Modeling the formation of efflorescence and subflorescence caused by salt solution evaporation from porous media

•Solute transport equations are solved for evaporation-driven transport of salt solution through a porous media.•The model serves as a tool to predict the precipitation of salt at the evaporating surface (efflorescence) or within the medium (subflorescence).•Experiments are performed to observe efflorescence and subflorescence in porous media caused by evaporation.•The amounts of efflorescence and subflorescence increase with increasing concentration of the feeding solution and the evaporation rate.