Traditional concrete kerb and channel systems rapidly convey stormwater into overloaded drainage networks, contribute to urban flooding, and create hostile conditions for urban trees. To address these challenges, Porous Lane and the University of Melbourne have developed Australia’s first permeable kerb and channel system manufactured with up to 50% recycled tyres, designed to infiltrate, detain, and passively irrigate adjacent landscapes while reducing carbon footprint. This paper presents the first combined field-scale performance data and numerical impact modelling of permeable kerb systems in Australian conditions.
A full-scale prototype was installed at CB Smith Reserve (City of Merri-bek) to evaluate hydrologic performance over a reactive clay subgrade. Monitoring demonstrated that the permeable kerb captured stormwater along its full length, infiltrated it into a 200 mm storage layer, and then slowly exfiltrated into clay soils—supporting establishment of young trees in a nature-strip environment despite low soil permeability .
To assess durability, the University of Melbourne performed LS-DYNA explicit-dynamics simulations and instrumented impact tests comparing permeable tyre-based kerbs to concrete. Experimental results showed a 72% reduction in impact force for tyre-based specimens relative to concrete (108.9 N vs 387.1 N), with numerical models confirming a similar 66% reduction. Full-scale vehicle-kerb collision modelling using a 2018 Dodge Ram further demonstrated improved energy absorption and reduced brittle failure risk.
Across field trials and modelling, the permeable kerb system exhibits:
• Enhanced stormwater infiltration, passive irrigation, and WSUD integration
• Semi-flexible, crack-resistant performance ideal for tree protection zones
• Circular-economy outcomes: ~3 waste tyres reused per metre of kerb
• Lower environmental footprint and reduced flood contribution
This study establishes permeable kerb and channel as a scalable, climate-adaptive alternative to conventional concrete assets in Victorian streetscapes.