SCIENTIFIC DESIGN OF

BAMBOO STRUCTURES

Dr. Suresh Bhalla

Department of Civil Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi,
Hauz Khas, New Delhi -110016

EMAIL: sbhalla@civil.iitd.ac.in
 CONTENTS
WHY BAMBOO FOR CONSTRUCTION
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF SHED STRUCTURES
(COTTAGE INDUSTRY/ RURAL WAREHOUSE)
ALTERNATE DESIGNS FOR LESS CRITICAL
STRUCTURES (TENSEGRITY/ GEODESIC DOMES)
CONCLUSIONS
PUBLICATIONS/ REFERENCES
WHY BAMBOO FOR CONSTRUCTION

Construction industry is one of the

most polluting industries of the worls

Production of 1 ton of
cement emits > 1 ton
of CO2 in the
atmosphere

Production of 1 ton of
steel emits > 2 ton of
CO2 in the atmosphere
 ADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO
Production of 1 ton of
bamboo consumes> 1 ton
of CO2 of the atmosphere

MILD Ultimate Yield Young’s Density =

STEEL strength = strength = modulus = 7850 kg/m3
410 MPa 250 MPa 200 GPa

CONCRETE Tensile Compressive Young’s Density =

(Grade M 30) strength = strength = modulus = 2400 kg/m3
3.8 MPa 38 MPa 27 GPa

BAMBOO Tensile Compressive Young’s Density =

Dendrocallamus
giganteus strength = strength = modulus = 700 kg/m3
(Ghavami, 2007) 120 MPa 55 MPa 140 GPa
 ADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO
Bamboo offers competitive
strength to mass ratio.

However, its drawback is susceptibility to

termite attack……

……which can be set aside by suitable treatment

 DESIGN APPROACH
(INDUSTRIAL SHED)

WORKING STRESS METHOD

FACTOR OF SAFETY = 4
LINEAR ELASTIC BEHAVIOUR

ALLOWWABLE STRESSES :
Tension : 30 MPa
Compression : 13 MPa (l/r = 80)
Ghavami (2007) for Dendrocallamus Giganteus
(40mm dia, 10mm thickness)
Two spans considered: 10m, 6m
CONFIGURATION: CONVENTIONAL STEEL SHEDS

1800
CONFIGURATION: CONVENTIONAL STEEL SHEDS

100.00
 CONFIGURATION: CONVENTIONAL STEEL SHEDS
5000
5000
5000
 DETAILS OF STRUCTURE

5m

0.4 m
10 m

5x5 = 25m
Front elevation. Side elevation

Bamcrete column Bamboo bow beam for supporting roof

Developed by Dr. Sudhakar and Dr. S. Gupta

 STRUCTURAL IDEALISATION
GI Sheeting
h = 1.7m
Hinge
H = 5m

L = 10m

DEAD LOADS AND IMPOSED LOADS

Do not induce any moment on the column due to flexible connection of the
bamboo arch with the columns.
Sheeting and purlins = 15kg/m2
Tied arch = 200kg AXIAL FORCE = 6.75 kN
Columns as 40kg/m. (at column base)

Imposed load = 75kg/m2 ( IS 875 part 2, 1987)

AXIAL FORCE = 18.75 kN
(at column base)
 WIND ANALYSIS
(IS 875 part III, 1987)

For Delhi region, basic wind speed Vb of 47m/s.

Probability factor (risk coefficient) k1 = 1.0 (assuming a mean

probable life of 50 years)

The terrain, height and size factor k2 = 1.0 (class A and

category 2)

Topography factor k3 = 1.0

Design wind speed VZ = k1 k2 k3 Vb = 47m/s

Design wind pressure = 0.6Vz2 = 1.325 kNm-2

WIND PRESSURE COEFFICIENTS
(IS 875 part III)

0.7 0.7 Wind

Wind 0.5 ±0.7 0.5

0.8 ±0.7 0.6

0.7 0.1
0.7 (b) 0.7
0.9 (a) 0.9

Wind
±0.7 ±0.7

(d)
(c)

