Wick action at moderate Peclet number

An approximate analytical model describing transport of chloride in a concrete wall from a wet face in contact with salt solution to an internal liquid/gas interface located near a drying face (wick action) is presented. A constant concentration of the solution is assumed for the wet face of the concrete, and continuity of fluxes is assumed at the interface. The model is shown to be reasonably accurate over a practical range of the Peclet number, a transport parameter which shows the balance between convection and diffusion. Predictions of the model are compared with experimental data, a numerical solution, and an asymptotic solution, and good agreement is obtained.