The Importance Of Bamboo

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There has been a rapid increase in demand of Bambusa vulgaris and Dendrocalamus in the housing and construction industry, thereby tremendously increasing the economic importance of Bamboo and its resources. Extensive studies have shown that in Sri Lanka Bamboo is a very suitable material for scaffolding during construction given its durability and strength. Bamboo is an extremely stable green reinforcement building appliance, it is easily accessible and readily workable (SAITM – RSEA 2013). 4.2 Physical and mechanical properties of Bamboo Bamboo and wood has a wide range of difference which is not only evident in their appearance but also in their physical and mechanical properties. Absence of knots or rays makes Bamboo possess more evenly…show more content…
They are long and tapered at their ends. The ratio of length to width varies between 150:1 and 250:1. Fiber length has showed considerable variation within species. There is also variation in strength properties along the culm height as well. Compressive strength tends to increase with height (Espiloy 1987; Liese 1987; Sattar et al. 1990; Kabir et al. 1991). The strength increases from the central to the outer part. There is more than 100 percent variation in strength from the inner to the outer layers (Narayanamurti and Bist 1947). Typically at three to four years old of Bamboo species, i.e. the matured culms is where the maximum strength characteristics can be found. Chemical compositions of Bamboo vary largely with layer of culm, height, age to which the mechanical and physical properties of Bamboo depends greatly on. According to Xiaobo, across the culm also, there is a remarkable variation in the strength of a Bamboo. "The mechanical properties of Bamboo are often twice to three times higher than those of conventional timbers. However, legal uncertainties surrounding universal regulations and standards are preventing a Bamboo boom in many parts of the…show more content…
Ghavami, K., 1995 reported the mechanical properties of Bamboo especially the properties pertaining to Bamboo in concrete. According to Ahmad et al., the research carried out showed that the ultimate load of a Bamboo reinforced concrete beam increased 400% as compared to an unreinforced concrete. Adequate treatments should be applied to Bamboo as well as the methods that should be employed when making use of Bamboo as concrete reinforcement. (Ghavami, K., 1995). Ahmad, S. et al., concluded that Bamboo can substitute the use of steel satisfactorily and also the need to know the characteristic strength of Bamboo for design purposes. United States Naval civil engineering Laboratory advised not to use wet Bamboo, unseasoned for general construction and also not to use unwaterproofed Bamboo in concrete. Also, it concluded that Bamboo reinforced concrete is a potential alternative ‘green’ light construction method that is not as costly as steel. Cheung et al., described the mechanical properties of Bamboo and discovered that the mechanical properties and physical properties vary with respect to the following factors age, diameter, position along the culm etc. Amada et al., investigated the physical and mechanical properties of

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