Pervious Concrete: Mix Design, Properties and Applications

Current climatic changes are occurring due to various human and industrial activities. In particular, the effects of urbanisation and growing threat of global warming have likely caused increasing precipitation in many geographic regions. For many years, portland cement pervious concrete (PCPC) has been making an important contribution, as a sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS), on improving environmental conditions. This type of porous concrete can help minimizing flooding risks, recharging ground water, reducing run off and peak flows, alleviating the precipitation load on overstressed drainage systems and improving water quality by capturing pollutants. The benefits of using PCPC in order to attenuate stormwater problems are quite essential mainly in urban areas where most surfaces typically consist of relatively impervious concrete or asphalt pavements, causing elevated levels of surface runoff. In addition, PCPC can reduce the absorption of solar radiation and urban heat storage potential which can lead to temperate urban conditions, and thus protecting the environment and health and safety of living things. However, PCPC requires regular maintenance to prevent any clogging of the pores by sediments and vegetation. This article provides an overview on pervious concrete mix design, key properties, durability and applications. Also, it touches on practical and scientific challenges of PCPC.