Multiscale Understanding of Pervious Concrete Using Digital Packing and Automated Permeability Testing

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. First, the research team 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, the team 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. The research 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.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $57,842.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348335

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Department of Transportation

  Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Performing Organizations:

  Center for Healthy and Durable Transportation

  University of Missouri Kansas City
  Kansas City, Missouri  United States  64110
• Principal Investigators:

  Ginn, Timothy R.

• Start Date: 20260101
• Expected Completion Date: 20261231
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Coarse aggregates; Concrete; Digitization; Mathematical models; Permeability; Porous materials; Test procedures
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01987034
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Healthy and Durable Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348335
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Apr 23 2026 5:09PM