Wind pressure coefficients in accordance with IS 875 part 3

(a) Walls: Wind normal to ridge (b) Walls: Wind along ridge
(c) Roof: Wind normal to ridge (d) Roof: Wind along ridge
 ANALYSIS OF CROSS FRAME
10.6 kN/m 10.6 kN/m

R1 R1
h = 1.7m

+
w2 = 8.61 kN/m w2 = 8.61 kN/m
R1H/2
H = 5m
w1 = 0.66 kN/m ≡ w1 =0.66 kN/m 5w2H/8
5w1H/8 w2l2/8 R1H/2
L=10m w1l2/8
53 kN 53 kN

Wind normal to ridge, inside R1 = 3(w1+ w2)H/8

pressure (A)
(B)

Summary of forces at bottom of column for four wind conditions

S. WIND CASE TENSILE MOMENT HORIZONTAL
No. FORCE (kN) (kNm) FORCE (kN)
1 Wind normal to ridge, 3.2 74.5 39.8
inside suction
2 Wind normal to ridge, 53 70.5 35.6
inside pressure
3 Wind along ridge, inside 0 4.2 4.2
suction
4 Wind along ridge, inside 46.3 4.2 4.2
pressure
 DESIGN OF TIED BAMBOO ARCH

y w Fa
θ
Arch

H = 1.7 m y
Tie Ft
x
L = 10m
x

y=
4H
2
(
Lx − x 2 ) Fa =
w L4 + 16 H 2 ( L − 2 x) 2 Ft =
wL2
L 8H 8H

40mm dia, 10mm

thick (typ)

S. LOAD COMBINATION FORCE IN ARCH FORCE IN TIE

200mm
No. (kN) (kN)
1 DEAD LOADS + LIVE 45 (C) 37 (T)
LOADS
200mm
2 DEAD LOADS + WIND 78 (T) 64 (C)
LOADS
Both tie and
arch
 DESIGN OF BAMBCRETE COLUMNS
S. LOAD COMBINATION AXIAL FORCE BENDING S. No. WIND CASE
N (kN) MOMENT
1 Wind normal to ridge, inside suction
o. (kNm)
2 Wind normal to ridge, inside pressure
1 DEAD LOADS + WIND CASE 1 4 (C) 75 (T)
3 Wind along ridge, inside suction
2 DEAD LOADS + WIND CASE 4 47 (T) 70 (C) 4 Wind along ridge, inside pressure

200 x 3 = 600mm
Transverse
frame

1200mm
 BRACINGS
L

Longitudinal Top/ bottom chord

bracing bracing

Longitudinal frame

200mm
 PURLINS

Wind Loads

10
0m
m

0 mm
10

Dead Loads

Under biaxial bending

 DESIGN OF FOOTING

M
H

Natural ground level 450mm (Flooring Depth)

12 @ 300mm c/c 700mm

12 @ 250mm c/c
2000mm

300mm

80mm (Base
2500mm Course)
 DESIGN OF BASE CONNECTION
OPTION 1
Axial Design force in tension: 16kN

Development Length: L = F/(π.D.T)

Development length, L

Bamboo of
column

This portion to be cast

• F = Axial Force;
at the time of placing
the bamcrete column
• D = Diameter of Bamboo;
Construction joint
• T = Bond strength of bamboo in concrete
Pedestal

Footing

The Bond strength required

Type I base connection to be determined by
Laboratory Test.
 DESIGN OF BASE CONNECTION
OPTION 2
Axial Design force in tension: 16kN
8 no Mild Steel Tube;
D (internal) = 50mm, t = 8mm
Bamboo of
column
Suitable length projected above
Bolts

Steel tubes

150mm Pedestal Development length;

Footing τ = 1.4 Nmm-2 (limit state) as per
IS 456 (2000) for M 25 concrete;
Force = 1.5 x 16 kN
Type II base connection
L = 115mm
L (Provided) = 150mm
DESIGN OF 6M SPAN STRUCTURE

500mm
100mm

100mm

ARCH/TIE 500mm

COLUMN

100mm 100mm

BRACING 100mm

BRACING
DESIGN OF FOOTING (6M SPAN)

M
H

Natural ground level 450mm (Flooring Depth)

