Impacts of a Pervious Concrete Retention System on Neighboring Clay Soils

Abstract

This study evaluated changes in moisture and temperature of clay soils next to an underground aggregate storage bed of a pervious concrete pavement system during the winter in Pullman, Washington. Sensors were installed in order to determine how a neighboring underground aggregate storage bed with retention capabilities might affect neighboring soils such as might occur from installing permeable pavement shoulders next to a roadway. The sensors were located at 30, 60, and 90 cm below the soil surface. According to the findings, none of the soil temperature readings dropped below freezing, nor did the soil moisture readings exceed saturation during the relatively mild winter. Also, during periods of precipitation, the soils near the aggregate storage bed cooled off and then warmed back up faster than soils farther away. The soils near the retention system at depths above the bottom of the aggregate storage bed tended to remain drier than those soils farther away, while closer soils below the bottom of the aggregate storage bed had higher moisture content than those farther away. Therefore, little additional water or colder temperatures are expected on neighboring soils under these conditions from these facilities. However, additional research under colder conditions is warranted to understand what might occur during more severe winters.