Experimental and numerical study on carbonation of blast-furnace slag concrete considering the microstructural evolution
- Author
- Liangyu Tong, Qing-feng Liu, Elke Gruyaert, Natalia Mariel Alderete (UGent) , Qing-xiang Xiong and Nele De Belie (UGent)
- Organization
- Project
- Abstract
- Replacement of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) by blast-furnace slag (BFS) modifies the durability behaviour of concrete. Combined with the experimental tests, this study proposes a comprehensive framework for modelling carbonation in BFS concrete, integrating hydration, transport-reactive, and diffusivity predictive modules. The framework enables synchronized iterations between chemical reaction modelling and transport processes considering microstructural evolution over time. Each module is validated against prior experimental data, including the volume fraction of hydration products, trend-based diffusivities and carbonation depths. Compared with model that neglect microstructural evolution, this framework, which considers altered compositional profiles after hydration and dynamically adjusts transport properties in response to microstructural changes during carbonation, yields higher predictive accuracy. Results indicate that carbonation resistance in BFS concrete improves with extended curing durations due to more complete hydration and a denser microstructure. Conversely, higher BFS replacement levels reduce the concrete's CO2 buffering capacity and increase gas diffusivity after carbonation, finally accelerating carbonation. Parametric analysis further identifies an optimal relative humidity range for BFS concrete at approximately 30 %-60 %, and rising CO2 concentrations increase carbonation depth. This innovative approach not only improves the accuracy of carbonation predictions but also serves as a valuable tool for optimizing the durability and hence sustainability of BFS-based construction materials.
- Keywords
- BFS concrete, Carbonation modelling framework, Transport-reactive process, Microstructural evolution
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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-01KAG85XK83AWZ0R2M84KG1RVY
- MLA
- Tong, Liangyu, et al. “Experimental and Numerical Study on Carbonation of Blast-Furnace Slag Concrete Considering the Microstructural Evolution.” CEMENT AND CONCRETE RESEARCH, vol. 200, 2026, doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2025.108084.
- APA
- Tong, L., Liu, Q., Gruyaert, E., Alderete, N. M., Xiong, Q., & De Belie, N. (2026). Experimental and numerical study on carbonation of blast-furnace slag concrete considering the microstructural evolution. CEMENT AND CONCRETE RESEARCH, 200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2025.108084
- Chicago author-date
- Tong, Liangyu, Qing-feng Liu, Elke Gruyaert, Natalia Mariel Alderete, Qing-xiang Xiong, and Nele De Belie. 2026. “Experimental and Numerical Study on Carbonation of Blast-Furnace Slag Concrete Considering the Microstructural Evolution.” CEMENT AND CONCRETE RESEARCH 200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2025.108084.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Tong, Liangyu, Qing-feng Liu, Elke Gruyaert, Natalia Mariel Alderete, Qing-xiang Xiong, and Nele De Belie. 2026. “Experimental and Numerical Study on Carbonation of Blast-Furnace Slag Concrete Considering the Microstructural Evolution.” CEMENT AND CONCRETE RESEARCH 200. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2025.108084.
- Vancouver
- 1.Tong L, Liu Q, Gruyaert E, Alderete NM, Xiong Q, De Belie N. Experimental and numerical study on carbonation of blast-furnace slag concrete considering the microstructural evolution. CEMENT AND CONCRETE RESEARCH. 2026;200.
- IEEE
- [1]L. Tong, Q. Liu, E. Gruyaert, N. M. Alderete, Q. Xiong, and N. De Belie, “Experimental and numerical study on carbonation of blast-furnace slag concrete considering the microstructural evolution,” CEMENT AND CONCRETE RESEARCH, vol. 200, 2026.
@article{01KAG85XK83AWZ0R2M84KG1RVY,
abstract = {{Replacement of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) by blast-furnace slag (BFS) modifies the durability behaviour of concrete. Combined with the experimental tests, this study proposes a comprehensive framework for modelling carbonation in BFS concrete, integrating hydration, transport-reactive, and diffusivity predictive modules. The framework enables synchronized iterations between chemical reaction modelling and transport processes considering microstructural evolution over time. Each module is validated against prior experimental data, including the volume fraction of hydration products, trend-based diffusivities and carbonation depths. Compared with model that neglect microstructural evolution, this framework, which considers altered compositional profiles after hydration and dynamically adjusts transport properties in response to microstructural changes during carbonation, yields higher predictive accuracy. Results indicate that carbonation resistance in BFS concrete improves with extended curing durations due to more complete hydration and a denser microstructure. Conversely, higher BFS replacement levels reduce the concrete's CO2 buffering capacity and increase gas diffusivity after carbonation, finally accelerating carbonation. Parametric analysis further identifies an optimal relative humidity range for BFS concrete at approximately 30 %-60 %, and rising CO2 concentrations increase carbonation depth. This innovative approach not only improves the accuracy of carbonation predictions but also serves as a valuable tool for optimizing the durability and hence sustainability of BFS-based construction materials.}},
articleno = {{108084}},
author = {{Tong, Liangyu and Liu, Qing-feng and Gruyaert, Elke and Alderete, Natalia Mariel and Xiong, Qing-xiang and De Belie, Nele}},
issn = {{0008-8846}},
journal = {{CEMENT AND CONCRETE RESEARCH}},
keywords = {{BFS concrete,Carbonation modelling framework,Transport-reactive process,Microstructural evolution}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{17}},
title = {{Experimental and numerical study on carbonation of blast-furnace slag concrete considering the microstructural evolution}},
url = {{http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2025.108084}},
volume = {{200}},
year = {{2026}},
}
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