ISSN (Print) : 0974-6846

ISSN (Online) : 0974-5645

Indian Journal of Science and Technology, Vol 11(47), DOI: 10.17485/ijst/2018/v11i47/131060, December 2018

Utilization of Bamboo Fiber as a Component

Material in Concrete
Grace O. Manlapas*, Leovigildo E. Cardenas and Ernesto T. Anacta
College of Engineering, Eastern Samar State University, Borongan City, 6800, Philippines;
Gracemanlapas68@gmail.com, cardenas_03ph@yahoo.co,
vpdocestong@gmail.com

Abstract
Objective: To determine the quality attributes of aggregates as to sieve analysis, unit weight, specific gravity, water absorption,
moisture content; and the strength of concrete after 14 and 28 days curing period. Methods/Analysis: Concrete samples were
produced with 1% and 3% bamboo fibers as additives using the class a mixture of 1:2:4 with the control sample. Compressive
and flexural strength tests were conducted and evaluated. Findings: The concrete samples with 1% and 3% bamboo fibers
yielded an average value of 23.88 MPa and 25.21 MPa respectively, while the concrete beam samples with 1% and 3%
bamboo fibers yielded an average value of 3.26 MPa and 3.36 MPa respectively. All passed the allowable compressive and
flexural strength. Improvement: Addition of the bamboo fiber increased the compressive and flexural strength of concrete.

Keywords: Bamboo Fiber, Component, Concrete, Material, Utilization

1. Introduction weight which results in lighter components. The density of

In the construction sector of Eastern Samar, concrete is
now the most widely used construction material and steel
reinforcement is always required to meet tensile strength
and ductility demands of concrete structures. However,
the usage of concrete has become so extensive that the
quantity of the materials used in its preparation induces
chemicals like carbon dioxide, which is one of the green-
house gases posing climate change. Using alternatives
like fibers is one way to help minimize the generation
of harmful chemicals. To overcome its weakness in ten-
sion, conventional steel bar reinforcement is utilized with
fibers as a component material. There is a growing interest
on the use of various natural fibers in structural applica-
tion due to their light weight, low cost and sustainability.
Natural fibers are cheap and have better stiffness per
fibers in cross-section of a bamboo shell varies with thick-
ness as well as height. Fiber distribution is more uniform
at the base than at the top or the middle. This is because
bamboo is subjected to maximum bending stress due to
wind at the top portion of the culm1. One natural material
which has great appeal in terms of availability and ease
of use in Eastern Samar is bamboo. Bamboo is one of the
oldest building materials used by mankind. Its utilization
as a substitute material for development has been con-
templated in different ways by different researchers2. One
of the properties that make bamboo fibers a good sub-
stitute to steel in reinforced concrete is its strength. This
minimizes the construction cost and at the same time
increases the strength of the structures or buildings. The
only problem with bamboo is that it attracts fungi and
insects than other trees and grasses because of its high

