Supplementing Concrete Joint Sealing: 5 Essential Design Features for Concrete Pavements
With time, cracks may start to appear on the surface of your concrete pavements. Unless these cracks are sealed properly, they will allow water to permeate and stay below the concrete, forming a void that can result in deterioration of the concrete.
Although sealing the expansion joints on your concrete pavements can help minimise the extent of water damage, it doesn't prevent water infiltration completely. For that reason, here are some basic features that can be incorporated into your permeable concrete pavement design to ensure proper management of stormwater.
1. Pretreatment
In permeable concrete pavements, the pavement itself serves as pretreatment to the stone reservoir underneath. Since the surface performs this function, ensuring regular maintenance of the surface can help to guarantee maximum possible performance.
2. Treatment
Permeable concrete pavements are made using concrete with reduced fines to allow stormwater to pass through it easily. After the storm, some stormwater may be stored in the empty spaces found in the stone reservoir found directly beneath the surface of the pavement. Treating porous concrete pavements can help to reduce the volume and rate of stormwater run-off and remove pollutants as well.
3. Reduction of Maintenance Requirements
An example of a non-structural element that can aid to guarantee proper maintenance of permeable concrete pavement is the use of a well-thought-out maintenance plan that clearly stipulates specific guidance on how to carry out routine maintenance. In essence, signs should be placed where cracking has been identified on the pervious concrete pavement. Proper maintenance entails vacuuming or pressure washing the surface of the concrete pavement periodically depending on site-specific conditions.
4. Conveyance
Stormwater is passed into the stone reservoir via the surface of the concrete pavement and settles at the bottom. Placing a synthetic liner below the stone reservoir will assist to prevent the formation of water flow paths and retain an even bottom.
Permeable concrete pavement designs may also integrate some technique to help direct larger quantities of stormwater overflow to the pavement drainage system. For example, drain pipes can be fitted below the concrete pavement to divert run-off stormwater to supplementary storage tanks for potential reuse.
5. Landscaping
For a permeable concrete pavement, the most effective landscaping feature could be to incorporate a well-functioning upland drainage system that can help prevent clogging. This way, it will reduce the amount of stormwater entering the pavement due to water stagnation on the surface of the pavement.
If installing new concrete, a company like Liquid Rock Constructions Pty Ltd should be able to guide you in the right direction regarding the best practices for maintaining the surface.