MATEC Web of Conferences 138, 01024 (2017) DOI: 10.1051/matecconf/201713801024 EACEF 2017 Mechanical properties of different bamboo species Dinie Awalluddin1, Mohd Azreen Mohd Ariffin1,2*, Mohd Hanim Osman1,2, Mohd Warid Hussin1, Mohamed A. Ismail3, Han-Seung Lee4, and Nor Hasanah Abdul Shukor Lim1. 1Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. 2Forensic Engineering Centre, Institute for Smart Infrastructure Innovative Construction, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia 3Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Sarawak, CDT 250, Miri 98009, Sarawak, Malaysia. 4Department of Architectural Engineering, Hanyang University, 1271 Sa 3-dong, Sangrok-gu, Ansan 426-791, Korea. Abstract. Bamboo is a rapid renewable plant that has a fast growth rate as compared to trees, which increases its suitability to be used as a sustainable source for wood industry, especially in construction works. Due to the lack of understanding on bamboo properties, the utilization of bamboo in construction has always been neglected. This paper presents an investigation on the mechanical properties of four species of treated bamboos that are available in Malaysia, which include Bambusa Vulgaris, Dendrocalamus Asper, Schizostachyum Grande, and Gigantochloa Scortechinii. A mechanical testing was carried out in various parts along the culm of these bamboo species in order to examine the differences of their compressive strength and tensile strength. The strength development and moisture content of these bamboo species were also monitored at a five-month interval. The results showed that Bambusa Vulgaris, Dendrocalamus Asper, and Gigantochloa Scortechinii possess excellent mechanical properties in compression and tensile strength, which indicate a good quality to be used as a construction material. As bamboo offers promising advantages, thus, it is suitable to be used as a substitute in place of structural timber in construction, which indirectly facilitates the preservation of the global environment. 1 Introduction Being classified as a grass member of a larger grass family [1], bamboo can be easily found in tropical and some temperate areas of the world. ____________________________ * Corresponding author: [email protected] © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). MATEC Web of Conferences 138, 01024 (2017) DOI: 10.1051/matecconf/201713801024 EACEF 2017 Bamboo has a nature form comprising a cylindrical pole with jointed stem known as a culm. There are over 1500 identified bamboo species in the world [2]. As one of the fastest growing plants, bamboo can reach a full height ranging from 15-30m in a period of two to four months [3]. All bamboo species has a similar anatomy, which consists of nodes, internodes, and diaphragm as shown in Figure 1. Each species can be identified according to their root system, in which there are three known root systems including, sympodial, monopodial, and amphodial [4]. The thickness of a bamboo decreases along the height of the culm, while the fibres density increases from the bamboo culm’s inner wall to outer wall. Fig.1 Bamboo anatomy Bamboo forest has a higher harvest cycle, with up to four times of carbon density per hectare in comparison to spruce forest [5]. This means that bamboo can be harvested in a short period of time, in addition to having a high rate of carbon absorption as compared to timber. Recently, there is a growing interest in using bamboo as a construction material, in place of timber. In China, contractors have utilized bamboo as scaffoldings, while in Bali, bamboo is used to construct a Green School [6], where all structural components of the building is sourced from a local bamboo supplier. In contrast, in other developing country, the utilization of bamboo as a construction material is scarce, even with an abundance of bamboo source available. Lack of study concerning the mechanical properties of bamboo is known to be one of the factors that is associated with a low utilization of bamboo in construction. The ability and capacity of bamboo to withstand the force applied onto it is very important. The strength and moisture content of the bamboo are among the most important factors, which determine both ability and capacity of full bamboo culm. Bamboo with a moisture content of 15% or lower tends to have good mechanical properties and is less vulnerable to fungus attack [7]. In determining the strength of bamboo, 12% of moisture content in air-dry condition has been regarded as a standard and reference [8]. In terms of 2 MATEC Web of Conferences 138, 01024 (2017) DOI: 10.1051/matecconf/201713801024 EACEF 2017 Bamboo has a nature form comprising a cylindrical pole with jointed stem