The leaching-deterioration properties and leaching mechanism of cement mortar under dry-wet cycles

•The leaching-deterioration properties and leaching mechanism of cement mortar under wet-dry cycles were studied.•Reducing the water–cement ratio and and the addition of silica fume are conducive to mortar resistance to calcium corrosion under wet-dry cycles.•The shortening of the dry-wet cycle and the increase of soaking solution concentration aggravate the calcium dissolution of cement mortar.