How cold is too cold for steel?

Unmixed steel will reach a brittle point at less than -30 degrees Celsius. Many areas on the Earth reach colder temperatures.

ehow.com - Low-Temperature Effects on Carbon Steel | eHow

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Iron and steel melt into liquid at high temperature but become brittle in cold climates. Carbon steel can be one of the strongest materials available for building and reinforcing. However, it is still susceptible to the effects of cold temperatures. In some cases, the production treatment of the steel can improve its strength and make it harder. But at a certain point, even hardened steel can become brittle when it gets cold enough.

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Quenching Effects

The production of steel is not as simple as heating up iron ore and melting it. This just creates simple pot metal. Good carbon steel goes through a process of melting, forming and fast cooling. This act of immediate quenching reshapes the molecular structure of carbon steel, causing it to develop stronger bonds. The result is stronger, harder steel that doesn't wear down quickly and handles pressure stress better. Steel that has been produced by cold quenching can have a hardness that is four times greater than normal melted and formed steel.

Performance in the Cold

Exposure to low environment temperatures such as outside cold does not cause any sudden change to the nature of carbon steel. In fact, because of the carbon element, steel can resist cold better than other materials. However, at a certain point below freezing, the metal can completely freeze over. When that point occurs depends on how much carbon is in the steel. For practical purposes the steel will not freeze over in most normal weather conditions.

Brittle Effect in Cold

Carbon steel does lose its flexibility when exposed to cold, however. This condition, while the steel remains hard, causes it to be brittle and susceptible to cracking. U.S. Liberty ship crews found this problem out the hard way as hulls strained by cargo began to split up at the seams when traveling through cold Atlantic waters in World War II. So did the ill-fated Titanic. As a result, carbon steel needs to be mixed with other metals to retain flexibility at colder temperatures. Unmixed steel will reach a brittle point at less than -30 degrees Celsius. Many areas on the Earth reach colder temperatures.

Structural Steel in Cold

When steel gets cold it tends to develop condensation. This can be a significant problem for builders using steel for framing where the metal may be close to or exposed to the elements. The resulting temperature transfer can cause water condensation which can then travel into the building, resulting in dry rot or water damage over time.

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How do you anchor a metal shed without concrete?

How to Anchor a Shed to the Ground Without Concrete Looping a cabled anchor around a ground frame. Looping a cabled anchor over an inside structural member. Bolting a cabled anchor to the outside of the shed. Using large Penetrator anchors under the ground frame for both support (replacing footings) and as a hold-down. More items... •

americanearthanchors.com - How to Anchor a Shed to the Ground Without Concrete

There are five primary methods for securing sheds to the ground without concrete. Looping a cabled anchor around a ground frame. Looping a cabled anchor over an inside structural member. Bolting a cabled anchor to the outside of the shed. Using large Penetrator anchors under the ground frame for both support (replacing footings) and as a hold-down. Using smaller Penetrator anchors with L-brackets for securing sheds into asphalt and for temporary building installations. The specific method, and the number and placement of anchors, will depend upon shed size, soil conditions, and your preference. If a larger shed needs support as well as hold-down (requires footings), the large Penetrators can provide both functions with the same anchor. The largest (46") can replace poured concrete as an easier, faster, equally effective, and less expensive alternative. For the best holding strength, anchors should be installed at a minimum spacing equal to the depth of the anchor, in order to avoid each other’s “cone of soil” — the region of soil that contributes to an anchor’s holding strength. This applies to both cabled anchors and Penetrator (screw-type) anchors.

Drive rod and sledge or demolition hammer for cabled anchors.

Impact wrench or power take-off (PTO) for Penetrator anchors.

Depending on your preferred method, you’ll need the following tools for installation:

For complete instructions, download the Shed Anchor Installation PDF.

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