An experimental study on modification of pervious concrete properties using polyacrylamide

Abstract

This study tends to use polyacrylamide (PAM) as a potential cement replacer for the enhancement of pervious concrete properties. The study considers four different replacement percentages and compares them with a zero-percentage replacement mix. The properties that were analysed in the fresh state before hardening include slump value, flow percentage, and fresh density of the mix. The analysis also includes further hardened properties such as water absorption, density, infiltration capacity, porosity, and abrasion resistance In addition, compressive strength under two different curing conditions, namely water curing and air curing. is analysed. Microstructural analysis is further performed using FTIR, XRD, and SEM/EDAX to confirm the experimental analysis. The results indicate a 12% increase in the maximum compressive strength in the mix with 0.5% replacement compared to the reference mix. Strength analysis also reveals that the polymer acts as a retarder. Using PAM to replace cement reduces water absorption, density, porosity, and infiltration capacity. In addition, the water treatment ability of various pervious concrete specimens is also analysed in terms of Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). Total Phosphates (TP), Total Nitrogen (TN), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC). Results show that TP removal was as high as 82.5% in a mix with 2% replacement. Therefore, PAM can be regarded as a potential partial cement replacer in pervious concrete.