John T. Kevern

University of Missouri - Kansas City | UMKC · Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering

Recent studies in the literature have investigated the use of different phase change material (PCM) types and their incorporation techniques into cement-based materials (CBMs). The outcomes of such analysis have demonstrated similar negative and positive impacts on the overall performance of CBMs. So, it is challenging for the researchers to select...

Application of deicing salts is a common technique to improve winter safety; however, the widespread salt application causes decreased infrastructure lifespan, and potential environmental pollution and is a high cost. In this study, low-cost thermal energy storage aggregates (TESA) were created with several different organic phase change materials...

Penetrating sealers are one means to reduce moisture and chemical transport into concrete. However, a large variety of products are available possessing different functional modes of action. This study investigated representative families of penetrating sealers applied to vertical, sawn faces of properly air-entrained concrete (~6%) to represent fi...

The resistance of concrete to freeze-thaw (F-T) greatly depends on the characteristics of the concrete air-void system, such as the air content, size, and distribution. These air-void characteristics are influenced by every step of concrete production, from material selection and mixture proportioning to mixing, and placing. The research presented...

Penetration sealers are an economically viable technique to reduce water and aggressive substance ingress into concrete, and ultimately extend service life under harsh conditions. This paper discusses a laboratory investigation to assess effect of rate and application timing of a variety of penetrating sealers on saw cut concrete. Sealer types incl...

Corrosion performance of reinforced pervious concrete was evaluated through field and laboratory evaluations. Two reinforced pervious cemetery walls in Chicago, IL were visually evaluated, and samples were investigated through petrographic examination. Corrosion performance of two-layered concrete samples, with an outer layer of conventional concre...

This study reports on formulations and conditions for producing fly ash-based geopolymers with a view to showing that the compressive strength required for construction applications can be obtained without the addition of aggregates, sand, and/or cement. It was shown in a series of experiments constituting at least 73% fly ash that a compressive st...

A 1500 L batch jet loop reactor pilot plant was designed, constructed, and evaluated for performance in the treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) using coal fly ash with a view to optimize its operation and generate performance data. Results showed that concentration of major contaminants (sulfate, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg), and minor contaminants in the tre...

Anecdotal evidence has suggested that silica fume is beneficial for improving pervious concrete strength and durability. To determine how silica fume influences a variety of pervious concrete properties and durability the research presented herein studied the performance of paste and ultimately two types of pervious concrete. Since paste properties...

Lime softening produces an estimated 10,000 metric tons of dry drinking water treatment wastes (DWTW) per year, costing an estimated one billion dollars annually for disposal worldwide. Lime softening wastes have been investigated for reuse as internal curing agents or supplementary cementitious materials in concrete as well as a high‐capacity sorb...

Arsenic-contaminated groundwater affects millions worldwide. A cement-based filter medium (CBFM) can be used to remediate heavy metals from groundwater. Recently, the desulfurization of flue gas in coal-fired power plants has increased sulfur content in fly ash, exceeding standard limits for use in normal concrete, thereby limiting beneficial reuse...

Calcined or partially calcined clay can be used to replace a significant portion of portland cement, which reduces the associated CO2 footprint, and in Western Africa, to use a locally available material. However, clay source properties influence thermal activation and ultimate pozzolanicity. In this study, clay from the Ashanti region of Ghana was...

This paper addresses the feasibility of using permeable low-density cellular concrete (PLDCC) in soft soil remediation applications. In discussing this feasibility, the paper will review and evaluate data from recent studies conducted at the University of Missouri Kansas City related to the physical properties of PLDCC, including permeability, infi...

There is a growing interest on the use of calcined clays as suitable supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) for construction in recent times. However, the origin of clay presents some form of variations that influences their use as SCM. This study seeks to analyze clay obtained from the Nyamebekyere area of Ghana. The Ghanaian clay was calcine...

With increasing attention to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the cement and construction industry have been exploring every opportunity to reduce embodied energy and carbon footprint. Concrete currently incorporates many recycled industrial byproducts such as fly ash and blast furnace slag, which helps reduce the quantity of landfilled materials wh...

Nitrogen and phosphorus contained in stormwater runoff contaminate both surface and groundwaters, causing problems for natural aquatic systems and human health. Pervious concrete specifically designed for pollutant removal, otherwise known as permeable reactive concrete (PRC), may be used as a novel component of existing infrastructure to remove nu...

Heavy metal contamination of surface and ground waters from anthropogenic sources presents a significant risk to human health and the environment. Leaching of metals such as lead, cadmium, and zinc, from historic mining-residuals has led to extensive groundwater contamination, for example the elevated concentrations found at the Oronogo-Duenweg Sup...

