Enhancing Mechanical Properties of Pervious Concrete Using Carbon Fiber Composite Reinforcement

Abstract

Cured carbon fiber composite material (CCFCM) is available from manufacturing lines; however, excess CCFCM has no reuse applications at present. Postindustrial CCFCM was mechanically refined and used as reinforcement to improve the mechanical properties of pervious concrete (PC). Four PC mixtures were included in the study, which contained 0 (control), 3, 4, and 5% CCFCM by volume. Infiltration rates of all CCFCM mixtures were above the acceptable level of 1,200 cm/h. Paired t-tests showed that all CCFCM mixtures significantly outperformed the control mixture in terms of split tensile strength by 57–84% and flexural strength by 36–65% in 28-day testing. Load-displacement curves of CCFCM mixtures indicated increases of 41–54% in toughness indices. Mass loss due to Los Angeles machine abrasion (Cantabro) ranged from 16 to 31% for CCFCM mixtures, while the control lost 50% of its original mass. Overall, within the tested range, up to 4% CCFCM addition to PC presented the optimal result across the entire experimental scope. Higher CCFCM contents may be possible if used as a replacement of aggregate rather than an additive to the mixture.