  Structural materials are broadly used in applications such as nuclear
vessels, high-temperature processes, and civil construction. Usually, during
their placing and lifespan, they may present free or chemically bonded liquid
phases in their structure, demanding careful attention when exposed to high
heating rates. Their behavior in such conditions is a challenging problem as it
comprises numerous highly nonlinear properties (not easily measured via
experimental tests), strongly coupled equations and unreliable experimental
benchmarks. Nonetheless, such simulations are of great interest. This work aims
to provide a numerical study, checking whether its solution indeed converges
and yields reliable results. Additionally, as the model needs several input
parameters, this work conducts a sensitivity analysis and also assesses its
applicability to more complex scenarios, as such issues remain open in the
literature. In order to do that, a simple model that can be easily adapted for
mixed formulations and complex geometries was proposed. It was found out that
when considering unidimensional models the choices regarding the interpolation
of the sorption isotherms are not essential to the numerical stability of the
system. Besides that, the permeability and thermal conductivity of the material
are the most important parameters that affect the simulation results of
pressure, temperature and evaporable water content profiles. Finally, the 2D
mesoscale simulation of concrete with polymeric fibers (based on the mixed
formulation of the problem) yielded results that agreed with experimental
observations. Thus, the model proposed herein can provide a solid base for
future works and also important insights towards simpler methodologies.
