Longitudinal (rebar-axis oriented) bond behavior between ribbed rebar and concrete is closely related to the cross-sectional confinement provided by the concrete cover. Few experimental data characterizing the concrete cover damage induced by the rebar-concrete interaction are available. The present work aims to expand this limited existing database by means of an experimental campaign that includes the measurement of splitting-crack development through the concrete cover. Moreover, an analytical model of the rebar-concrete bond, involving the introduction of only three physically-based parameters characterizing the rebar-concrete interface, is proposed. These parameters are experimentally determined through the aforementioned experimental campaign.