Towards a more effective and reliable salt crystallisation test for porous building materials: Predictive modelling of sodium chloride salt distribution

The RILEM TC ASC-271 is designing a new procedure to assess the durability of porous building materials salt crystallisation in laboratory, consisting accumulation and damage propagation phase. consists capillary absorption solution followed by drying at low humidity crystallize salts close evaporative surface without inducing damage. This was experimentally verified on Maastricht Migné limestone but poses question whether can be extrapolated other if distribution influenced concentration conditions. Using multiphase numerical model, sodium chloride accurately predicted for both stones. Furthermore, simulations confirm that protocol remains valid while moderately varying absorbed relative drying. Consequently, protocol’s general applicability confirmed, proving its suitability developing more effective crystallization test.