* BAMBOO REINFORCED

CONCRETE
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
-Discovery of bamboo as reinforced concrete
-Significance of Bamboo Reinforced Concrete
-Selection of Bamboo for Reinforced Concrete
Construction
-Material Properties of Bamboo for Reinforced Concrete
-Water Absorption Property of Bamboo
-Bamboo Strength towards Bonding
-Bamboo Reinforced Concrete Design Principles
-Concrete Mix Proportions for Bamboo Reinforced
Concrete
-Advantages and Disadvantage of Bamboo
 Discovery of bamboo as reinforced
concrete
 Bamboo reinforced concrete construction follows same
design, mix proportions and construction techniques as
used for steel reinforced. Just steel reinforcement is
replaced with bamboo reinforcement.
 Bamboo has used for scaffolding works, formwork
supporting stands and many in building construction
works. These are limited to medium-large projects.
 Even though existence of bamboo has been found from
centuries, bamboo as reinforcement material is an
innovation in the civil engineering construction field.
This innovation was based on Clemson’s study that has
been conducted in the Clemson Agricultural College.
The details on how bamboo is efficient in replacement for
steel reinforcement in concrete are discussed in the
following sections.
Significance of Bamboo
Reinforced Concrete
 The tensile strength property which is the main
requirement of a reinforcing material is seen appreciable
for bamboo, compared with other materials including
steel. The structure of bamboo from its origin gives this
property.
 The hollow tubular structure has high resistance against
wind forces when it is in natural habitat. Working on the
weak points of bamboo and bringing up an innovation of
bamboo as a structural steel replacement, would be a
great alternative.
 Bamboo is found in abundant, they are resilient and
hence these can face the demand as a reinforcing
material and become an ideal replacement for steel.
Selection of Bamboo for Reinforced
Concrete Construction

Selection of bamboo for reinforcement can be done

based on these factors
 Color and Age – Employ bamboo having an
evident brown color. This shows the age of
bamboo to be at least 3 years.
 Diameter – Use the one with long large culms
 Harvesting – Try to avoid those bamboos that
are cut either during spring or summer seasons.
Material Properties of
Bamboo for Reinforced
Concrete
 Bamboo is by its origin an orthotropic
material. It posses fibers within it. It gains
high strength along the fibers and low
strength in the transverse direction.
 The bamboo has a structure of a
composite material with cellulose fibers
aligned across the length. It has high thick
fibers near to the outer length of the
bamboo, which is the main reason why
they resist huge wind forces.
Fig.1: Schematic Diagram of a Bamboo with centroid axis ‘Z’
and height ‘L’
Figure-1 shows a schematic diagram of a bamboo sample. The node
that is seen in the bamboo are represented by n. It is subjected to a
lateral load ‘p’ causing a maximum moment at the support. It forms
a cantilever arrangement.
 Water Absorption Property of
Bamboo
 The main requirement of bamboo when used in reinforcement
is the concern for water absorption. The water absorption
capacity was studied in various species. Among which
Dendrocalamus giganteus, known simply as DG and Bambusa
vulgaris hard, BVS are the ones which absorbed less water. The
rate of water absorption can also be reduced by certain
treatment.
To increase its effectiveness in impermeability certain treatment
has been carried out. The treatment substance in incorporated in
the bamboo material should consider three primary factors:
 The materials adhesion property towards bamboo and concrete
 The formation of rough surface on the bamboo for perfect
bonding
 The water repelling property of the treatment substance
Fig. Water Absorption Rate of different bamboo
species with time
 Bamboo Strength towards
Bonding
As in the case of steel rebar with ribs in it, which facilitate proper
bonding with the concrete, bamboo too should have proper
adhesion with the concrete.
The bonding strength is based on this adhesive property of
cement and the compressive forces that are formed on the
surface of the reinforcing bars. An untreated bamboo affects the
bonding strength in the following manner:
 a) By pushing the concrete away, by the swelling of bamboo
material
 b) By the formation of voids within the concrete
 c) By formation of cracks as the products of void formation
Fig. The Action of an untreated Bamboo as a
Reinforcing Material

These problems are well faced by a proper bamboo

treatment.
Durability of Bamboo Material

Its property of being a natural product make it more

exposed to environmental agents and insects. A remedy
against this is to undergo bamboo curing.
The curing process enables the treatment of humidity
content and the starch within it, which is the main reason
for insect attraction. The curing is effective only if the
chosen bamboo is right one. As mentioned in the selection
of bamboo.
The curing of bamboo can be done either by:
 Immersion process
 By heating
 Smoke Curing
Durability of Bamboo Material

 The treatment must be done when the bamboo is in a

dry state so that the penetration undergoes in the right
way. The preservation treatment done on bamboo to
take care of durability factor should have no effect on
the chemical composition. The treatment itself should
last, without being washed away under high water
conditions if any.
 Durability is a major concern for bamboo material. The
physical and chemical properties of bamboo are found
high with low content of humidity within it. This low
content would keep away molds in bamboos.
 Fig. A beam Bamboo
Reinforcement after 15
years exposed to open air

Fig. B column steel reinforcement

bars after 10 years exposed
within a closer area

Bamboo reinforcement is found more durable than steel if it has

undergone proper treatments.
 Bamboo Reinforced Concrete
Design Principles
Design of bamboo reinforced concrete is similar to design of steel
reinforced concrete. The mechanical properties of bamboo
reinforcement to be used for design can be assumed as per table
below.
Table: Mechanical Properties of Bamboo Reinforcement
Sym
Mechanical Property Value (psi)
bol

Ultimate compressive strength — 8,000

Allowable compressive stress s 4,000

Ultimate tensile strength — 18,000

Allowable tensile stress s 4,000

Allowable bond stress u 50

Modulus of elasticity E 2.5×106

 Concrete Mix Proportions for
Bamboo Reinforced Concrete
 Water-cement ratio plays an important role in strength and durability
of reinforced concrete. Bamboo being a natural building material has
the property of absorbing water as discussed earlier. The absorption of
water causes swelling of bamboo.
 The mix design of concrete can be as per the strength requirement for
structure, as per structural design. Since use of reinforcement has no
effect on compressive strength requirement of concrete, bamboo
reinforced concrete mix proportion can be same as steel reinforced
concrete mix design.
 The methods used for construction of steel reinforced concrete can be
used for bamboo reinforced concrete. It is just the replacement of
steel with bamboo reinforcement. All other process for bamboo
reinforced concrete construction remain same as conventional concrete
construction.
 Advantages of bamboo
 Tensile strength: Bamboo has higher tensile strength than
steel because its fibers run axially.
 Fire Resistance: Capability of bamboo to resist fire is very high
and it can withstand temperature up to 4000 C. This is due to
the presence of high value of silicate acid and water.
 Elasticity: Bamboo is widely preferred in earthquake prone
regions due to its elastic features.
 Weight of bamboo: Bamboos due to their low weight are
easily displaced or installed making it very easier for
transportation and construction.
 Unlike other building materials like cement and asbestos,
bamboo poses no danger to health.
 They are cost effective and easy to use.
 They are especially in great demand in earthquake prone areas.
Disadvantages of bamboo

 They require preservation

 Shrinkage: Bamboo shrinks much greater than any other
type of timber especially when it loses water.
 Durability: Bamboo should be sufficiently treated
against insect or fungus attack before being utilized for
building purposes.
 Jointing: Despite prevalence of various techniques of
jointing, structural reliability of bamboo is questionable.