Super absorbent polymers (SAPs) are novel multipurpose materials in concrete technology. This study investigated the potential for using SAPs as a mechanism for physical air entrainment. Mixtures were produced using various quantities of either dry or pre-saturated SAP along with a conventionally air-entrained control. One additional mixture used l...

Catastrophic release of heavy metals from the King River mine in Colorado and the Minas Gerais dam in Brazil have brought to the forefront the importance of contaminant stabilization and remediation in surface waters. Permeable reactive materials are currently utilized for the remediation of heavy metals and other pollutants by employing reactive m...

Pearl-Chain Bridges are an innovative precast arch bridge technology which can utilize pervious concrete as fill material. The present study investigates how the mix design of the pervious concrete fill can be influenced by use of an air-entraining admixture, a high-range water reducing admixture, fibers, and by internal curing using lightweight ag...

Heavy metals contaminants include lead, chromium, arsenic, zinc, cadmium, copper, and mercury all of which can cause significant damage to human health and the environment as a result of their mobility and solubility within groundwater. In the Midwest portion of the United States, soil and groundwater based lead, zinc, and cadmium are the prominent...

Existing literature has shown that high grade kaolin can be processed into metakaolin to replace portions of Portland cement without compromising the properties of cement-based materials. However, , there is limited literature pertaining to the use of clays with low content of kaolinite as a pozzolanic materials, even though lower grade kaolin exis...

This research evaluated a series of Missouri Department of Transportation (DOT) concrete mixtures to verify existing relationships between surface resistivity (SR), rapid chloride penetrability (RCP), and the AASHTO penetrability classes. Eleven mixtures that represented a range of currently allowable mixtures and several mixtures with potential us...

Concrete pavement design is currently centered on steel reinforcement: whether in the form of dowel bars, as in jointed plain concrete pavement, or in the form of continuous rebar reinforcement, as in continuously reinforced concrete pavement. The use of steel in concrete pavements presents durability problems because of the corrodibility of steel....

The environmental benefits of permeable pavements are vast and include stormwater quality reduction, stormwater quality improvement, urban heat island mitigation, and groundwater recharge, among others. Permeable Interlocking concrete pavements explicitly infiltrate water, a new concept to engineering practice for pavements. This technology as a lo...

This paper presents a unique combination of permeability, infiltration, and clogging testing results to provide background information for the specification and design of clog-resistant pervious concrete pavements. Pervious concrete cylindrical samples of various sizes and porosities were tested using a falling-head permeameter in the laboratory. T...

Results from a preliminary study that investigated the potential of using drinking water treatment waste sludge as an internal curing agent for concrete are presented. The concept consists of using the high water content, primarily calcium carbonate material, as a concrete admixture. Two other commonly used internal curing agents - prewetted lightw...

Curing of cement based products such as concrete and mortar, is very important to achieve good strength and durable products. However the curing environment plays a pivotal role in the overall quality of cement based products in terms of strength development. ASTM C192 allows moist curing either in a fog room or under water. However, these must mee...

This paper presents the results of a testing plan designed to evaluate the effects of macrosynthetic fibers on pervious concrete material properties and durability. The effects of two lengths of fibers (38 and 56 mm) were investigated at three dosage rates (1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 kg/m3) in a single mixture. The unit weight and void content of all sample...

The applications and benefits of using pervious concrete are immense and include everything from the common stormwater mitigation to more uncommon applications such as permafrost mitigation. This chapter will discuss the fundamental properties and behaviors of pervious concrete to provide background for future designs. Since stormwater management i...

This paper presents the results of a laboratory study to improve the durability of pervious concrete by using readily available and low-cost techniques. Surface raveling of pervious concrete is a concern for long-term use, and remediation techniques have not previously been investigated. A high void-content pervious concrete was cured in worst-case...

Pervious concrete mixtures have good freeze-thaw durability in laboratory testing when properly designed. However, translation of laboratory designs to field applications introduces specific challenges and considerations which directly impact long-term durability. This paper includes a discussion of considerations important to good performance of p...

Recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Water Act and Energy and Security Act amendments require stormwater management at private, public, and federal installations. Pervious concrete is a highly permeable material used for stormwater management where detention/retention areas can be placed underneath the pavement for increased site...

Over the past 20-30 years, permeable pavement installations have become wide-spread for stormwater control, especially in urban areas. A large amount of design guidance for permeable pavements exists in the literature; however, much of the guidance uses experience and case studies from warm regions. Permeable pavements have been successfully utiliz...

