Experimental Investigation of Pervious-Impervious Concrete Layered System for Airport Runway Drainage

Severe operational hazards, including dynamic hydroplaning and reduced visibility is caused by the accumulation of surface water on airfield pavements, while it also places significant strain on conventional airport drainage infrastructure. This research presents an experimental investigation into the use of pervious concrete as a Sustainable Drainage System for pavements of airport. Pervious concrete creates an interconnected microporous network that facilitates rapid surface runoff infiltration by intentionally reducing and omitting the fine aggregates. As the mechanical strength of Conventional Pavement Quality concrete is higher so its application in aviation environment is traditionally limited. This study evaluates the structural and hydraulic performance of various pervious concrete mix proportion by varying water-cement ratio, aggregate sizes and aggregate to cement ratio. Laboratory tests such as compressive strength and hydraulic conductivity are conducted at 7-day and 28-day curing interval. The primary goal is to optimize the mix design to get a viable balance between drainage performance and structural load-bearing capacity to ultimately determine the feasibility of deploying pervious concrete in specific airfield zones such as runway shoulders, taxiway edges and apron margins. Building upon these structural and hydraulic assessments, the research explores the broader operational impacts of replacing traditional impermeable surfaces. By preventing water pooling, the optimized porous matrix serves as an active safety intervention, preserving friction to the pavement and drastically cutting down aquaplaning risks during heavy rainfall. Additionally, adopting this decentralized storm water related pollutants such as unburnt hydrocarbons and heavy metal runoffs before infiltrate local water tables. The void open structure also helps to dissipate absorbed solar radiation, mitigating the localized heat Iceland effect commonly associated with massive tarmac expenses. Ultimately the investigation aims to supply a pragmatic, data backed framework for modernizing airport infrastructure, shifting away from costly, high maintained pipe networks toward self-draining, economical runways.