The water-cement ratio is one of the important parameters in the mix design of colored pervious concrete, as it affects the hardness and permeability of the concrete. However, due to the lack of a unified and systematic relationship between hardness and the water-cement ratio parameters, trial mixing is generally conducted using the volume filling method. This involves determining the target porosity for 1 m3 of concrete, then calculating the volume of the paste material to derive the amounts of cement and water. For the trial of colored pervious concrete, a baseline mix ratio can be established, and two additional mix ratios can be selected with the water-cement ratio increased or decreased by a fixed value compared to the baseline, while keeping the water content the same as the baseline. These materials are then used to prepare specimens, and the workability of the colored pervious concrete is determined visually.

The paving of colored pervious concrete pavement requires consideration of various factors such as terrain, load, landscape requirements, and construction conditions. In addition to selecting color combinations and structural forms, it is essential to ensure economy, rationality, and suitability based on on-site load conditions and functional requirements. This includes selecting the appropriate grade of concrete, surface layer thickness, base layer structure, and surface layer structure. The surface layer structure of colored pervious concrete pavement is divided into single-color surfaces and dual-color combinations of colored and plain concrete. When using a dual-color combination, the thickness of the colored surface layer should be maintained at 30 mm or more.

For light-duty lanes or parking lots, the concrete surface layer should be maintained at 100 mm or above to better ensure road stability and practicality. While the thickness of the surface layer can be appropriately adjusted based on comprehensive consideration of the concrete structure, it should generally not be less than 70 mm. Therefore, when considering the economy, suitability, and application scenarios of colored pervious concrete pavement, special attention should be paid to the thickness of the concrete structure and the hardness grade.