Concrete armed with bamboo

[straydogg]

Hello,
I 'm contacting you because of my doctorate studies in the University of Granada (Spain).
I'm now doing a research task on the reinforced concrete bamboo.
Because of the lack of information, I'm contacting you in order to know if you would have references or research directions to be communicated to me.
I can find many allusions to the use of the bamboo to replace the reinforcements metal of the concrete.
However, I still could not find any articles in the scientific press.

I thank you in advance for your attention.

Cordially.

Edouard Molard, architect

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Edouard,
Are you interested in general or specific applications for use of bamboo and concrete reinforcement?

I have some information from this publication:

GLENN H. E. 1950. Bamboo Reinforcement in Portland Cement Concrete. Eng. Expt. Sta., Clemson College, Clemson, South Carolina, Eng. Bull. No. 4.

I can post the list of conclusions outlined from this research if it is of interest to you.

Here's a couple other links found on the internet ...

at romanconcrete.com
BAMBOO REINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION (http://www.romanconcrete.com/docs/bamboo1966/BambooReinforcedConcreteFeb1966.htm)
- Bamboo-reinforced concrete two-way slabs subjected to concentrated loading
By Francis E. Brink and Paul J. Rush
February 1966 U. S. NAVAL CIVIL ENGINEERING LABAORATORY - Port Hueneme, California

At usc.edu/dept/architecture/ ...
(pdf - 2.3M) (http://www.usc.edu/dept/architecture/mbs/thesis/thesis_2002/shreemathi%20iyer..pdf) GUIDELINES FOR BUILDING BAMBOO-REINFORCED MASONRY
- IN EARTHQUAKE-PRONE AREAS IN INDIA
by Sreemathi Iyer - May 2002
A Thesis Presented to the FACULTY OF THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree MASTERS OF BUILDING SCIENCE

---
Mark

[straydogg]

Hi,

Thanks for your answer.

I'd already found this publication on romanconcrete. It is very interesting, but a little bit old. But it's a good basis for my research.

Thanks for the thesis. I'll read it very carefully!

This research is done in the frame of my studies. It isn't followed by a building, but I'm working for an association called architects without boarders, NGO, which I hope use this research.

I'll be happy to see the the list of conclusions outlined from the research you've talked!

Thank you very much
Best regards.

Edouard

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Edouard,
The first part of the ...
'Summary of Conclusions From Results of Tests on Bamboo Reinforced Concrete Beams'
...is posted in this thread:
Bamboo Reinforcement in Portland Cement Concrete - GLENN H. E. 1950 (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1825)

Mark

[reptiles]

You might find this book of use, too:

Mechanical Properties of Bamboo (Forestry Sciences)

http://www.amazon.com/Mechanical-Properties-Bamboo-Forestry-Sciences/dp/0792312600

Regards,

MM

[Mark Meckes]

Mechanical Properties of Bamboo (Forestry Sciences) (Hardcover)
by Jules J. A. Janssen

Product Details
Hardcover: 148 pages
Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (January 1, 2001)
ISBN: 0792312600
Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
List Price: $128.00

This is a mighty expensive book, which is why I don't yet have this on my bookshelf :(
How extensive is the information in this book in relation to using bamboo as a material for concrete reinforcement?

Mark

[reptiles]

Yes, it is expensive. I do not own it, either. It is fortunately available at the U. of Penn library near me.

While I'm not exactly sure how comprehensive the data may be; It is the first book that I read that introduced me to the concept of using bamboo instead of iron rebar.

I would suggest you try to get a copy via intralibrary loan.

Regards,

Mark Miller

[drumstickguy]

I've heard that it is possible to fill in a tube with styrofoam and have VERY surpising increases in strength without much increased weight. I've a friend who did well in the International Science and Engineering Fair (for high school projets) with a project filling in bike frames with syrofoam to strengthen them. Worked great

[BertinL]

Hi

For your work, if you understand french look over the university of laval, in Canada.