Self-cleaning, air-purifying pervious concrete pavement is a promising technology that can be constructed with air-cleaning agents with superhydrophilic photocatalyst capabilities, such as titanium dioxide. Although this technology has the potential of supporting environment-friendly road infrastructure, its effectiveness depends on a number of des...

This paper presents the results of a research project to investigate reducing the need for curing pervious concrete under plastic by incorporating a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) normally intended for internal curing. Pervious concrete samples were produced with and without the SAP along with additional curing water. Compressive strength, unit weigh...

This paper presents results from a unique study that employed biomechanical evaluation techniques to assess the slipping behavior of traditional and pervious concrete pavements under icy conditions. Gait motion analysis using embedded force plates, electromyography, and tracking videography were used to analyze subject mobility of on icy and wet pe...

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is considered one of the potential solutions for pollution remediation in which the natural decomposition process of harmful air pollutants is accelerated. This process make use of photocatalytic agents like nano titanium dioxide. Nano titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been found to have photocatalytic properties in which und...

Many pavements contribute to the urban heat island (UHI) effect due to their bulk mass and heat absorption capacities. Granular ground surfaces composed of soils or sands do not contribute to the UHI effect in a similar manner. Their porous nature may lessen the effect both with an increased insulating capacity and with an enhanced mechanism for ev...

As the world becomes more urbanized, concerns over the urban heat island (UHI) are more pronounced. Increased urban temperatures have a negative affect on the natural and human environment by producing increased energy usage and smog formation. Pervious concrete pavement is one technology that may help mitigate increased urban temperatures. Tempera...

Although pervious concrete material properties, mix design, and storm water applications are well documented in the literature, the structural behavior of pervious concrete pavement systems has not been investigated. A parking lot was constructed in which traditional impervious concrete was used on half of the parking lot and pervious concrete was...

Using a dSLR camera with macro LED light, 11 samples containing light and moderately cracked concrete surfaces were imaged with perpendicular and angled illumination. Textural features from gray level co-occurrence matrix statistics were derived, from which 3-6 salient features were selected. Cross validation accuracies were as high as 94% using ne...

This paper describes the results of studies to develop pervious concrete for use as an overlay material over traditional concrete to reduce noise, minimize splash and spray, and improve friction as a surface wearing course. Workability and compaction density testing methods were developed to ensure constructibility and placement consistency. The mi...

This paper discusses a framework for incorporating sustainable design/thinking as a new civil engineering course and experiences from the pilot offering. Important areas are outlined to aid all engineers in understanding sustainability in context with traditional engineering principles. Green-building rating systems were used to introduce the conce...

Text 3495 Tables (2) 500 Figures (14) 3500 Total Words: 7495 (7500 max) TRB 2011 Annual Meeting Paper revised from original submittal.

Portland cement pervious concrete (PCPC) has shown great potential to reduce roadway noise, improve splash and spray, and improve friction as a surface wearing course. A study is under way at Iowa State University and the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center to develop mix designs and procedures for PCPC overlays for highway applications. A...

The damaging impact of deicing chemicals on portland cement pervious concrete materials was investigated. Two concrete mixes (with and without latex modification) were subjected to three deicing chemicals (sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and calcium-magnesium acetate) under a freezing thawing or drying wetting condition. Two deicing chemical app...

As green building rating systems such as LEED (TM) become more popular, the use of recycled materials in construction is increasing. Concrete can be produced with significant quantities of supplementary cementitious materials or recycled aggregate materials. However, modifying concrete mixture proportions for improved recycled content credits also...

Iowa State University (ISU) researchers investigated the effect of various curing methods on strength and surface durability of pervious concrete. Concrete has relatively high porosity at early ages, which makes concrete especially susceptible to deicer damage during the first winter. ISU researchers showed that when a soybean oil emulsion is appli...

Pervious concrete is becoming more common as a storm-water management tool in freeze-thaw climates. One of the main concerns or obstacles preventing a more widespread application is the aspect of freeze-thaw durability, whether perceived or actual. This paper describes a series of tests designed to determine the specific role coarse aggregate has o...

While permeable pavements have been applied in limited use in the southeastern United States since the 1970's, only recently have they become a more wide-spread technology for stormwater management. Various industry groups have done well promoting the benefits of permeable pavements, however maintenance issues are rarely discussed in-depth. Mainten...

: One sustainable product that has shown promise in concrete application is commercially available soybean oil emulsion marketed for concrete curing. This paper describes research performed to determine what impacts soybean oil had on concrete and to evaluate the effectiveness as a curing agent. Soybean oil was tested for moisture retention and eva...

This paper describes investigation into pozzolanicity of corn husk ashes as supplementary cementitious material in concrete. Two types of corn husks were studied, and four different ash production techniques were employed. XRD and XRF were used to quantify the chemical signatures and structure of the ashes, and SEM analysis was used to examine part...

