Compressive Stress–Strain Response of Concrete Exposed to Low Temperatures

Temperature is an important factor when considering the mechanical properties of engineering materials because they can change drastically as temperatures change. The research presented here is an experimental investigation to determine the changes in the compressive behavior of concrete that occur because of low exposure temperatures. The primary purpose of the research is the development of detailed experimental stress–strain relationships exposed to low temperatures, which remains a largely unexplored topic. A total of twenty-seven 101.6×203.2 mm concrete cylinders were tested in uniaxial compression at the University of New Brunswick. The specimens were exposed to temperature ranges from 20°C to −70°C to simulate extreme climatic temperatures and those obtainable in industrial storage facilities. The compression strain of specimens was obtained by using three-dimensional digital image correlation. The mechanical properties studied were the relative changes in compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, and peak strain attributable to temperature variations. Predictive equations and relationships for these properties with respect to temperature are presented and compared with the existing literature.