Flood Control Properties of Permeable Pavement

Abstract

The surface structures made of conventional asphalt pavements prevents rainfall from infiltrating into ground. In recent years, frequency of flood occurrence has been increasing by an increase of rainfall outflow into of rivers and sewers in urban areas. The rainfall storage and infiltration properties of permeable pavements, which are made of porous asphalt, have been attracted attention as a control measure of flood in urban areas. Previous study makes clear that rainfall infiltration properties of permeable pavements are strongly dependant on the behaviors of unsaturated zones in the pavement. In order to estimate the effects of permeable pavements on flood control that were shown by the experimental results, we have developed the simulation method that analyzes the air and seepage flow simultaneously. But, there have been few data about the flood control properties of permeable pavement for rainfall having inconstant intensities. This paper shows the rainfall storage and infiltration properties of permeable pavements for inconstant rainfall intensity by experiments. And we examine whether the simulation method we have developed in order to estimate the flood control properties of permeable pavements is valid for the inconstant rainfall. This study shows the design method of the permeable pavement structures which are appropriate for various precipitation probabilities and heavy downpours.