Traditional impermeable pavements such as asphalt have dark surfaces and high thermal inertia. During hot weather, they tend to absorb and store solar radiation, which promotes the development of urban heat islands (UHI). Furthermore, permeable pavements are effective in mitigating the urban heat island effect via evaporative cooling. There are many studies in the literature on the hydraulic and mechanical characteristics of permeable pavements, but a few studies focus on the impact of evaporative cooling of these pavements. In this study, 3 types of permeable pavements based on pozzolan, recycled rubber and polyurethane resin were studied during 3 hot days. The objective was to quantify the cooling effect in these innovative permeable pavements compared to a traditional impermeable asphalt pavement. The results of this experiment show that the cooling effect in the new types of draining pavements can last up to two days in the weather conditions of this experiment compared to the traditional asphalt pavement. The evaporation rate and surface temperature of permeable pavements vary in opposite directions. In addition, evaporation in pervious pavements is controlled by the availability of water near the surface. This study is a preliminary step in the design of pavements that contribute to the valorization of rubber waste, to the stormwater management and to the reduction of the effects of urban heat islands during heat waves.
Experimental investigation of evaporative cooling for enhancing photovoltaic panels efficiency
