Optimisation of pervious concrete performance by varying aggregate shape, size, aggregate-to-cement ratio, and compaction effort by using the Taguchi method

The porosity and compressive strength of pervious concrete are critical determinants of its suitability for various applications. Therefore, it is necessary to recognise the factors influencing the performance and its ranks to balance porosity and compressive strength ideally. This study evaluates the impact of aggregate shape, size, aggregate-to-cement ratio and compaction effort on previous concrete performance. The research involved varying aggregate sizes (5-12 mm, 12-18 mm and 18-25 mm), aggregate-to-cement ratios (3.0, 4.0 and 5.0), compaction efforts (0, 30 and 60 blows) and aggregates underwent revolutions in a ball mill (0, 200 and 1000) to change their morphological characteristics. A total of 81 mix designs were tested, resulting in 486 cubes for compressive strength and porosity testing. The acquired data underwent analysis using the statistical analysis and Taguchi method to discern the most influential factors and establish their ranking. The results indicate that revolutions, compaction, aggregate-to-cement ratio and aggregate size contribute 29.42%, 26.19%, 29.13% and 0.96%, respectively, to the compressive strength performance. Regarding porosity performance, revolutions and compaction emerge as significant factors, accounting for 39.95% and 26.91%, respectively. The influence of the aggregate-to-cement ratio and aggregate size on porosity performance appears less pronounced.