Development of Sustainable Porous Concrete Using Recycled Waste Materials for Permeable Pavement Applications: "Rain to Recharge – Porous Concrete with a Purpose"

Rapid urbanization has increased impermeable surfaces, leading to reduced groundwater recharge and increased stormwater runoff. This research presents the development of sustainable porous concrete using recycled waste materials under the slogan “Rain to Recharge – Porous Concrete with a Purpose.” The porous concrete was prepared using recycled hollow block aggregates, waste plastic bottle pieces, rubber pieces, silica, ordinary Portland cement, water, and super latex without the use of fine aggregates. The mix was designed for M15 grade concrete with a water-cement ratio of 0.3. Experimental investigations were carried out using a Universal Testing Machine (UTM) to determine compressive strength, tensile strength, permeability, and density after 7 days of curing. The developed porous concrete achieved compressive strength of 6.4 N/mm², tensile strength of 0.63 N/mm², permeability of 9.74 mm/sec, and density of 1400 kg/m³. The results indicate that the developed porous concrete exhibits excellent water infiltration capacity while maintaining sufficient strength for low-volume pavements, sidewalks, parking areas, and groundwater recharge systems. The incorporation of waste materials contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing solid waste disposal and promoting eco-friendly construction practices.