The Capability of Glass Fiber Reinforced Pervious Concrete for Purifying Stormwater Runoff by Removing Physicochemical Contaminants

Abstract

This study rigorously evaluated the mechanical and environmental properties of pervious concrete (PC) mixes with varying aggregate sizes, cement contents, and glass fiber (GF) reinforcement. The research revealed that mechanical performance, measured by compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths was significantly influenced by these factors. Compressive strength ranged from a high of 24.1 MPa for the M14 mix (0.5% GF, aggregate size 9.5–12 mm) to a low of 10.61 MPa for the M15 mix (no GF, aggregate size 12–19 mm). Tensile strength varied from 3.38 MPa to 1.77 MPa, and flexural strength ranged from 3.95 MPa to 2.05 MPa, with both highest values observed in the M14 mix and lowest in M15. The study found that 0.5% GF consistently provided the most benefit, with higher GF content showing diminishing returns. Regarding environmental properties, the research highlighted the crucial role of porosity in stormwater management. Increased porosity led to higher permeability, beneficial for flood mitigation, with values ranging from 0.32 to 17.62 mm/s. The PC mixes demonstrated high efficiency in stormwater contaminant removal, achieving average rates of 82.9% for organic matter (OM), 63.2% for total suspended solids (TSS), 58.7% for turbidity, 52.1% for total solids (TS), 28.1% for sodium chloride (NaCl) and 20.1% for magnesium (\({\text{Mg}}^{2+}\)). The study recommends PC mixes with 0.5% GF, aggregate sizes between 4.75 and 12 mm, and cement contents of 325 to 375 kg/m³ for optimal mechanical performance and environmental benefits. Notable mixes include M4, M6, M10, and M12, which balance infiltration rates, flood control, purification capacity, and mechanical strength effectively.