Influence of compaction energy on pervious concrete properties and vertical porosity distribution

Abstract Compaction is a fundamental step in pervious concrete production and affects its mechanical and hydraulic properties. In this study, two pervious concrete mixtures were compacted with three different energies, distributed in two and three layers. The effects on porosity, mechanical strength and hydraulic conductivity were evaluated. The increase in compaction energy resulted in a proportional reduction in porosity. Increases in compressive strength from 17 to 36% were observed. However, permeability reduced proportionally, with decreases of 0.2 to 0.4 cm/s. The three-layer compaction resulted in a more homogeneous vertical distribution of porosity when compared to the two-layer compaction. Although the aggregate/cement ratio was the most influential parameter, the compaction energy should also be considered in the pervious concrete mixture design. While increasing the compaction energy enhances the mechanical strength of pervious concrete, excessive compaction may cause the fracture of the coarse aggregate, reducing its mechanical and hydraulic performance. Thus, for each mixture an optimum compaction energy can be defined to maximize the performance of pervious concrete.