Experimental investigation and mixture design modelling of pervious concrete incorporating concrete and brick recycled aggregates

Incorporating recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) and recycled brick aggregate (RBA) in pervious concrete enhances its environmental value by reducing construction waste, conserving natural resources, and lowering carbon emissions. This study investigates the effects of RCA, RBA, and their binary and ternary combinations on the properties of pervious concrete using a mixture design model. The results show that increasing the RCA and RBA content reduces density, compressive strength, and abrasion resistance, while increasing the open porosity and influencing the permeability, which nevertheless remains within acceptable limits (5–8 mm/s) for drainage layers in pavement applications. Binary mixtures provide a suitable balance between strength and permeability, making them appropriate for low-traffic pavements. Ternary blends enhance mechanical stability, making them subjected to moderate traffic loads. A strong correlation was established between compressive strength, density, and open porosity, confirming the robustness and reliability of the adopted statistical model. Overall, the findings demonstrate that RCA and RBA can effectively replace natural aggregates (NA) in pervious concrete, offering a sustainable solution for pavement engineering by achieving a balance between environmental benefits, hydraulic efficiency, and mechanical performance adapted to different traffic conditions. Furthermore, RBAs offer economic advantages due to their local sourcing and reduced disposal costs.