Experimental and numerical investigation of sodium sulphate crystallization in porous materials

Abstract

The experimental setup was constructed to measure the thermal effect of the salt crystallization/dissolution process in building materials containing sodium sulphate. Additional heat was released/consumed during the salt crystallization/dissolution. The mathematical model of salt, moisture and energy transport concerning the salt phase change kinetics was derived and based on it the computer code was developed. To solve the set of partial differential, governing equations the finite element and finite difference methods were used. By solving the inverse problem the parameters of the rate law for brick saturated with the sodium sulphate solution were determined. © 2012 The Author(s).