Numerical analysis of hygro-thermal behaviour and damage of concrete at high temperature

A computational analysis of hygro-thermal and mechanical behaviour of concrete structures at high temperature is presented. The evaluation of thermal, hygral and mechanical performance of this material, including damage effects, needs the knowledge of the heat and mass transfer processes. These are simulated within the framework of a coupled model where non-linearities due to high temperatures are accounted for. The constitutive equations are discussed in some detail. The discretization of the governing equations is carried out by Finite Elements in space and Finite Differences in time.