Objective The clinical restoration of large bone defects faces limitations such as insufficient bone graft material and immune rejection. Artificial bone scaffolds must simultaneously meet requirements for mechanical support and cellular infiltration. Traditional gradient scaffolds with dense outer and porous inner structures hinder cell migration and tissue integration. This study designed a reverse-gradient concentric circular porous zinc alloy scaffold with a dense inner and porous outer structure. Methods The effects of ring or rod height and concentric spacing on scaffold mechanical properties were systematically investigated. Degradation behavior was analyzed using a stress-corrosion coupling model, and the potential effects of the internal flow field characteristics within the scaffold on cell growth and proliferation were evaluated through fluid dynamics analysis. Results The scaffold's elastic modulus remains stable at 650~750 MPa, matching human cancellous bone without stress shielding risk. Concentric spacing shows no significant impact on core mechanical properties, with maximum stress variation at 1.4%. Stress corrosion simulations reveal the reverse gradient scaffold exhibits higher residual load-bearing capacity post-corrosion than forward gradient scaffolds, and unit loss does not compromise overall mechanical support. Hydrodynamic analysis revealed that scaffolds with reverse structures provide a more stable mechanical environment for cell growth and proliferation, with their wall shear forces further promoting cell proliferation and differentiation. Conclusions This study validated the performance advantages of reverse gradients in mechanical properties and cell growth promotion through computer simulation, providing theoretical reference for structural innovation in bone repair scaffolds.