Performance of no-fines pervious concrete (NFPC) containing concrete waste materials derived from carbon capture and utilization technology

This study extends the application of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technology to no-fines pervious concrete (NFPC) using two relatively new materials: carbonated recycled coarse aggregate (CRCA) and carbonated sludge powder (CSP). CRCA was made from recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) through a combined process of carbonated-water spraying and accelerated carbonation exposure. CSP was synthesized by carbonating and spray-drying concrete sludge water (CSW), made of 20 % cement solution, in a pilot-scale facility. Normal coarse aggregate was replaced with RCA and CRCA at levels up to 100 % by volume, and cement was replaced with CSP at 20 % by mass. Key performance parameters, including void content, permeability, mechanical properties, and drying shrinkage, were evaluated. Results show that despite the limited pozzolanic activity of CSP, it had minimal adverse impact on NFPC properties, mainly due to the pervious concrete’s low w/b ratio and high aggregate porosities. The combined carbonation method enhanced the RCA quality through calcium carbonate precipitation, improving both strength and dimensional stability of the resulting NFPC. The total void content was conceptualized as the sum of interconnected void spaces ( V v ave ) and disconnected voids within the constituent materials ( V v dc ). Permeability was governed by V v ave , while mechanical properties and shrinkage were strongly linked to V v dc . As V v dc was primarily influenced by aggregate composition, simple empirical models were proposed to estimate the strength and shrinkage from basic aggregate parameters. These findings support the feasibility of CCU-derived materials in NFPC as a sustainable strategy to reduce environmental impacts associated with concrete wastes disposal and overextraction of natural resources.