93% and the freeze-thaw resistance is most excellent when SAR is 3%. The removal rate of heavy metals using the immersion method was found to be significantly higher (83.4–100%) compared to the rapid method (11.7–28.1%). Therefore, the 3% SAR was recommended for the mixture design of STPC. A laboratory-scale version of the pavement was constructed to assess the efficacy of STPC pavement (STPCP) in reducing runoff and removing heavy metals. The results showed that STPCP could remove more than 94% of runoff with varying intensities after 1 h. The STPCP exhibited removal rates ranging from 42.0 to 99.4% for Cd2+ and 79.5–95.4% for Cu2+. STPCP also attained a removal rate above 98% for Pb2+ after 30 min, demonstrating its environmental friendliness.

Colour pervious concrete pavements applied to bikeway track: mechanical, hydraulic and functional performances

ABSTRACT Pervious concrete pavement test sections employing coloured permeable concrete were constructed as an experimental bicycle lane. For two of the sections, coloured concrete was used with pigment addition consisting of Fe2O3 (red) and Cr2O2 (green). The impacts on the resistance and stiffness of the concretes when using these pigments were analysed in relation to the reference concrete (grey). Alterations in plasticiser dosage during mixing were readily observed with the red concrete. The flexural strength increased substantially in the case of the red coloured concrete, as well as the modulus of elasticity of the material. Initial infiltration rates decreased with the use of coloured pigments, especially for red concrete, with expressive drops in permeability. Simultaneously, the resistance to friction given by the British Pendulum Number was reduced due to the use of red or green pigments. The consequences of using red pigment with a very high grains specific surface are discussed, since they are advantageous in the case of mechanical responses eventually inferior in terms of hydraulic and functional aspects.

Application of pervious concrete pavement in the "breathe in-breathe out" design for sponge cities in China.

Sponge city construction is an ideal approach to mitigate the degradation of urban water environments. Among road materials, permeable concrete pavement stands out due to its unique structure that allows rainwater runoff to flow through its pores. This paper analyzes the current application status and the prospect of different permeable pavement designs in China's sponge cities, aiming to offer valuable insights for urban planning and construction. Statistical analysis summarizes the spatial-temporal distribution patterns of urban flooding disasters in China and their causes. By comparing the characteristics and advantages of pervious concrete pavement with traditional concrete pavement, the potential of permeable concrete pavement in sponge city construction is summarized through case studies. The findings highlight that by adjusting the pore size, permeable concrete pavement can collect rainwater while filtering impurities, thereby purifying surface runoff. The range of the pervious coefficient should ideally fall within the range of 4~8 mm/s. In addition, the pavement's large contact area with the air and internal water evaporation contributes to its self-regulating capability, reducing the occurrence of extreme temperatures. Related experiments have shown that from 8 am to 12 pm, pervious concrete pavement can reduce the temperature by approximately 1 °C compared to conventional concrete. From 12 pm to 8 pm, this temperature difference increases to approximately 3 °C. To meet the needs of environmental protection and resource utilization, permeable concrete pavement can serve as an ideal tool to achieve green and low-carbon development.

Investigation of sustainable pervious concrete pavement performance using waste travertine aggregate and powder

Travertine cutting generates rubble and waste powder, prompting the need for effective waste utilization. This study aims to develop travertine permeable concrete (TPC) using travertine aggregate and waste powder. An orthogonal test method assessed TPC variations in travertine powder replacement rates, aggregate grading, and void content for porosity, permeability, mechanical strength, and heavy metal adsorption ability. The void content greatly influences the amount of cementitious material and is crucial for TPC performance. To guarantee compliance with the engineering performance for fully pervious pavement, the recommended void content of TPC should not exceed 20 % to have satisfactory compressive strength and permeability. Cement replacement with 5–10 % travertine powder can satisfy engineering requirements, heavy metal adsorption, waste utilization, and CO2 emission reduction. TPC demonstrates much lower removal rates under the rapid method than the immersion method for Cd2+, Cu2+ and Pb2+, mainly due to the difference in contact time. After 25 cycles, the optimized TPC shows less mass and strength loss, demonstrating excellent freeze-thaw resistance. Furthermore, a novel lab-scale rainfall simulation system for travertine permeable concrete pavement (TPCP) was built to assess the water infiltration of TPCP. TPCP can effectively reduce runoff, reaching over 96 % within 1 h for various inflow intensities. After half an hour, the removal rates of Cd2+ and Cu2+ by TPCP were only 41.5 and 79.1 %, respectively, but TPCP achieves exceptional Pb2+ adsorption with a removal rate of over 97 % under the ternary competitive mechanism.

