Local concrete-steel bond behavior at low temperature

Experimental studies were conducted on the local bond stress-slip relationships of deformed bars embedded in confined concrete under monotonic and cyclic loading in the temperature range between -10°C and -70°C (+14°F and -94°F). The bond behavior between steel reinforcement and concrete under low temperature appears quite different from the bond behavior under normal temperature [+20°C (+68°F)]. The main differences observed are in the values of maximum bond stress and in the relationship between maximum bond stress and concrete compressive strength. Under monotonic loading, the ratio of maximum bond strength at low temperature to that at normal temperature is almost identical to the ratio of the respective concrete compressive strength values.