Experimental and analytical investigations on the behavior of interface between concrete and polymer cement mortar under hygrothermal conditions

This paper presents research outcomes of an experimental program carried out to determine the influence of moisture and temperature on the polymer cement mortar (PCM)-concrete interface properties along with intrinsic properties of constituents. Performance of materials was evaluated using split tensile test of both composite and bulk specimens and also by observing glass transition temperature, melting point and molecular weight of extracted polymers from PCM. All specimens were exposed to different temperature conditions for temperature exposure, or wetting and drying cycles and continuous immersion in water for moisture exposure. Significant reduction in strength was observed of composite and bulk specimens with the increase in temperature, while the effect of moisture was marginal. Finally, design formulas were developed to predict the interfacial split tensile strength under various exposure conditions, by using the control tensile strength of PCM and concrete.