Influence of Pavement Composition and Pore Structure on Water Infiltration
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.4315Keywords:
porosity, permeability, water infiltration, pervious concrete, porus asphalt, permeable material, stormwater managementAbstract
Water scarcity and stormwater runoff are growing concerns, especially in regions such as Southern California where water resources are limited. This study investigated how the composition of pavement materials influences water infiltration by comparing conventional concrete, asphalt, and brick with permeable alternatives. Six material samples were tested using a consistent experimental setup, and recorded water-transmission measurements were compared over time. The results showed noticeable differences among the materials, with the porous asphalt sample producing the greatest recorded transmission during the experiment. However, not every permeable material performed better than its conventional counterpart, indicating that pore size, pore connectivity, sample preparation, compaction, and water retention may influence performance. Overall, the experiment suggests that properly designed permeable pavement materials can improve infiltration and may help reduce surface runoff, while also demonstrating that greater expected porosity does not automatically produce greater permeability.
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