Pervious Pavement Design

Design | Hydrological | Structural

Two factors determine the design thickness of pervious pavements: the hydraulic properties, such as permeability and volume of voids, and the mechanical properties, such as strength and stiffness. Pervious concrete used in pavement systems must be designed to support the intended traffic load and contribute positively to the site-specific stormwater management strategy. The designer selects the appropriate material properties, the appropriate pavement thickness, and other characteristics needed to meet the hydrological requirements and anticipated traffic loads simultaneously. Separate analyses are required for both the hydraulic and the structural requirements, and the larger of the two values for pavement thickness will determine the final design thickness.

Specification Guidance

Recommendations and specifications for pervious concrete have been prepared by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA 2004b), the Florida Concrete and Products Association (FCPA 2001), the Georgia Concrete and Products Association (GCPA 1997), and the Pacific Southwest Concrete Alliance (PSCA 2004). ACI Committee 522 is actively preparing a comprehensive document on the use of pervious concrete.

Hydrological Design of Pervious Concrete: a description of the fundamental hydrologic behavior of pervious concrete pavement systems and a demonstration of the basic design methodologies appropriate for a variety of sites and circumstances. The limitations of these methodologies will also be briefly discussed.