On the suitability of Eurocode 2 stress-strain model with implicit transient state strain for predicting fracture at elevated temperature

The strain components needed to correctly predict the deformation behavior of concrete at elevated temperature are extremely complex given the interdependence of these strain components and hence the difficulties in uniquely defining each of these strain components independently.The Load Induced Transient Strain "LITS" is known to be the most complex and important component for concrete exposed to elevated temperature.This component has been considered in a simplified way in the current design provision by implicitly including it in the uniaxial stress-strain law.This simplification simplifies the complexities for the designer.However, it leads to certain limitations which have already been highlighted in literature based on structural level simulations of reinforced concrete.But its suitability for predicting the deformation and fracture behavior of concrete at elevated temperature remains unanswered.The paper presents results of a numerical investigation aimed at investigating the suitability of the Eurocode 2 stress-strain model for predicting the macroscopic response of concrete under compression at a geometric scale corresponding to material testing level.Different tests from literature on cylinders with varying loading histories and exposed to elevated temperatures are simulated.Based on the simulation results, the paper comments on the macroscopic response at material level which can/cannot be captured using the Eurocode 2 model.