*Author for correspondence

 Utilization of Bamboo Fiber as a Component Material in Concrete
contents of nutrients. To avoid this problem, it becomes
necessary to undergo treatment of this bamboo before it’s
utilization to protect it from termites. The significance of
this study is directed towards sustainable development
wherein alternative construction materials are being
tested for their effectiveness in construction.
1.1 
Objectives
• To determine the quality attributes of aggregates
as to:
• Sieve Analysis;
• Unit Weight;
• Specific Gravity;
• Water absorption; and
• Moisture Content
• To determine the flexural and compressive
strength of the concrete after 14 days and 28 days
curing period using the following mixtures:
• Concrete mix without bamboo fibers (control
sample);
• Class A mixture with 1% bamboo fibers;
• Class A mixture with 3% bamboo fibers.
2. Methodology
2.1 
Preparation of Materials
Bamboo poles were sourced-out from the nearby baran-
gays and municipalities in Eastern Samar. Soaking process
was conducted where the debarked bamboo was soaked
to the treatment containerfor sufficient period until the
desired absorption and treatment is obtained. After the
soaking process, bamboo was brought to an open space
for drying.
Materials utilized in this study included the commonly
available cement, sand, potable water and bamboo fibers.
Data collection was conducted thru a series of experi-
mental procedures. The bamboo strands are extracted
by mallet hitting, and then subjected to the treatment
2 Vol 11 (47) | December 2018 | www.indjst.org
process where in the bamboo strands were soaked to the
treatment container for four (4) days. After the treat-
ment period, the strands are placed in an open space for
drying.
2.2 
Experimental Procedure
Several bamboo varieties are subjected to the same
treatment solution mentioned in the preparation of mate-
rials. On the other hand, the suitability for either utilizing
bamboo as reinforcement in lieu of steel and as additives
was explored in the study. Hence, for the test of strength
and durability, samples are subjected for laboratory tests
and analysis.
2.3 
Design of Concrete Mix
2.3.1 
Experimental Design
* Class A concrete with bamboo as reinforcement trim-
ming it to the size of 10mm
* Class A concrete mix with bamboo fibers as addi-
tives:
Class A mixture with 1% bamboo fibers (A-BF 1%).
Class A mixture with 3% bamboo fibers (A-BF 3%)
In the preparation of concrete samples, a 6” x 12” cyl-
inder mold and an ASTM standard-size beam mold (6”
x 6” x 24”) were used. The class A concrete mix (1: 2: 4)
was the basis of determining the proportions of concrete
(cement, sand, gravel and water). In determining the vol-
ume of bamboo fiber in each sample, the volumes of the
two samples determined. The volume of each sample was
divided by seven to get the volume of cement. To get the
volume of fine aggregates, the volume of each sample is
multiplied by the fine aggregate factor which is 0.5 and
1.0 for coarse aggregate. In the determination of the
amount of bamboo fibers, percentage of coarse aggregate
was removed and substituted with same percentage of
bamboo fiber in the mixture. The volume of the sample
materials was multiplied to its respective unit weight
to get the individual mass for the measurement of the
amount of materials in the concrete mixture.
Figure 1 shows the flow of the study that started with
the preparation of materials followed by the laboratory
Indian Journal of Science and Technology
 Grace O. Manlapas, Leovigildo E. Cardenas and Ernesto T. Anacta

Figure 1.  Flow chart of the study.

tests on the quality attributes of the aggregates. Class A
mixture was utilized in the production of the concrete
samples. Compression and flexural strength tests were
conducted after the 14 and 28 days curing period. Results
were analysed using the analysis of variance.
This Table 1 shows the composition of concrete with
bamboo fibers. These fibers were treated and being uti-
lized as reinforcement with a length of 7.5 cm per fiber.
The weight of fiber per specimen was determined by
using the percent by volume method.

Table 1.  Composition of concrete

Nomenclature Bamboo Fiber Length (cm) Fiber Content (%)

A (control) No Fiber 0 0

B (BF 1%) Treated 7.5 1

C (BF 3%) Treated 7.5 3

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 Utilization of Bamboo Fiber as a Component Material in Concrete

3. Results and Discussion
Table 2 presents the fine aggregates to have passed all the
governing specifications set by the Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH).
Table 3 shows the sieve analysis for the coarse
aggregates. The samples were taken from Can-avid,
Borongan Eastern Samar. All meets the grading
requirement.
Table 4 showed the specific gravity and water absorp-
tion of coarse aggregates, having values of 2.49 and 3.11
for specific gravity and water absorption, respectively.
The data presented in Table 5 showed the unit weight
of coarse aggregate which is generally required in the
design of concrete mixtures. It measures the volume that
the graded aggregates will occupy including solid parti-
cles and voids.
The data presented in Table 6 shows the unit weight of
fine aggregates which wasgenerally required in the design
of concrete mixtures. It measures the volume that the
graded aggregate would occupy including solid particles
and voids.
The data showed in Table 7 gives the weight/quantity
of materials utilized in manufacturing concrete beams

