Ultrasonic testing is a widely employed non-destructive technique for material characterization and defect detection. For pervious concrete (PeC), a porous composite material made of cement paste and coarse aggregate, understanding the interaction between material properties and ultrasonic wave propagation remains a challenge. This study implements a three-dimensional finite element model to simulate acoustic wave behavior in PeC, focusing on the effects of porosity P, aggregate size D, elastic modulus E, and density \(\rho \) . The specific goal is to understand the relationship of ultrasonic wave velocity and porosity in PeC. To control porosity, the model is based on a simplified hypothetical contact between particles which may represent the cement paste surrounding the aggregate particles. Several families of models are built by varying porosity between 8% and 40%, and three different values of D, E and \(\rho \) . An analytical model –an equation– is proposed and successfully fitted to the numerical data, and then tested numerically; the equation consists of a theoretical P-wave velocity multiplied by a factor dependent of D and P. Numerical results are partially validated against experimental measurements obtained from PeC samples with porosity values ranging from 14% to 35%. The findings reveal a clear inverse relationship between porosity and ultrasonic wave velocity, emphasizing the influence of aggregate contact areas. This work establishes a foundation for advancing ultrasonic testing as a reliable tool for assessing PeC porosity and performance in field applications.
