Modelling the carbonation reactions in self-healing concrete

This work focuses on the coupling of the self-healing chemical reactions with the reactive flow in unsaturated concrete materials, using the carbonation of Ca(OH)2 as a prototype reaction model. The multi-component flow model couples the concentration of the reactant (Ca(OH)2) and external triggers (moisture and CO2) with the local remodeling of the matrix based on linear dissolution and precipitation reaction kinetics. The model reproduces the main features of the carbonation reaction and predicts the decrease in matrix porosity due to the self-healing mechanism.