An Experimental Investigation on Porosity and Permeability Co-efficent for Pervious Concrete Pavement by Statistical Modelling

Abstract: Pervious concrete has varieties of names such as porous concrete, permeable concrete, no fines concrete and porous pavement. It is a special type of concrete with high permeability rate with porosity used for roadways applications that allows water from precipitation and other sources to pass directly through thereby reducing the runoff from a site and allowing recharge. The present research concentrates about bringing out the most efficient porous concrete by varying water cement ratios and size of aggregate. The main properties studied include porosity, compressive strength and water permeability. These properties were compared with those for conventional concrete. Although water permeability is the most important characteristic of the pervious concrete, there is no well-established method for its quantification. Therefore, an experimental procedure to assess the water permeability of pervious concrete is developed. Fine Pervious concrete is considered as FPC, Coarse Pervious concrete is considered as CPC, Nominal Pervious concrete is considered as NPC. Water cement ratios used are 0.28, 0.30, 0.32 and 0.34. It is observed that out of all varying water cement ratios from 0.28 to 0.34, FPC 3 got the highest compressive strength and later it decreased. CPC 2 got the highest compressive strength and later it decreased. NPC 1 got the highest compressive strength and later it decreased. However there is a lot of deviation in compressive strengths from grade of concrete since it is pervious concrete. It looks clear that with increase in water cement ratio there is decrease in Porosity percentage and permeability.

Evaluation of the Properties of Fiber-Reinforced Pervious Concrete Pavement Incorporating Glass Powder and Kaolin

Evaluation of the Properties of Fiber-Reinforced Pervious Concrete Pavement Incorporating Glass Powder and Kaolin

Development of a Methodical Framework to Calculate Rational Height of the Riser Strip in Pervious Concrete Pavement Construction

Abstract Pervious concrete pavement (PCP) system is an emerging technology due to its sustainability and stormwater management capabilities. Globally, there is no standard procedure for the design and construction of PCPs. However, one empirical technique used during the field implementation encompasses the provision of 9–9 mm of riser strip for PCP surface course, as also suggested by the American Concrete Institute. To advance the PCP design toward a mechanistic approach, this paper provided a methodology to compute the rational height of the riser strip based on correlations between different properties of pervious concrete (PC) and the uncompacted PC mixture density. Additionally, a user-interactive program called “Pervious Concrete Pavement Construction Assistant Program (PCPCAP)” was also developed using MATLAB. Furthermore, the proposed methodology was evaluated by preparing small-scale test slabs in the laboratory and field with a target porosity of 34 %. Cores were extracted from the 7-day-cured slab and tested for porosity and hardened density. The results showed an excellent match between target and measured porosities with a difference of less than 3 %. Additionally, the calculated hardened density corresponding to the target porosity and the measured hardened density were also in good agreement, with a difference of only 3 %. It is noteworthy that the proposed framework will help during the construction of PCPs, conforming to the desired properties in an effective and practicable manner. Overall, it is envisioned that this first-of-its-kind methodical technique could be used by contractors and practitioners to enhance the quality of PCP construction as part of field implementation practices.

Effect of chemical additives and recycled aggregate size on the properties of pervious concrete pavement

Effect of chemical additives and recycled aggregate size on the properties of pervious concrete pavement

Experimental Study on the Mechanical Properties of Reinforced Pervious Concrete

Pervious concrete (PC) has gained popularity as an environmentally friendly solution for mitigating the urban heat island effect and promoting sustainable construction. However, its lower compressive strength, attributed to its higher porosity required for permeability, poses challenges for withstanding heavy vehicle loads on pavements. Our study aims to improve the flexural strength of regular PC by adding advanced reinforcing materials like steel wire mesh or glass fiber mesh. This results in reinforced pervious concrete, referred to as RPC, which offers enhanced strength and durability. The primary objective of our research is to investigate the mechanical behavior of RPC, with a specific emphasis on essential design parameters such as PC elastic modulus, modulus of rupture, and stress–strain characteristics under both single and repeated loading conditions. Our findings reveal that the influence of repeated loading on the compressive strength and elastic modulus of PC pavement is negligible, as there are no significant differences observed between the two loading protocols. Notably, our statistical analysis indicates that the PC strength (fc′) averages around 15 MPa. Moreover, empirical formulas for the elastic modulus (Ec = 3072fc′) and modulus of rupture (fr = 0.86fc′) are derived from our research. Furthermore, our study establishes that the stress–strain behavior of PC closely aligns with the general concrete model proposed by a previous scholar, providing valuable insights into the material’s structural performance. These findings contribute to a better understanding of RPC’s mechanical properties and offer potential solutions for improving its suitability for heavier vehicular loads.