known as a culm. durablty, t vaes according to speces ad age aes. t s estimate that a unteated There are over 1500 identified bamboo species in the world [2]. As one of the fastest growing bamboo has a desgn lfe o approimately 10- ears i t s store apropratel, whle a plants, bamboo can reach a full height ranging from 15-30m in a period of two to four months teate bamboo wll have a much longe esgn life [9]. [3]. All bamboo species has a similar anatomy, which consists of nodes, internodes, and The stength o bamboos also deeds o ae ages ad speces, whch detemines the diaphragm as shown in Figure 1. Each species can be identified according to their root sutablty to be use constructon whe they reach maturty ae o aoun -4 eas. I system, in which there are three known root systems including, sympodial, monopodial, and maturity, bamboos ossess an optmum stegth ad ae suitable to be use fo heay-uty amphodial [4]. The thickness of a bamboo decreases along the height of the culm, while the aplcatons. It has also bee fou that bamboos’ compressive stength inceases alo their fibres density increases from the bamboo culm’s inner wall to outer wall. height, n adton to ceasing compressive stength from the inne at to the oute pat of their culm [10]–[13]. The am of ths eseach s to nvestgate o the mechancal propetes of iffeet speces o local bamboos hs eseach s a pat of a epeimetal work whch focuses on the possblty of utlng bamboo as a constucton mateal 2 Materials and methods 2.1 Preparation of the bamboo Thee ae our bamboo secies invole in ths eseach, hich ae sourced from ea, alaysa hose four bamboo speces include Dendrocalamus Asper Bambusa Vulgaris Schizostachyum Grande, and Gigantochloa Scortechinii These four bamboo speces ere selecte ad let to ry or about three weeks untl the colour of the bamboos turne yellowish from the original colour. The ere subseuetly teate by using borc acid, in orde to incease the urablty and ablty aainst fungus attac. Figure 2 shows a ple of felle bamboos athee pror to mechacal testng. Fig.1 Bamboo anatomy Bamboo forest has a higher harvest cycle, with up to four times of carbon density per hectare in comparison to spruce forest [5]. This means that bamboo can be harvested in a short period of time, in addition to having a high rate of carbon absorption as compared to timber. Recently, there is a growing interest in using bamboo as a construction material, in place of timber. In China, contractors have utilized bamboo as scaffoldings, while in Bali, bamboo is used to construct a Green School [6], where all structural components of the building is sourced from a local bamboo supplier. In contrast, in other developing country, the utilization of bamboo as a construction material is scarce, even with an abundance of Fig.2 Fou bamboo speces bamboo source available. Lack of study concerning the mechanical properties of bamboo is known to be one of the factors that is associated with a low utilization of bamboo in construction. 2.2 Mechanical testing The ability and capacity of bamboo to withstand the force applied onto it is very ll bamboo speces wee cut into small samples, i whch the samples wee taen rom the important. The strength and moisture content of the bamboo are among the most important intenode of the bamboo culm. hree tests hae been invole in ths eseach icluing, factors, which determine both ability and capacity of full bamboo culm. Bamboo with a compresson, tensle, and moisture content, in accordace wth ISO Pat [14]. moisture content of 15% or lower tends to have good mechanical properties and is less All specimens wee cut from the bottom, middle, ad top ats o the bamboo ad make vulnerable to fungus attack [7]. In determining the strength of bamboo, 12% of moisture wth lettes , , and , resectely. or compresson test ad tesle tests, all specimen content in air-dry condition has been regarded as a standard and reference [8]. In terms of wth ree odes wee selecte. The oute amete o the bamboo secimen, D, to be use or 3 MATEC Web of Conferences 138, 01024 (2017) DOI: 10.1051/matecconf/201713801024 EACEF 2017 omprsson st as masured from wo oosite onts of outer surfae. The aera dameter as recorded. verag wa thicknss, of bamboo lm as measured om for onts, sepaa by a 90º agle aound dameter of th specimen. Compresson es as arried ou by sing a Universa Tsng achine, where specimens o or bamboo specs wer sed unde a onsan a of 0.01mm/s, as sown Figur 3 aximm oad for ach specimen was recorded by si a daa ogger. Fig 3. amboo secmen nde compresson s usg nivesa Tesg achine Upon ompon of omprssion s, sma samps with a dimenson of 25mm x 5mm as shown n ur 4 were aen ad immeday from each bamboo species’ specimen o ndergo mostur ontent s Th samles wer the weighed.