Mechanical and Microscopic Characteristics of Polyurethane-Based Pervious Pavement Composites

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Civil Engineering
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Conventional pervious pavement materials (PPM) exhibit poor durability due to brittle cement-aggregate behavior.
• There is a need for more durable and sustainable alternatives in pavement engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize novel polymeric pervious pavement materials (PPM) using durable polyurethane (PU).
• To investigate the mechanical properties, water permeability, and internal structure of PU-based PPM.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of PU-based PPM samples with varying aggregate sizes.
• Mechanical testing (compressive strength) and water permeability measurements.
• X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) for pore structure and tortuosity analysis.
• Finite element modeling (FEM) based on micro-CT data for stress distribution analysis.

Main Results:

• PU-based PPM demonstrated improved mechanical properties and water permeability compared to conventional materials.
• Micro-CT analysis revealed detailed pore morphology, connectivity, and tortuosity.
• Quantitative correlations were established between pore characteristics and material performance.
• FEM simulations provided insights into stress distribution within the PU-PPM microstructure.

Conclusions:

• Polyurethane offers a promising alternative for fabricating durable and functional pervious pavement materials.
• The study provides a comprehensive understanding of the structure-property relationships in PU-PPM.
• This research contributes to the development of advanced, sustainable pavement solutions.