Pervious concrete is composed of cement, coarse aggregate (size should be 9.5 mm to 12.5 mm), and water, with little or no fine aggregate. Adding a small amount of sand will increase the strength. The mixture has a water-cement ratio of 0.28 to 0.40 with a void content of 15 to 25 percent.[8]​.

The correct amount of water when mixing pervious concrete is essential. A low ratio of water to cement will increase the strength of the concrete, but too little water can cause the surface to crack. Adequate water content gives the mixture a wet metallic appearance. As this concrete is sensitive to water content, the mixture must be field tested.[9]​ Trapped air can be measured using a Rapid Air system, where the concrete is stained black and sections are analyzed under a microscope.[10]​.

A typical formwork for flat portions of a job has riser strips on top, so that the screed is 3/8 to 1/2 inches (9 to 12 millimeters) above the final elevation of the pavement. Mechanical screeds (metal rods used to smooth the surface of freshly poured concrete) are preferable to manual ones. Lifting strips are removed to guide compaction. Immediately after screeding, the concrete is compacted to improve adhesion and smooth the surface. Excessive compaction of pervious concrete results in higher compressive strength, but also lower porosity (and therefore lower permeability).[11]​.

The joints are similar to those used for slabs of other types of concrete. They are prepared with a rolling joint tool before curing the concrete or saw cut after curing. Curing involves covering the concrete with a 6 mil (unit length) plastic sheet within 20 minutes of pouring the concrete.[12] However, this contributes to a substantial amount of waste (this plastic sheet) ending up in landfills. Alternatively, preconditioned absorbent lightweight aggregates, as well as internal curing additives (ICA), have been used to effectively cure pervious concrete without generating waste.[13]​.

Pervious concrete has a common strength of 600-1,500 pounds per square inch (4.1-10.3 MPa)—megapascals "Pascal (unit)")—although strengths up to 4,000 pounds per square inch (27.6 MPa) can be achieved. There is no standardized test for the compressive strength of this type of concrete. Acceptance is based on the specific gravity (density), per ASTM No. C1688, of a poured concrete sample.

An acceptable tolerance for density is plus or minus 5 pounds (2.3 kg) of the design density. The density of normal concrete (there are many types) is between 2000 and 4000 kilograms per cubic meter (m). kg/m, then it is acceptable.

Slump and air content tests are not applicable to pervious concrete due to its specific composition. The designer of a stormwater management plan must ensure that pervious concrete is functioning properly by visually observing its drainage characteristics before opening the facility.

Concerns about resistance to the freeze-thaw cycle (see geliffraction) have limited the use of pervious concrete in cold climates.[16] Pervious concrete absorbs a lot of water, so it is vulnerable if that water freezes inside and exerts pressure. Freezing rate in most applications is determined by local climate. Trapped air can help protect the paste, as it does in normal concrete.[10]​ Adding a small amount of fine aggregate to the mix increases the durability of pervious concrete in cold climates.[17]​.

Avoiding water saturation during the freezing cycle is key to pervious concrete lasting.[18]​ Related to this, having a well-prepared 8 to 24 inch (200 to 600 millimeters) subbase and good drainage that prevents water ponding will reduce the likelihood of freeze-thaw damage.[18]​.

Using permeable concrete for pavements can make them safer for pedestrians in winter, because water does not form slippery patches of ice on their surface. Roads can also be made safer for cars by using pervious concrete, as the reduction in puddles will reduce the chance of aquaplaning. Porous roads will also decrease tire noise.[19]​.

To prevent its permeability from being reduced, permeable concrete must be cleaned periodically (dirt clogs its pores). Cleaning can be done by wetting it and then using a specifically designed vacuum cleaner[12][20]​ (regular vacuum cleaners are not designed to absorb wet material).[21]​.

• - Forged.

• - Green infrastructure.

• - Artificial recharge of aquifers.

• - American Pervious Concrete Pavement Association.

• - Design resources for pervious concrete.

• - American Concrete Institute.

