Abstract:
Rapid urbanization is increasing impervious surfaces and urban heat. This study explores
lightweight pervious concrete pavers with water treatment sludge and/or ceramic dust. Paver mixes
were made with different ratios of sludge, where 10% replacement of fine aggregate with ovendried sludge was still structurally sound and practical. While calcined sludge pavers had much
higher compressive strength than the other pavers, the oven-dried sludge gave much less energy
and cost inputs. Thermal testing of the pervious pavement compared to conventional concrete
showed a 6°C drop in bottom-surface temperature at a top temperature of 40°C, though the effect
diminished as temperature increased. These results confirm that sludge-based pervious concrete
pavers effectively manage heat and retain structural and hydraulic performance for real-world
applications and urban infrastructure challenges.
