PERMEABLE CONCRETE

ADVANTAGES
WHAT IS PERMEABLE CONCRETE?
• Reduce storm water runoff
• This is a special type of concrete with a high porosity that allows water to • Allow groundwater
pass through. This is also known as ‘no-fine concrete’, ‘porous concrete’, recharge
‘pervious concrete’. • Low cost
• Constituents: Cement, Coarse aggregates, Water, Chemical admixtures, • Eliminate hydrocarbon
with little or no sand. pollution from asphalt
• Can be manufactured as
precast blocks/panels, so
OVERVIEW that easy installation
DESIGN OF THE SAMPLE • Durable
• Usually, the mixture of permeable concrete has a water- • Sustainable
• Coarse aggregates : Cement : Water = 1:5:1.6 cement ratio of 0.28 to 0.40 with a void ratio of 15 to 25 • Good for temporary
• Water-cement ratio = 0.32 percent. installations
• Initial slump: 141mm • The addition of a small amount of sand will increase the • Can be used for erosion
• Rock chips were used as coarse aggregates. strength. control & retaining soils
• No sand was used. • A low water-cement ratio will increase the strength of the
• Admixture: Sika Viscocrete 2055 concrete, but too little water may cause surface failure.
• Cost: Rs. 12408 per m3 • Compressive strength of the permeable concrete is DRAWBACKS
within a range of 500 to 4000 psi (3.5 MPa to 28 MPa)
• Additional water is
APPLICATIONS absorbed to crushed drain
• Stormwater management rock base.
• As a sub-base layer under heavy-duty • Fine particles tend to fill up
pavements the void spaces; thereby
• House gardens, parking lots, driveways and reduce the permeability.
sidewalks, sports pitches • Lower strength compared
• Ground floors of amusement centers, to conventional concrete.
greenhouses, fish hatcheries, zoos • Sensitive to climatic
• Infill panels for high-rise buildings changes. (wearing off may
• Hydraulic structures (seawalls, reefs) occur in winter)

Department of Civil Engineering

University of Sri Jayewardenepura