A STUDY ON THE PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO AS A CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND ITS SUITABILITY IN STRUCTURAL DESIGN

BY

NG TIAN SING

ABSTRACT

Bamboo is a low cost material. It is fast growing, renewable and abundant all a round the world. However, the strength and properties of bamboo is not widely studied as a replacement for the current building materials which are shortage in supply like steel. If the bamboo can provide equal or higher strength than the current building materials like steel, it would reduce the construction materials prices.

In this project report, a successful study on the properties of bamboo and its suitability as a replacement for the common building materials has been carried out as well as the advantages and disadvantages of this material.

The mechanical properties of bamboo that have been studied are: -

(i) compressive strength

(ii) shear strength

(iii) bending strength

(iv) discussion about tensile strength and elastic modulus

The physical properties of bamboo that have been studied are:-

(i) density and unit weight

(ii) shrinkage

The relationship between mechanical properties and physical properties of bamboo that have been determined are:-

(i) position along the stem

(ii) presence of node

(iii) moisture content

The behavior of bamboo as reinforcement in concrete had been examined.

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Diploma in Civil Engineering

April 2004

Number: 1-2