Application of pervious concrete pavement in the "breathe in-breathe out" design for sponge cities in China

Sponge city construction is an ideal approach to mitigate the degradation of urban water environments. Among road materials, permeable concrete pavement stands out due to its unique structure that allows rainwater runoff to flow through its pores. This paper analyzes the current application status and the prospect of different permeable pavement designs in China's sponge cities, aiming to offer valuable insights for urban planning and construction. Statistical analysis summarizes the spatial-temporal distribution patterns of urban flooding disasters in China and their causes. By comparing the characteristics and advantages of pervious concrete pavement with traditional concrete pavement, the potential of permeable concrete pavement in sponge city construction is summarized through case studies. The findings highlight that by adjusting the pore size, permeable concrete pavement can collect rainwater while filtering impurities, thereby purifying surface runoff. The range of the pervious coefficient should ideally fall within the range of 4~8 mm/s. In addition, the pavement's large contact area with the air and internal water evaporation contributes to its self-regulating capability, reducing the occurrence of extreme temperatures. Related experiments have shown that from 8 am to 12 pm, pervious concrete pavement can reduce the temperature by approximately 1 °C compared to conventional concrete. From 12 pm to 8 pm, this temperature difference increases to approximately 3 °C. To meet the needs of environmental protection and resource utilization, permeable concrete pavement can serve as an ideal tool to achieve green and low-carbon development.