Seepage through permeable interlocking concrete pavements and their subgrades using a large infiltration table apparatus

Abstract

Permeable interlocking concrete pavements (PICP) are being used increasingly in stormwater management. A 2-year experimental study was conducted to quantify some uncertain parameters related to PICP. The study entailed the hydraulic testing of a representative volume of PICP within a specially constructed Infiltration Table Apparatus with a surface area of 10 m2, and able to be tilted up to 6°. The study aimed to address some of the controls of infiltration into, and flow through PICP by investigating the effect of the selected construction materials and the incline of the pavements. Based on the permeability data gained on PICP, it was verified that both the choice of construction materials (in both the layer works and the sand used for fill between the bricks) and the incline of the pavements were found to affect their hydraulic properties. In general, the selection of lower permeability materials in a PICP surface layer, and/or increasing the incline, decrease the overall permeability of the pavement.