Department - Author 1
Materials Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Materials Engineering
Date
6-2011
Primary Advisor
Linda Vanasupa
Abstract/Summary
This study evaluates the potential to utilize bamboo as reinforcement in concrete structural members. In this project, the mechanical properties of bamboo were tested, specifically force required to embed a 0.5” diameter ball 0.016” into the bamboo samples and its bonding strength with concrete. One type of bamboo, Bambusa Oldhamii, was cut into eight sections, approximately 2.54 cm wide, along the length of the culm. The compression test recorded the bamboo’s strength at eight points along the length of the internode and at three points along the transverse direction of each specimen. Bambusa Oldhamii’s specimen base 1 data for inner, middle, and outer points were 253.58 N, 531.54 N, and 1032.5 N respectively. The fiber density also increases towards the outer diameter which shows a direct correlation between the two. The values of bamboo vary over a range of 758.65 N unlike wood which varies minimally. For the bonding strength test procedure, fifteen bamboo samples were prepared by cutting the bamboo culm into strips of 0.609 m long by 1.9 cm wide and 1.27 cm thick. The strips were embedded into the concrete cylinder 15.24 cm deep. The concrete samples cured for a period of two weeks and the concrete’s resulting strength was 4520.37 psi. Two coatings, asphalt emulsion and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), were applied to the bamboo sample ends and were tested along with the control samples, which contained no coatings. The test results indicated that the bonding strength between the bamboo and concrete with the asphalt emulsion coating was the greatest at339.27psi. The next strongest was the control sample at 319.07psi, then PDMS resulting in 154.20psi.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/matesp/1