Table 2.  Sieve analysis (Fine aggregates)

Weight Cumulative Percentage Governing

Sieve No.
Retained Specification Remarks
(in)
(grams) Wt. Passing % Passing % Retained (%)

3/8 “ 0 2068.3 100 0 100.00% Passed

No. 4 1 2067.3 100 0 95-100% Passed

No. 8 3 2064.6 100 0 -

No. 16 438 1624.9 79 21 45-80% Passed

No. 30 265 1359.9 66 34 -

No. 50 868 171.9 8 92 5-30% Passed

No. 100 134 38.2 2 98 0-10% Passed

No. 200 18 20.7 1

Pan 3

Total……... 2068

Moisture Content: 8.59

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 Grace O. Manlapas, Leovigildo E. Cardenas and Ernesto T. Anacta

Table 3.  Sieve analysis (Coarse aggregates)

Weight Cumulative Percentage Governing

Sieve No.
Retained Specification Remarks
(in)
(grams) Wt. Passing % Passing % Retained (%)

3” 0 2068.3 100 0 100.00% Passed

2 ½” 0 2067.3 100 0 95-100% Passed

2” 0 2064.6 100 0 -

1 ½” 636 1624.9 79 21 45-80% Passed

¾” 436 1359.9 66 34 -

3/8” 215 171.9 8 92 5-30% Passed

No. 4 3 38.2 2 98 0-10% Passed

Pan 0 20.7 1

Total………. 2115

Moisture Content: 2.74

Table 4.  Specific gravity and water absorption of coarse aggregates

Trials
Description
1 2

Weight in Air of SSD Sample, g 2225 2030

Weight in Air of Oven-Dried Sample, g 2152 1974

Weight of Sample in Water, g 1321 1221

% Absorption, (1) – (2) / (2) x 100 3.39 2.84

Specific Gravity, Bulk (SSD), (1) / (1) – (3) 2.46 2.51

3.11
Average: Water Absorption
Specific Gravity
2.49

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 Utilization of Bamboo Fiber as a Component Material in Concrete

Table 5.  Unit weight of coarse aggregates

Trials
Description
1 2

Weight of Mold and the Sample 29736 2722

Weight of Mold 6260 6260

Weight of Sample 23476 16462

Volume of Mold 14840 14840

Unit Weight (3) / (4) 1.58 1.11

Average Unit Weight 1.35

Table 6.  Unit weight of fine aggregates

Trials
Description
1 2

Weight of Mold + Sample 6684 6634

Weight of Mold 3860 3860

Weight of Sample 2824 2774

Volume of Mold 2782 2782

Unit Weight (3) / (4) 1.02 1.00

Average Unit Weight 1.01

and cylinders using a Class A design mix based on the
ACI method in designing concrete mixtures.
The data presented in Table 8 showed the compres-
sive strength of the three (3) mixtures which comprise the
control, the mixture with 1% bamboo fiber (BF 1%) and
the mixture with 3% bamboo fiber (BF 3%). Based on the
results, the compressive strength passed.
Table 9 shows the flexural strengthof the three (3)
concrete mixtures in three (3) replications and all passed
the allowable flexural strength.
Table 10 shows that in the 5% level of significance, the
tabular F-Value between 2 to 6 degrees of freedom is 4.46
which are greater than the computed F-Value of 3.143.
Therefore, there is no significant mean difference in the

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 Grace O. Manlapas, Leovigildo E. Cardenas and Ernesto T. Anacta

Table 7.  Concrete composition/materials

Weight of
Weight Weight (Fine Weight (Coarse Weight (Water-
Specimen Bamboo Fiber
(Cement-kg) Aggregates-kg) Aggregates-kg) kg)
(g)

