Project Description:

This project develops a digital framework to better understand and predict the performance of pervious concrete. The work integrates (i) establishing a database of true three-dimensional (3-D) shapes and surface texture of coarse aggregates in pervious concrete, (ii) development of an automated permeability testing system for conducting reliable and robust measurements of hydraulic conductivity, (iii) reconstruction of a customizable 3-D digital model of pervious concrete by packing the digitalized coarse aggregates from database, which is validated by the key pore characteristics and reference testing results from automated hydraulic conductivity measurement.

To achieve the above-mentioned integration, the research will proceed through a series of coordinated actions (Fig.1). First, we will establish a database of digitalized coarse aggregates for modelling pervious concrete by employing an industrial-grade blue-laser 3-D scanner to obtain the true 3-D shape and surface texture of over 1000 coarse aggregates. The quantity of 1000 digitalized coarse aggregates is an adequate number for enabling digital packing. Next, an automated and robust permeability testing system will be developed to perform hydraulic conductivity measurement on pervious concrete specimens with controlled porosity, which provides reliable high-quality experimental results for model validation. Finally, we will build a customizable 3-D model of pervious concrete cylinder by packing digital coarse aggregates from the database, which can predict the pore structure and transport behavior of stormwater in pervious concrete. Our team has rich experience in digitalization of materials and developing experimental data-based 3-D models for modelling engineering properties and will complete developing the automated hydraulic conductivity testing system in six months. This testing system will include multiple high-frequency sensors simultaneously collecting pressure change data and flow rate change date, which can balance the accuracy, robustness, efficiency, and cost of hydraulic conductivity test. This framework ties together physical testing and advanced modeling to deliver practical, field-ready guidance with the objective of improving the efficiency and accuracy of pervious concrete design and reducing the construction cost of pervious concrete.

Outputs: 

• Design artifacts: Optimized material design guidance for pervious concrete (i.e., nominal maximum aggregate sizes, porosity ranges, surface roughness recommendations). 
• Models & software: A 3-D modelling method based on Altair EDEM Simulation. 
• Data: Database of coarse aggregates from 3-D scanning.
• Scholarly products: Technical report(s), journal/conference papers, and presentations documenting methodology and performance findings.

Outcomes/Impacts:

• Practice‑ready guidance enabling DOTs and municipal public works to deploy pervious concrete for applications with specific requirements in transportation infrastructure. 
• Policy/standards influence by providing evidence and models that can inform updates to pervious concrete design practices. 
• Economic benefits via reduced design and diagnosis cost and improved design efficiency. 

_{Fig. 1 Coordination of actions for developing a 3-D model of pervious concrete.}