Experimental Study of Properties of Pervious Concrete Used for Bridge Superstructure

One of the main advantages of pervious concrete is its ability to drain water easily. Moreover, ear-lier studies on pervious concrete have shown that it can be designed to perform well in freeze-thaw regions. Bridge superstructures placed in regions where the temperature during winter time varies around freezing point are exposed to a harsh freeze-thaw impact, since bridges are not only cooled from the topside, as a normal road bed, but also from underneath. Hence, the demands to the moisture properties of the superstructure are strict in order to ensure the necessary durability. Pearl-Chain Bridges are a new patented bridge technology consisting of a number of Super-Light Deck elements, which are post-tensioned to create an arch bridge used for example for highways. The present study investigates how pervious concrete can be applied as a stabilizing filling materi-al between the arch substructure and the wearing course. One pervious concrete mixture contain-ing air entrainment is designed and tested. The tests include investigations of compaction meth-ods, compressive strength, stiffness, frost resistance and permeability.