See here : http://www.google.com/search?q=laval+beton+bambou&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGIH

I don't know if it will be interesting for you..

else try to phone the Prafrance place in Anduze (France near ales-montpellier) or go to their website where there is list of bibliography.

I will look in the book i've just bought IL31 Bamboo as a building material (ISBN 3-7828-2031-2) but which was written n 1985...

Else try to make research on Dendrocalamus Asper as if i remember well a french company was starting to make concrete with it...

[allmywebsite1]

Hey Mr.

I m also want to get some info about use of concrete bamboo and about its significance but still there is no article related to the topic but i think anyone in this forum will definitely help us..and after all u r doctorate from spain then u hv the info on this or not....it is ur subject and i m dealing in tools only so how can i get the information

[Scott]

Below are some extracts from a book by Dr. Jules Janssen. They make interesting reading regarding bamboo as rebar:

"This application of bamboo has some advantages, but the disadvantages are more. One
can overcome the disadvantages, but the result may not be worth the effort...

"The real problem is in the bonding between the bamboo and the concrete; this is never
a problem with steel reinforcement. Concrete will shrink during the hardening process
and this results in a firm bond of the concrete around the steel reinforcing bars. But
bamboo will absorb water as soon as the concrete is poured around it. When the concrete
hardens and dries, bamboo will dry as well and shrink. The shrinkage of bamboo can be
four times that of concrete. Clearly, this will completely break down any bonding between
bamboo and concrete, and the result will be that bamboo cannot act as reinforcement....

"As said earlier, if a designer needs to solve so many problems, the basic idea needs to be
checked. Bamboo reinforcement, in the author’s opinion, is an attempt to imitate western
technology using inappropriate means. One could design much better with local materials
in ways that are more suitable for developing countries – domes and arches of concrete,
bricks or even clay. But this is an area outside the scope of this book....
"Many interesting reports have been published on the results of tests on bamboo as
reinforcement in concrete. Unfortunately, almost all these deal with the short-term
behavior only, which is not the real problem. These reports are listed in the reference
section..."

[Jason Moroz]

I'm currently finishing up a masters at the University of Calgary, Canada, in which I've tested concrete block shear walls using bamboo reinforcing and cyclic loading. Here's a wealth of literature that should be able to help out. Also, another fantastic resource for other low cost housing in seismic regions can be found at www.world-housing.net. Personally, i wouldn't take the results from the thesis by Iyer as seriously, testing bond specimens at 36 hours is not enough time for a portland cement to cure. There are quite a few pieces of literature that do a better job. Anyways, here are some references:

Abang, A. & Aband, A. 1983, "Utilization of Bamboo as a Low Cost Structural Material", Appropriate Building Materials for Low Cost Housing: African Region, Proceedings of a SymposiumE. & F. N. Spoon, London, England, pp. 177-182.

Akejua, T.A.I. & Faladea, F. 2001, "Utilization of Bamboo as Reinforcement in Concrete for Low Cost Housing", Proceedings for the International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, ed. A. Zingoni, Elsevier Science, Cape Town, South Africa, pp. 1463-1470.

Anon 1972, The Use of Bamboo and Reeds in Building Construction, Publication No. ST/SOA/113, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, New York.

Anon 1951, "Bamboo Reinforcement", Concrete and Constructional Engineering, vol. 46, no. 12, pp. 382-385.

Aziz, M.A. & Ramaswamy, S.D. 1981, "Bamboo Technology for Low Cost Construction", Appropriate Technology in Civil EngineeringICE by Thomas Telford Ltd., London, England, pp. 110-112.

Blondet, M. (ed) 2005, Construction and Maintenance of Masonry Houses, 2nd edn, Pontificia Universidad Catolica Peru, Lima, Peru.

Blondet, M. & Villa Garcia, G., 2004, "Earthquake Resistant Earthen Buildings", 13th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering Vancouver, Canada.

Blondet, M., Villa Garcia, G. & Brzev, S. 2003, Earthquake Resistant Construction of Adobe Buildings: A Tutorial, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Brink, F. & Rush, P. 1966, Bamboo Reinforced Concrete Construction, U.S. Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory, Port Hueneme, California.

