Drainage testing of porous asphalt road mixes

Abstract

A field permeameter for performing a falling head permeability test on porous road surfaces with three-dimensional flow through the road surface or test slab comprises a clear plastic cylinder (1), and a rubber lined base flange (5, 6) to seal the test cylinder against the road surface during operation. A trap or valve assembly (7, 8, 9) in the closed position permitting the setting up of the falling head test at any desired initial head water level in the test cylinder. The activation of the test being initiated by the sudden release of the trap (8) which causes the water retained in the cylinder to flow through the test road section. The falling head of water through the road being measured by a submersible pressure transducer (3) at the base of the cylinder. From the falling head data, and the conversion factors for converting three-dimensional to one-dimensional flow property, the permeability (k) and the flow exponent (m) of the porous road specimen can be determined.