Permeable Concrete

Published on 16 Apr 2022. Written by Reddy Shekar

One way or another, concrete structures always contributing pollutants for environmental pollutions. In heavy rainfall areas, the concrete pavements becoming a major source for water pollution.

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Because, during heavy rainfall, the stormwater runoff (containing pollutants and toxic chemicals) on pavements is discharging into sewers and streams. This continuous phenomenon increasing the rate of water pollution in water bodies like streams and rivers. To avoid this serious problem researchers developed a new type of concrete called “Permeable Concrete”.

The soil beneath the pavements has a great ability to filter the contaminated stormwater runoff. If the concrete designed to allow the rainwater to pass through the pavement and reach the soil beneath the pavement. Then soil and plant roots absorb the pollutants from the rainwater. Permeable or pervious concrete offer this kind of property for pavement or slab to allow the water to pass through it.

About permeable concrete:

Permeable concrete is a special type of concrete which creates a very porous medium that allows water to drain to the underlying soils. It is a mixture of cement, water, and coarse aggregate. Chemical admixtures added to the permeable concrete in case of special situations. The permeable concrete structures encourage the natural infiltration of the area. So that the filtered water can recharge the water table. The storage potential of the system will increase with the addition of coarse granular material below the pavement.

Materials required:

1. Cement
2. Coarse aggregate
3. Water

How to make permeable concrete:

1. Collect ingredients such as fine cement, water and 3/8 inch coarse aggregates to prepare the permeable concrete.
2. Add the correct amount of water to the cement. If you add too much water, then the concrete will become impermeable in nature.
3. If you add less water, it will result in segregation of ingredients.
4. Take a tray to mix up the concrete. Pour the coarse aggregate and cement into the tray.
5. Now, add the accurate amount of water to start mixing the ingredients.
6. After the proper mixing of ingredients, squeeze the handful of concrete into a ball.
7. If the ball holds the ingredients together for a while, then that is a correct amount of water present in the mix.
8. Repeat the above procedure until you get the correct amount water-cement ratio.
9. Then, you can use the permeable concrete to construct pavements and slabs.

Applications:

The permeable concrete can used in the following areas,

1. Low-value pavements
2. Residential roads
3. Low-water crossings
4. Parking lots
5. Sidewalks and pathways.

Benefits:

1. Reduce the storm water flow and pollutants loads.
2. Ingredients are easily available.
3. Act as an excellent replacement for asphalt in parking lots.
4. Easy to install.
5. More durable than normal concrete.
6. Cost effective.
7. Eliminate the costly drainage systems.

Conclusion:

With the wide range of applications permeable concrete is becoming the most useful construction material. Not only does it decrease surface runoff, due to the lighter colour of concrete reflects sunlight and stays cooler in the summer.

Kit required to develop Permeable Concrete:

• Cement
• Coarse aggregate
• Water

Technologies you will learn by working on Permeable Concrete:

• concrete Technology

Any Questions?