Pervious Concrete Pavement Integrated Laboratory and Field Study

Pervious concrete pavement is an environmentally friendly, sustainable paving material for low-volume, low-speed applications. Pervious concrete has been used in warm climates extensively, but its use in freeze-thaw climates has been limited. The Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology at the University of Waterloo and the Cement Association of Canada, Portland Cement Association, and local Canadian ready-mix producers have partnered to carry out a Canada-wide study to evaluate the performance of pervious concrete. Three test sections have been constructed to date with more planned for the future. The current test sections are located in southern Ontario and southern British Columbia. They are designed to represent all aspects of pervious concrete including but not limited to materials, design mixtures, structural design, potential applications, fresh and cured properties, permeability, environmental strain, filtration capabilities, and maintenance needs and options. A surface distress evaluation form has been developed with information gathered from two of the test areas as well as a literature review. Two test areas have experienced a winter season and showed minimal surface distresses and maintained permeability. Permeability testing is carried out regularly to track changes as well as to evaluate effects of winter maintenance. Instrumentation has been installed at the test areas to track moisture movement throughout the structure, strain caused by environmental conditions, and the filtering capabilities of pervious concrete. The results of this project will be instrumental in understanding the performance and behavior of pervious concrete in the Canadian climate.