12 @ 300mm c/c 700mm

12 @ 250mm c/c
2000m
m
300mm

80mm (Base
2000m Course)
m
 PARAMETRIC STUDY

Optimum frame spacing = 4.16m

ALTERNATE DESIGNS FOR
LESS CRITICAL
STRUCTURES
(TENSEGRITY/ GEODESIC
DOMES)
 TENSEGRITY STRUCTURES
• A special class of flexible space structures
composed of a set of continuous tension members
and a set of discontinuous compression members
• “Tensegrity” as a contraction of the two words
“tension”and “integrity” as patented in U.S.A.
• Fuller characterizes these systems as “ small
islands of compression in a sea of tension”
• A tensegrity is a system in a stable self-equilibrated
state comprising a discontinuous set of compressed
components inside a continuum of tensioned
components
NEEDLE TOWER 30M HIGH
TENSEGRITY BRIDGE
 Top ties

Leg ties
Struts

Bottom ties

SIMPLEX TYPE TENSEGRITY STRUCTURE

 (a) (b)

PERSPECTIVE VIEW TOP VIEW

HALFCUBOCTAHEDRON
Panigrahi, R. (2008), “Development,
Analysis and Monitoring of
Dismountable Tensegrity Structures”,
Ph. D. Thesis, Department of Civil
Engineering, IIT Delhi
DISMANTLABLE POULTRY SHED
(TENSEGRITY)
LOW COST GEODESIC POULTRY SHED
LOW COST GEODESIC POULTRY SHED
 PLAN OF ACTION
ACTIVITY YEAR 1 (2008-09) YEAR 2 (2009-10)
Sep Nov Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov Jan Mar May Jul

Development of
design philosophy

Preliminary design of
a typical shed structure

Development of
MATLAB analysis
and design subroutines
Conceptual fabrication
of poultry shed

Structural optimization
for shed

Revision of design
philosophy as per
inputs from
investigators dealing
with objective 1
Final design of various
structures

Fabrication of
prototype structures
 CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of a typical bamboo based shed structures, 10/6 m span and 5m height,
has been carried out under various loads and their combinations.

Design has been carried out in scientific manner, with working stress approach.

Structure has been analyzed in a simple fashion, by considering behaviour of

one typical frame

Designed structure can serve as workshop for cottage industry, ware house or
cattle shed.
Alternate low cost designs for poultry shed (dismantlable) have been proposed
 PUBLICATIONS
Bhalla, S., Gupta, S., Puttaguna, S. and Suresh, R. (2009), “Bamboo as Green Alternative To
Concrete and Steel for Modern Structures”, Journal of Environmental Research and
Development, accepted.
(presented at the International Congress of Environmental Resarch, Goa, 18-20 Dec. 2008)

•
REFERENCES
CS Monitor, http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0312/p14s01-stgn.html, (2008).

• Scientific American, http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=cement-from-carbon-dioxide, (2008).

• Ghavami, , K., Bamboo: Low cost and energy saving construction materials, Proc. International Conference on
Modern Bamboo Structures, 28-30 October, Changsha, China, 5-21, (2007)

• Bhalla, S., Sudhakar, P., Gupta, S. and Kordke, C., Wind analysis of bamboo based shed structure and design of
base connection for bambcrete Column, Proc. International Conference on Modern Bamboo Structures, 28-30
October, Changsha, China, 259-265, (2007)

• Sudhakar, P., Gupta, S. and Kordke, C., Bhalla, S. and Satya, S., Report of conceptual development of bamboo
concrete composite structures at a typical tribal belt in India”, Proc. International Conference on Modern Bamboo
Structures, 28-30 October, Changsha, China, 65-73, (2007)

• Gupta, S., Sudhakar, P., Kordke, C., and Aggarwal, A., Experimental verification of bamboo-concrete composite
column with ferro-cement band, Proc. International Conference on Modern Bamboo Structures, 28-30 October,
Changsha, China, 253-258, (2007)

• IS 875 Part 2, Code of practice for design loads for buildings and structures, imposed loads, Bureau of Indian
Standards, (1987).

• IS 875 Part 3, Code of practice for design loads for buildings and structures, wind loads, Bureau of Indian
Standards, (1987).

• Arya A.S. and Ajmani J.l., Steel Structures, Nem Chand & Bros., (1992).