Experimental Study on the Preparation and Performance of Permeable Foamed Concrete with Optimized Material Composition

Abstract In this study, a novel permeable foamed concrete (PFC) was developed by optimizing the material composition to achieve a balance between low density and high permeability. The effects of key factors, including the water-to-solid ratio, fine-sand replacement rate, fiber content, and superabsorbent polymer (SAP) content, on the mechanical properties and permeability of PFC were investigated through single-factor and orthogonal experiments. The results showed that the water-to-solid ratio exhibited a parabolic influence on compressive and flexural strengths, with an optimum value of 0.36. Incorporating fine sand and fibers generally improved strength and permeability, whereas SAP enhanced permeability but reduced mechanical strength. Based on the experimental results, a mix-proportion optimization method was proposed for targeting specific strength or permeability requirements. Microstructural analysis revealed an interconnected pore network that facilitates water transport and contributes to the enhanced permeability of PFC. These findings provide useful guidance for designing PFC for engineering applications.