Concrete

A-Control 1.65 3.74 6.20 0.74 0

B-BF1% 1.65 3.74 6.10 0.74 98.02

C-BF3% 1.65 3.74 5.91 0.74 294.05

Beam

A-Control 3.67 8.33 13.98 1.65 0

B-BF1% 3.67 8.33 13.76 1.65 218.40

C-BF3% 3.67 8.33 13.32 1.65 655.20

Table 8.  Compressive strength of concrete samples

Compressive Strength Allowable

Curing Average
Sample (Mpa) Strength
Period Remarks
Identification
(days) A B C Mpa Psi Mpa Psi

A-Control 21.49 20.63 21.49 21.20 3075.44 Passed

B-BF1% 28 24.35 22.93 24.35 23.88 3129.85 20.70 3000 Passed

C-BF3% 24.35 25.49 25.79 25.21 3656.52 Passed

compressive strength of the concrete samples cured after
14 days.
In the 5% level of significance showed in Table 11,
the tabular F-Value between 2 to 6 degrees of freedom is
4.46, which is greater than the computed F-Value which
is 2.916. Therefore, there is no significant mean difference
in the compressive strength of the samples cured after 28
days.
Table 12 shows that in the 5% level of significance, the
tabular F-Value between 2 to 6 degrees of freedom is 4.46,
which is greater than the computed F-Value which is 4.

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 Utilization of Bamboo Fiber as a Component Material in Concrete

Table 9.  Flexural strength of concrete beam samples

Curing Flexural Strength (Mpa)

Sample Average Allowable
Period Remarks
Identification (Mpa) Strength
(days) A B C

A-Control 4.97 5.27 4.07 4.77 Passed

B-BF1% 14 3.47 3.16 3.16 3.26 3-5 Mpa Passed

C-BF3% 3.77 3.16 3.16 3.36 Passed

Table 10.  Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) compressive strength of samples after 14-days curing period

Source of Sum of Degree of Mean Computed Tabular F

Decision Interpretation
Variation Squares Freedom Squares F (0.05)

Between
-690.63 2 -345.315 There is no
Column
significant
3.143 4.46 Accept
mean
Within difference
-659.178 6 -109.863
Column

Table 11.  Analysis of Variance on the compressive (ANOVA) compressive strength of samples after 28 days
curing period

Source of Sum of Degree of Mean Computed Tabular F

Decision Interpretation
Variation Squares Freedom Squares F (0.05)

Between
-1216.44 2 -608.22 There is no
Column
significant
2.916 4.46 Accept Null
mean
Within difference
-1251.48 6 -208.58
Column

Table 12.  Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) flexural strength of samples after 14-dayscuring period

Source of Sum of Degree of Mean Computed Tabular F

Decision Interpretation
Variation Squares Freedom Squares F (0.05)

Between
-29.28 2 -14.64
Column There is no
4 4.46 Accept Null significant
Within mean difference
-21.974 6 -3.66
Column

8 Vol 11 (47) | December 2018 | www.indjst.org Indian Journal of Science and Technology
 Grace O. Manlapas, Leovigildo E. Cardenas and Ernesto T. Anacta
Therefore, there is no significant mean difference in the
flexural strength of the samples cured after 14-days.
4. Conclusions
From the data collected, it can be concluded that the addi-
tion of bamboo fiber increases the compressive strength
of concrete. However, substituting coarse aggregates with
certain percentage of bamboo fiber produces a decreasing
trend on its flexural strength between the control and the
experimental samples, though it increases as the bamboo
fiber composition/materials increases. The determination
of appropriate bamboo fiber percentage within the mix-
ture should be observed to acquire better results.
Vol 11 (47) | December 2018 | www.indjst.org
The compressive strength test results for a 28-days
curing period and the flexural test results for 14-days
period showed no significant difference between the con-
trol and the experimental sample.
5. References
1. Ghavami K. Ultimate load behavior of bamboo-rein-
forced lightweight concrete beams. Cement and
Concrete Composites. 1995; 17(4):281–8. https://doi.
org/10.1016/0958-9465(95)00018-8.
2. Youssef M. Bamboo as substitute for steel reinforced in struc-
tural concrete. New Horizon Construction Material. 1976;
1:525–54.
Indian Journal of Science and Technology 9