High-strength clogging resistant permeable pavement

ABSTRACT

Permeable pavement is utilised in order to alleviate flooding in towns, cities and other urban areas, but it is prone to clogging, has relatively low strength and requires regular maintenance. We have developed a novel permeable pavement with low tortuosity pore structure that can be cast on-site that is not only resistant to clogging, but also has high permeability and strength. This high strength clogging resistant permeable pavement (CRP) was prepared by introducing straight pore channels of varying size and number into self-compacting mortar. Samples with porosity ranging from 2 to 32% were tested. In all cases, permeability and compressive strength were substantially higher than conventional permeable concrete. More significantly, CRP can be engineered with low porosity (5%), high strength (> 50 MPa) and high permeability (> 2 cm/s), but does not clog despite extensive cyclic exposure to flow containing sand and clay. A simple method to model the permeability of CRP from the pore structure is described. We report for the first time a high strength clogging resistant permeable pavement capable of retaining sufficient porosity and permeability for storm-water infiltration without requiring frequent maintenance. This innovative system will help alleviate urban flooding and contribute towards a more sustainable urbanisation.

KEYWORDS:

• Pervious concrete
• permeable concrete
• clogging potential
• permeability
• pore structure
• self-compacting

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Mr. Lewis Hornby’s contribution in the development of site delivery options for CRP. We thank Mr. Andrew Morris and Ms. Varvara Pozoukidou for their assistance with the laboratory work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Alalea Kia acknowledges the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for funding her PhD through the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Sustainable Civil Engineering at Imperial College London.