Presentation on

Technical Seminar/Dissertation
Phase I

BAMBOO REINFORCEMENT
Alternative Construction Technique

by
Nikhil Poojary
MITU22MRSE0002
Guide: Prof. Abhijeet Galatage

Department of Civil Engineering,

MIT School of Engineering
M.Tech. Structural Engineering, Department of
Civil Engineering
 CONTENTS

 Introduction
 Characteristics
 Selection & Preparation Process
 Construction Principles
 Conclusion
 Recent Trends Of Bamboo Reinforced Concrete
BAMBOO REINFORCED CONCRETE
 What is bamboo reinforced concrete ?
Bamboo reinforced concrete is where bamboo is
used as a replacement for steel
reinforcement in concrete construction. This type of
reinforcement can be used in columns, beams and
also in slabs.
In recent years, steel prices have soared. The
production of steel has high consumption of fossil
fuels and its has a high embodied energy(LCA).
Bamboo is a low-cost and low-energy substitute
construction materials. Bamboo takes less energy to
harvest and transport. It has low manufacturing costs
compared with steel.
BAMBOO CHARACTERISTICS
 Bamboo is giant grass not a tree. Some species can
grow up to 1metre in a day.
 The density of fibers in cross-section of a bamboo
shell varies with thickness as well as height.
 The strength of bamboo is greater than most of the
timber products.
 Seasoned Bamboo is less prone to insect attack.
 Bamboo can prevent pollution.
 The fire resistance is very good because of the high
content of silicate acid.
 The enormous elasticity of bamboo makes it to a
very good building material for earth-quake-
endangered areas.
SELECTION AND PREPARATION OF BAMBOO
 SELECTION
 Use only bamboo showing a pronounced brown color. This will insure that the plant is at
least three years old.
 Select the longest large diameter culms available.
 Do not use whole culms of green, unseasoned bamboo.
 Avoid bamboo cut in spring or early summer. These culms are generally weaker due to
increased fiber moisture content.
 PREPERATION
 Sizing
 Splitting
 Seasoning
 Bending
 Waterproof Coating
CONSTRUCTION PRINCIPLES
 CONCRETE MIX PROPORTIONS:
The same mix designs can be used as would normally be used with steel reinforced
concrete. Concrete slump should be as low as workability will allow. Excess water causes swelling of
the bamboo. High early-strength cement is preferred to minimize cracks caused by swelling of bamboo
when seasoned bamboo cannot be waterproofed.

 PLACEMENT OF BAMBOO
• Bamboo reinforcement should not be placed less than 1½
inches from the face of the concrete surface.
• The clear spacing between bamboo rods or splints should not
be less than the maximum size aggregate plus ¼ inch.
• Reinforcement should be evenly spaced and lashed together on
short sticks placed at right angles to the main reinforcement.
• The ties can be made with vegetation strips. This embedded
depth is approximately 10 times the diameter of whole culms.
• Spacing of the stirrups should not exceed 6 inches.
BAMBOO REINFORCED CONCRETE - COLUMNS
• Bamboo finds an efficient application in
concrete columns.
• The construction process is same as that of
steel reinforcement.

• Bamboo reinforcement in columns serves to

resist a compression load equal to that taken
by the concrete it displaces. It also will resist
shear and tensile stresses.
• Vertical reinforcement should be
approximately 4 percent of the column cross
section for rectangular columns.
• When bamboo is used as lateral tie
reinforcement, the ties should be spaced not
over 16 times the least dimension of the
vertical reinforcement nor farther apart than
the least dimension of the column.
BAMBOO REINFORCED CONCRETE - BEAMS
• Bamboo longitudinal reinforcement
should be between 3 and 4 percent of the concrete Mix proportion
concrete cross section.
1 : 3 : 2.2
• It have the same bending moment
resistance coefficient as a balanced steel
reinforced beam, singly reinforced. cement Coarse aggregate Fine aggregate
• Due to the economy of concrete therefore, 1 : 0.45
deeper, narrower replacement beams are
recommended. water cement
• A minimum number of rods should be
used to provide adequate spacing. The
bamboo stirrup area should always be
about 4 times the steel stirrup area.
BAMBOO AN EFFECTIVE CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL
 The strength of bamboo is greater than steel.
 Bamboo lowers the cost of construction.
 Increases the strength of the buildings .
 Bamboo can crack and deflect more than steel reinforcement.
 It withstands 7.8 Richter of seismic attack.
 The embodied energy of bamboo is very less compared to steel.
 Bamboo is also a easily accessible material since it can grow in tropic
and sub-tropic zones.
 Some species of bamboo can grow up to 1metre in a day.
 The plant will be fully mature at an age of three to four years.
RECENT TREND OF BAMBOO REINFORCED CONCRETE
THANK YOU