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Italcementi Group

Pervious Concrete
Practical Application of Pervious Concrete: Mix Designs that are workable NRMCA Conference
Rick Blackburn, May, 06
Axim
Italcementi Group

What is Pervious Concrete

It is a free drainage concrete with little or no sand: Designed for zero slump Has air void system of 1330% Can drain up to 3 gallon of water/hour Used in Florida for past two decades

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Italcementi Group

Definition

Why use Pervious?

EPA / LEED legislation Helps storm water systems by slowing water during rain and melt times Recharges local aquifers Helps improve ground water in local area

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Italcementi Group

Goals

How is it designed?
ACI design guide 211, Appendix 6 - Porosity calculation method related to components properties - Porosity to strength correlation - Paste to porosity correlation (compaction dependent) - Sand addition
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Italcementi Group

Mix Design

How is it designed?
Usual Mix Design:
Cement (Any Type) Coarse Aggregate Water / Cement Ratio Admixture 375 - 650 lbs.(224 388 kg) 2400 - 2800 lbs.(1431-1670kg) 0.27 to 0.38 HRWR, Retarder, VMA

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Italcementi Group

Mix Design

Recommendations
Use quality clean aggregates, tests performed with dirty stones are poor Moisture Content and absorption of coarse aggregate is crucial Sand addition sometime act reversely, increasing porosity instead of reducing it Increased cement content makes mix less workable, promotes meat balls and makes the mix stick in drums
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Italcementi Group

Mix Design

Recommendations
Water Cement Ratio should remain as low as possible, use higher ratio only if concrete is lightly compacted Mixing time should be 5 minutes in yard or longer, to allow aggregate coating After batching pervious should look glossy and should hold together in hand with simple gripping
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Italcementi Group

Mix Design

Mixing Procedure
No ACI 211 recommendations Our experience: Water, admixtures and aggregates (Duraflux line, 2000 Ni, Stop Set L) Mix for 1 minute Add cement Mix drum for 100 revolutions before leaving plant (~ 2 minutes wet batch)
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Italcementi Group

Application

Placement
Working time depends on admixtures mix design (Stop set L) Material once truck arrives cannot be dosed with more HRWR or water, will cause paste separation and plug the pervious bottom Keep surface from drying out (sensitive) Compaction, Compaction, Compaction
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Italcementi Group

Application

Placement Notes
Pre Placement - Base should be compacted stone 6 - Lifts designed for no greater than 6 or do multiple lifts - If only one lift, make sure lift allows for compaction of pervious
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Italcementi Group

Placement

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Durability of pervious
If pervious was placed and compacted properly the material will allow water to drain away With little or no water, freeze thaw is minimum Loading areas with heavy trucks still not advised
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Italcementi Group

Properties

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Strength of the Mix

Since this is pavement, flexural strengths is recommended Once paste is hardened, durability of aggregate influences final strength Proper compaction improves strength

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Italcementi Group

Properties

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Porosity of Pervious
Calculated for 20 % voids Actual porosity is higher Allows for optimum drainage Still have good strength

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Italcementi Group

Properties

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Mix Designs Used

Cement 3/8 Limestone W/C Ratio Duraflux 33 VMA Stop Set L Setting time
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Italcementi Group

Mix 1 600 2580 0.3 5 2 5 13.00

Mix 2 548 2580 0.35 4 3 3 7.00

Mix 3 462 2580 0.35 3 3 3 7.15

Case Study 14

Flexural Strength Results

Mix 1 Cement Content Flexural Strength 600 lbs. 735 psi Mix 2 548 lbs. 641 psi Mix 3 462 lbs. 513 psi

Slow set time helped mix one All three mixes tacky Strength of mix two was acceptable for pavement usage
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Case Study

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Improper Compaction
Old concrete techniques used Small lawn roller only compaction Single lift is over 6 inches Mix not level with concrete drive area
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Placement

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Common Compaction
Vibration skree used for compaction Lawn roller filled with fluid Extra material worked into surface

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Placement

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Good Compaction
Weighted hydraulic roller Secondary weighted roller Manual compaction around Edges Tool joints every 20

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Italcementi Group

Placement

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Conclusions
Follow ACI 211 formula Try to purchase clean aggregates Keep accurate moisture log on aggregate No addition of any admix or water once truck leaves yard

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Italcementi Group

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Conclusions contd.
600 psi flexural is attained Surface is durable With proper monitoring, pervious concrete is a quality ready mix product that can be produced by any supplier

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Italcementi Group

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