The use of small diameter whole-culm (bars) and/or split bamboo (a.k.a. splints or strips) has often been proposed as an alternative to reinforcing steel in reinforced concrete. The motivation for such replacement is typically cost and the drive to find more sustainable alternatives in the construction industry. Although bamboo is a material with extraordinary mechanical properties, this paper will summarise the reasons that for most load-bearing applications, bamboo-reinforced concrete is an ill-considered concept: having significant durability, strength and stiffness issues. Additionally, it is argued that bamboo-reinforced concrete does not possess the environmentally friendly credentials often attributed to it. Finally, the authors identify applications in which bamboo reinforcement may prove an acceptable alternative to steel provided durability concerns can be addressed. 
                        more » 
                        « less   
                    
                            
                            Flat Ring Flexure Test for Full-Culm Bamboo
                        
                    
    
            The development of a new simple test method suitable for assessing the tension strength perpendicular to the fibres (Mode I) of a bamboo culm – the flat ring flexure test – is presented. The proposed test places a short section of bamboo culm in through-cross section flexure, causing circumferential stresses at failure. The modulus of rupture at the failed section is a measure of the transverse tensile strength of the culm. The test is compression-based and uses a simple apparatus and specimen. The full culm specimen is symmetric and requires very little preparation. The study first investigated test parameters affecting results, thereby arriving at an appropriate and repeatable standard test method. The resulting test method is documented in a format consistent with ISO 22157. 
        more » 
        « less   
        
    
    
                            - PAR ID:
- 10063495
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Materials Research Proceedings
- Volume:
- 7
- ISSN:
- 2474-395X
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 349 to 358
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
- 
            
- 
            The use of small diameter whole-culm (bars) and/or split bamboo (a.k.a. splints or strips) has often been proposed as an alternative to reinforcing steel in reinforced concrete. The motivation for such replacement is typically cost and the drive to find more sustainable alternatives in the construction industry. Although bamboo is a material with extraordinary mechanical properties, this paper will summarise the reasons that for most load-bearing applications, bamboo-reinforced concrete is an ill-considered concept: having significant durability, strength and stiffness issues. Additionally, it is argued that bamboo-reinforced concrete does not possess the environmentally friendly credentials often attributed to it. Finally, the authors identify applications in which bamboo reinforcement may prove an acceptable alternative to steel provided durability concerns can be addressed.more » « less
- 
            Abstract Bamboo culm has been widely used in engineering for its high strength, lightweight, and low cost. Its outermost epidermis is a smooth and dense layer that contains cellulose, silica particles, and stomata and acts as a water and mechanical barrier. Recent experimental studies have shown that the layer has a higher mechanical strength than other inside regions. Still, the mechanism is unclear, especially for how the low silica concentration (<10%) can effectively reinforce the layer and prevent the inner fibers from splitting. Here, theoretical analysis is combined with experimental imaging and 3D printing to investigate the effect of the distribution of silica particles on composite mechanics. The anisotropic partial distribution function of silica particles in bamboo skin yields higher toughness (>10%) than randomly distributed particles. A generative artificial intelligence (AI) model inspired by bamboo epidermis is developed to generate particle‐reinforced composites. Besides the visual similarity, it is found that the samples by the generative model show failure processes and fracture toughness identical to the actual bamboo epidermis. This work reveals the micromechanics of the bamboo epidermis. It illustrates that generative AI can help design bio‐inspired composites of a complex structure that cannot be uniformly represented by a simple building block or optimized around local boundaries. It expands the design space of particle‐reinforced composites for enhanced toughness modulus, offering advantages in industries where mechanical reliability is critical.more » « less
- 
            The use of screw connections in full-culm bamboo is often assumed to be limited, primarily due to the propensity for splitting of the culm. This study demonstrates that small diameter screws can be used effectively in full-culm bamboo. The study explores the withdrawal capacity of candidate screw types in order to identify those that may be used to achieve a high capacity while mitigating splitting failures. Twelve screw types of three standard sizes, ranging from hardwood screws, self-tapping wood screws and concrete anchors, are tested in conditions of both pre-drilled and self-tapping installation procedures. All tests are conducted on samples of P. edulis (Moso) having culm wall thickness on the order of 7 mm. The results of this study are intended to inform the applications for which screw connection to bamboo are viable.more » « less
- 
            The use of screw connections in full-culm bamboo is often assumed to be limited, primarily due to the propensity for splitting of the culm. This study demonstrates that small diameter screws can be used effectively in full-culm bamboo. The study explores the withdrawal capacity of candidate screw types in order to identify those that may be used to achieve a high capacity while mitigating splitting failures. Twelve screw types of three standard sizes, ranging from hardwood screws, self-tapping wood screws and concrete anchors, are tested in conditions of both pre-drilled and self-tapping installation procedures. All tests are conducted on samples of P. edulis (Moso) having culm wall thickness on the order of 7 mm. The results of this study are intended to inform the applications for which screw connection to bamboo are viable.more » « less
 An official website of the United States government
An official website of the United States government 
				
			 
					 
					
 
                                    