From waste to resource: utilizing municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash and recycled rubber in pervious concrete pavement

From waste to resource: utilizing municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash and recycled rubber in pervious concrete pavement

Study of the Mechanical and Physical Properties of Pervious Concrete Modified with Treated and Untreated Natural Coconut Fiber for Pavement

Pervious concrete pavements (PCP) are a novel material that numerous researchers are studying and focusing on. Its inexpensive cost, quick construction, and simple implementation are gaining favour. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanical properties of pervious concrete pavement as well as the effects of modifying it with natural fibres such as coconut fibre. In this study, two types of coconut fibre were used: untreated (raw) fibre and alkali-treated fibre, as well as aggregates of various grades. By varying the amount of coconut fibre added by volume fractions of 3%, 6%, and 9%, the PCP mixes were generated. The fibre was treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and is 2.5–3.5 cm long. The results showed that a 3% addition of treated natural fibre improved the mechanical properties of the PCP. Natural coconut fibre is able to be used as a concrete modification to improve its flexural behaviour and strength. According to the findings of this study, using 3% coconut fibre in the mix design of PCP at the age of 28 days improves tensile strength by 1.3 MPa, compressive strength by 4.8 MPa, and flexural strength by 1.92 MPa, whereas using 6% and higher fibres decreases flexural and split tensile and compressive strengths.

Field investigation of clogging with different sediment types in a permeable pavement system with low-cost maintenance

Maintenance has a significant impact on permeable pavements’ service life. Proper cleaning procedures include pressure washing and heavy-duty wet/dry vacuum to remove accumulated sediment and maintain permeability. Aiming to analyze the influence of sediment type and size on the clogging process and the importance of preventive maintenance, six experimental permeable pavement modules were assessed. Pairs of in-situ Pervious Concrete (PC), Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement (PICP) and Permeable Interlocking Pervious Concrete Pavement (PIPCP) were monitored over two consecutive periods: i) under natural clogging process; ii) accelerated clogging under sand and clay sediment types. At the end of both periods, all modules received maintenance through water pressure washing. The results showed a reduction of up to 80% in the surface infiltration capacity during the natural clogging period, but that most of it could be recovered using pressure washing. Result in all situations also reinforced that periodic cleaning every 4-6 months, even with just pressure washing, as a key factor to extend permeable pavements’ life cycle.

Evaluation of mechanical properties of silica fume mixed with pervious concrete pavement

Evaluation of mechanical properties of silica fume mixed with pervious concrete pavement

Graphical user interface (GUI) for gradation of aggregate in pervious concrete pavements based on particle packing approach

ABSTRACT Pervious concrete, a unique type of concrete utilised in pavement construction, plays a crucial role in addressing environmental concerns like groundwater recharge and stormwater runoff. This concrete variant eliminates most or all fines in the mix, creating interconnected void spaces that facilitate the percolation of water at higher rates. The goal is to strike a balance between porosity, strength and permeability, ensuring the pavement to withstand loads while effectively managing water flow. In this study, it is attempted to develop aggregate gradation for the desired percolation rates of concrete matrix using two Particle Packing Models (PPM), viz. Compressible Packing Model (CPM) and Modified Taufer Model (MTM). The results of PPM are compared with IRC 15:2017 aggregate grading specifications. This study is also extended to determine compressive and flexural strengths for different porosities of aggregate system and w/c ratios using the relations established from the literature. For a pervious concretes with a constant water-to-cement (w/c) ratio of 0.50 and an aggregate packing density of 0.7 for Pavement Quality Concrete (PQC), it was observed that with increase in porosity from 15% to 25%, the compressive strength decreased by 40.66% and the flexural strength decreased by 22.96%. A Graphical User interface (GUI) is developed for the gradation of aggregates to simply the process of proportioning through experimentation.

Laboratory evaluation of heavy metal removal from stormwater runoff by pervious concrete pavement containing seashell and oil palm kernel shell

One of the major issues related with impermeable surfaces such as impervious concrete pavement in urban area is the collecting of rain as stormwater runoff, which then moves harmful natural and man-made pollutant into the natural water bodies such as lakes, streams, rivers, etc. This study investigated the effect of pervious concrete containing palm oil kernel shell and seashell on removing dissolved heavy metals contaminants from stormwater runoff. Therefore, mixtures were made, which replaced 6.3–9.5 mm limestone with 25 and 50% of 6.3–9.5 mm and 4.75–6.3 mm of both shells. The specimens were cured in a fog room and void content were tested. Specimens with same void content (23%) are selected to reduce experimental variability from differing void content. Pervious concrete cylinders were loaded in the laboratory with collected stormwater runoff, and concentrations, volumes of influent and effluent evaluated. Ten consecutive storm events of 200 mL in 20 min of rain are simulated to test heavy metal removal performance. The range of heavy metal removal for pervious concrete mixture containing seashell was 37 and 93% which was higher than that of control mixture (39–73%). However, the rate of heavy metal removal for specimens incorporating kernel shell was between 14 and 63% which was lower than that of control mixture. The results showed that the waste materials can be considered as one of the sustainable runoff purification methods, respecting their effective heavy metal removal rate in runoff, as well as the reasonably low cost and consumption when used on the pervious concrete pavement.