X-ray computed tomography-based direct numerical simulations for hydraulic characterization of pervious concrete

Abstract

The hydraulic characteristics of pervious concrete, and their correlation with manufacturing parameters such as mixture design and compaction, remain incompletely reported. This gap in current knowledge limits the ability to optimize the material for urban drainage components and other applications. This study addresses this issue by developing a methodology that integrates high-resolution X-ray computed tomography, image processing, and Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) of incompressible water flow and electrical conductivity to determine key hydraulic parameters of pervious concrete. The numerical results enabled the quantification of relevant properties such as porosity, intrinsic permeability, and constriction factor, as well as the identification of prevailing flow regimes and the assessment of non-Darcian behavior. The results were consistent with values reported using more expensive and labor-intensive techniques, thereby validating the proposed approach. This methodology enables future analyses of multiple specimens produced with different manufacturing techniques, paving the way for establishing quantitative correlations between microstructural characteristics and hydraulic performance. This methodology provides a physically consistent and spatially detailed representation of water flow through the complex pore structure of pervious concrete. It offers valuable insights into the microscale hydraulic performance of the material and serves as a robust and reproducible framework for future analyses, design, and optimization of pervious concrete mixtures for urban drainage applications.