Pervious concrete is composed of cement, coarse aggregate (size should be 9.5 mm to 12.5 mm), and water, with little or no fine aggregate. Adding a small amount of sand will increase the strength. The mixture has a water-cement ratio of 0.28 to 0.40 with a void content of 15 to 25 percent.[8]​.

The correct amount of water when mixing pervious concrete is essential. A low ratio of water to cement will increase the strength of the concrete, but too little water can cause the surface to crack. Adequate water content gives the mixture a wet metallic appearance. As this concrete is sensitive to water content, the mixture must be field tested.[9]​ Trapped air can be measured using a Rapid Air system, where the concrete is stained black and sections are analyzed under a microscope.[10]​.

A typical formwork for flat portions of a job has riser strips on top, so that the screed is 3/8 to 1/2 inches (9 to 12 millimeters) above the final elevation of the pavement. Mechanical screeds (metal rods used to smooth the surface of freshly poured concrete) are preferable to manual ones. Lifting strips are removed to guide compaction. Immediately after screeding, the concrete is compacted to improve adhesion and smooth the surface. Excessive compaction of pervious concrete results in higher compressive strength, but also lower porosity (and therefore lower permeability).[11]​.

The joints are similar to those used for slabs of other types of concrete. They are prepared with a rolling joint tool before curing the concrete or saw cut after curing. Curing involves covering the concrete with a 6 mil (unit length) plastic sheet within 20 minutes of pouring the concrete.[12] However, this contributes to a substantial amount of waste (this plastic sheet) ending up in landfills. Alternatively, preconditioned absorbent lightweight aggregates, as well as internal curing additives (ICA), have been used to effectively cure pervious concrete without generating waste.[13]​.

Pervious concrete has a common strength of 600-1,500 pounds per square inch (4.1-10.3 MPa)—megapascals "Pascal (unit)")—although strengths up to 4,000 pounds per square inch (27.6 MPa) can be achieved. There is no standardized test for the compressive strength of this type of concrete. Acceptance is based on the specific gravity (density), per ASTM No. C1688, of a poured concrete sample.

An acceptable tolerance for density is plus or minus 5 pounds (2.3 kg) of the design density. The density of normal concrete (there are many types) is between 2000 and 4000 kilograms per cubic meter (m). kg/m, then it is acceptable.

Slump and air content tests are not applicable to pervious concrete due to its specific composition. The designer of a stormwater management plan must ensure that pervious concrete is functioning properly by visually observing its drainage characteristics before opening the facility.

Concerns about resistance to the freeze-thaw cycle (see geliffraction) have limited the use of pervious concrete in cold climates.[16] Pervious concrete absorbs a lot of water, so it is vulnerable if that water freezes inside and exerts pressure. Freezing rate in most applications is determined by local climate. Trapped air can help protect the paste, as it does in normal concrete.[10]​ Adding a small amount of fine aggregate to the mix increases the durability of pervious concrete in cold climates.[17]​.

Avoiding water saturation during the freezing cycle is key to pervious concrete lasting.[18]​ Related to this, having a well-prepared 8 to 24 inch (200 to 600 millimeters) subbase and good drainage that prevents water ponding will reduce the likelihood of freeze-thaw damage.[18]​.

Using permeable concrete for pavements can make them safer for pedestrians in winter, because water does not form slippery patches of ice on their surface. Roads can also be made safer for cars by using pervious concrete, as the reduction in puddles will reduce the chance of aquaplaning. Porous roads will also decrease tire noise.[19]​.

To prevent its permeability from being reduced, permeable concrete must be cleaned periodically (dirt clogs its pores). Cleaning can be done by wetting it and then using a specifically designed vacuum cleaner[12][20]​ (regular vacuum cleaners are not designed to absorb wet material).[21]​.

• - Forged.

• - Green infrastructure.

• - Artificial recharge of aquifers.

• - American Pervious Concrete Pavement Association.

• - Design resources for pervious concrete.

• - American Concrete Institute.