Pervious concrete fill in Pearl-Chain Bridges: Using small-scale results in full-scale implementation

•The void content follows a logarithmic tendency through layers compacted from above.•Layer thicknesses of 27 cm before compaction give homogenous void contents in layers.•The compressive strength of homogeneous specimens is linear with void content.•Pervious concrete is implemented as fill in a 26 m long Pearl-Chain Bridge.•European quality control regulations are needed for pervious concrete in the field.

Pearl-Chain Bridge technology is a new prefabricated arch solution for highway bridges. This study investigates the feasibility of pervious concrete as a filling material in Pearl-Chain Bridges. The study is divided into two steps: (1) small-scale tests where the variation in vertical void distribution and strength properties is determined for 800 mm high blocks cast in different numbers of layers, and (2) full-scale implementation in a 26 m long Pearl-Chain Bridge. With a layer thickness of 27 cm, the small-scale tests indicated homogenous results; however, for the full-scale implementation, the same degree of homogeneity was not shown.