Portland cement pervious concrete (PCPC) is increasingly used across the United States, and this has prompted various entities to begin the process of developing standardized test techniques. A major issue with placing PCPC is the inconsistencies in concrete workability between mixtures developed in the laboratory and in the field. It is therefore...

To achieve the permitted stormwater effluent limits required by the Clean Water Act, many best management practices (BMPs) are being utilized to reduce the overall stormwater volume and provide initial pretreatment and pollutant removal. One such BMP is use of portland cement pervious concrete (PCPC), which allows stormwater to pass through the pav...

Portland cement pervious concrete is becoming a common tool for stormwater management across the United States. The air void system in pervious concrete is particularly important because of its effect on stormwater infiltration, concrete strength, and long-term durability. However, currently the concrete industry lacks standardized testing techniqu...

Many pavements contribute to the urban heat island (UHI) effect due to their bulk mass and heat absorption capacities. Granular ground surfaces composed of soils or sands do not contribute to the UHI effect in a similar manner. Their porous nature may lessen the effect both with an increased insulating capacity and with an enhanced mechanism for ev...

Portland Cement Pervious Concrete is becoming a wide-spread stormwater solution and has the potential to produce safer and quieter driving surfaces. However, in the past, poor pervious concrete workability and contractor inexperience have resulted in labor-intensive construction practices, increasing cost and negatively impacting durability. Mechan...

The current method of curing pervious concrete is to cover with plastic for 7 days, although no studies have been performed to determine if that is sufficient or even required. This paper presents results of combinations of four different pervious concrete mixtures cured using six common curing methods. The surface abrasion of the concrete was test...

Portland cement pervious concrete (PCPC) has shown great potential to reduce roadway noise, improve splash and spray, and to improve friction as a surface wearing course. This paper presents the results of studies conducted at Iowa State University and the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center (CP Tech Center) to develop mix designs and proc...

Portland Cement Pervious Concrete (PCPC) is becoming more utilized across the U.S. due to increased re-quirements for stormwater management. This paper details the experience of the installation of a PCPC test sec-tion/parking area in Sioux City, Iowa. In order to evaluate a large number of mixture designs, the test section incorporated five differ...

For pervious concrete to function optimally as both a pavement and stormwater treatment solution, both aspects must be considered together as a system. The pavement must possess the required strength and freeze-thaw resistance for surface durability and also an appropriate permeability to convey stormwater to the lower aggregate base retention area...

The current pervious concrete placed in cold climates generally contains air entrainment but, unlike traditional concrete, the evaluation of entrained air is not performed. This paper presents results from a study that characterized the entrained air voids in pervious concrete using a RapidAir system. The RapidAir system is an automatic device that...

Recent stormwater management regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and greater emphasis on sustainable development has increased interest in pervious pavement as a method for reducing stormwater runoff and improving stormwater quality. Pervious concrete is one of several pervious pavement systems that can be used to reduce stor...

The properties of pervious concrete used across the United States show a wide range of compressive strength, void ratio, and permeability. Although mix design is one of the major factors that contribute to this wide range of concrete properties, aggregate properties, compaction energy and placement techniques are also important factors in determini...

Portland cement pervious concrete (PCPC) is increasingly being used in the United States in sidewalks and parking lots due to its benefits in reducing the amount of runoff water and improving water quality. In the United States, PCPC typically has high porosity and low strength, which has resulted in limited use of pervious concrete in hard wet fre...

Recent interest in the use of Portland Cement Pervious Concrete (PCPC) for pavements has been very high, due primarily to the Federal Clean Water Act mandate that government agencies and private entities manage stormwater runoff—both quantity and quality. Such pavements are full depth and are currently being placed primarily in parking lot applicat...

The beneficial properties of pervious concrete on stormwater control are well understood. As the use of pervious concrete becomes more prevalent throughout the United States, the issue of constructability will become more of a concern. A number of practices exist to place pervious concrete, without any theoretical underpinnings or correlation to la...

Portland cement pervious concrete (PCPC) mixes made with various types and amounts of aggregates, cementitious materials, fibers, and chemical admixtures were evaluated. Porosity, water permeability, strength, and freezing-thawing durability of the concrete were tested. The results indicated that the PCPC made with single-sized coarse aggregates ge...

Pervious concrete presents a unique set of challenges when it comes to consolidation and compaction. In pervious concrete mixture design and construction, the goal is to achieve a specified porosity at a given design unit weight. This can be achieved through a highly workable mixture or by applying addition compaction to a more stiff mixture. This...