Modeling of Multi-Physics Processes in Reinforced Concrete Carbonation Process Using Finite Difference Method: Numerical Aspects and Critical Revision

Modeling of Multi-Physics Processes in Reinforced Concrete Carbonation Process Using Finite Difference Method: Numerical Aspects and Critical Revision | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Case Report Modeling of Multi-Physics Processes in Reinforced Concrete Carbonation Process Using Finite Difference Method: Numerical Aspects and Critical Revision Mateus Oliveira This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8281148/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 11 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Predicting the service life of reinforced concrete structures is essential, as carbonation significantly compromises durability by triggering reinforcement corrosion. This paper provides a critical review of multi-physics numerical models designed to simulate the carbonation process, analyzing their mathematical formulations, assumptions, and governing parameters. Beyond the state-of-the-art review, this study implements a Finite Difference Method (FDM) solution for a widely cited coupled model to perform a focused parametric analysis. The results quantitatively demonstrate that the initial diffusivity of carbon dioxide is the dominant factor in carbonation depth. Crucially, the study investigates the "size effect" in massive concrete elements, revealing that thicker structures (> 1.0 m) exhibit significantly slower carbonation rates due to an internal moisture reservoir effect. By combining a theoretical synthesis with original numerical insights, this work offers practical guidance for improving service life predictions in large-scale infrastructure. Concrete Carbonation Modelling Multi-physics models Scale effect Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 03 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 26 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 24 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 14 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 12 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 12 Feb, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 10 Feb, 2026 Editor invited by journal 02 Feb, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 22 Jan, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 21 Jan, 2026 First submitted to journal 21 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8281148","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Case Report","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":590487205,"identity":"0d3c03e9-be8b-4a48-b23e-0adfed7aa2ef","order_by":0,"name":"Mateus Oliveira","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA4ElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYLCDAwwVDPxAmo2AOmYIxQPWcoZBsoEkLQyMbURo0W0/f/Axzx+7PHv23oMHPs47LKHbv4DtcQUeLWZnkpmNeduSi3l4ziUcnLntsITZjQfshmfwaTmQzCbN28Cc2CORY3CYd9vhOrMbB9hArsOt5fxj9t88f+qhWuaAbCGk5UYyGzMP22GolgaglvMNhLQ8Npac23Y8sefMGYODM46lA21hbDfE77DEhx/e/KlObG/vMf7wocYaaMvhYw/xacECJBJJ1MDAwH+AVB2jYBSMglEwzAEA7NBTDbmpkdUAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Federal University of Minas Gerais","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mateus","middleName":"","lastName":"Oliveira","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-12-04 16:08:11","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8281148/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8281148/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":102962397,"identity":"108c87dd-50a6-4ac9-9314-243a03695a5d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-19 04:08:03","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1240712,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Revision.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8281148/v1_covered_1ecd5357-8a5d-4b63-a217-4843fd97c169.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Modeling of Multi-Physics Processes in Reinforced Concrete Carbonation Process Using Finite Difference Method: Numerical Aspects and Critical Revision","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":false,"email":"","identity":"discover-concrete-and-cement","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Discover Concrete and Cement","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":false,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"Unsupported Journal","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Concrete, Carbonation, Modelling, Multi-physics models, Scale effect","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8281148/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8281148/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003ePredicting the service life of reinforced concrete structures is essential, as carbonation significantly compromises durability by triggering reinforcement corrosion. 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