Chu, H.K. 1914, Bamboo for Reinforced Concrete, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Cook, D.J., Pama, R.P. & Singh, R.V. 1978, "The Behavior of Bamboo-Reinforced Concrete Columns Subjected to Eccentric Loads", Mag. Conc. Res., , no. 30, pp. 145-151.

Cox, F.B. & Geymayer, H.G. 1969, Expedient Reinforcement for Concrete for Use in Southeast Asia: Report I - Preliminary Tests of Bamboo, US Army Engineers Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Miss., USA.

Datye, K.R. 1976, "Structural Uses of Bamboo", New Horizons in Construction Materials, vol. 1, pp. 499-510.
Datye, K.R., Nagaraju, S.S. & Pandit, C.M. 1978, "Engineering Applications of Bamboo", Proc. Int. Conf. Materials of Construction for Developing CountriesBangkok, pp. 3-20.

Dowling, D., Samali, B. & Li, J. 2005, "An Improved Means of Reinforcing Adobe Walls - External Vertical Reinforcement", SismoAdobe 2005PUCP, Lima, Peru.

Fang, H.Y. & Fey, S.M. 1978, "Mechanism of Bamboo-Water-Concrete Interaction", Proceedings of the International Conference on Materials of Construction for Developing CountiresBangkok, pp. 37-48.
Ghavami, K. 1995, "Ultimate load behaviour of bamboo-reinforced lightweight concrete beams", Cement and Concrete Composites, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 281-288.

Ghavami, K. 2005, "Bamboo as reinforcement in structural concrete elements", Cement and Concrete Composites, vol. 27, no. 6, pp. 637-649.

Glenn, H.E. 1950, Bamboo Reinforcement in Portland Cement Concrete, No. 4 edn, Engineering Experimental Station Bulletin, Clemson, South Carolina.

Hadjri, K. 2005, "Experimenting with Hybrid Construction - Guadua Bamboo and Adobe - For Housing in Rural Columbia", International Journal for Housing Science and its Applications, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 165-179.

Kalita, U.C., Khazanchi, A.C. & Thyagarajan, G. 1978, "Bamboo-Crete Wall Panels and Roofing Elements for Low Cost Housing", Proceedings of the International Conference on Materials of Construction for Developing CountriesBangkok, pp. 21-36.

Kankam, J.A. & Perry, S.H. 1989, "Variability of Bond Strength between Bamboo and Concrete", ACI Materials Journal, vol. 86, no. 6, pp. 615-618.

Kankam, J.A., Ben-George, M. & Perry, S.H. 1986, "Bamboo-Reinforced Concrete Two-Way Slab Subjected to Concentrated Loading", Structural Engineer, Part B: R&D Quarterly, vol. 64B, no. 4, pp. 85-92.

Kankam, J.A., Perry, S.H. & Ben-George, M. 1986, "Bamboo-Reinforced Concrete One-Way Slabs Subjected to Line Loading", International Journal for Development Technology, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 1-9.

Kowalski, T.G. 1974, "Bamboo Reinforced Concrete", Indian Concrete Journal, , no. 48, pp. 119-121.

Kumar, S. & Prassad, M.M. 2005, "Bamboo Reinforced Flexural Members for Housing Development in India", International Journal for Housing Science and its Applications, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 137-151.

Kurian, N.P. & Kalam, A.K.A. 1977, "Bamboo-Reinforced Soil-Cement for Rural Use", Indian Concrete Journal, , no. 1, pp. 21-36.

Mehra, S.R., Uppal, H.L. & Chadda, L.R. 1951, "Some Preliminary Investigations in the use of Bamboo for Reinforcing Concrete", Indian Concrete, , no. 25, pp. 20-21.

Narayana, S.K. & Abdul Rahman, P.M. 1962, "Bamboo-Concrete Composite Construction", Journal of Institution of Engineers (India), vol. 42, no. 9, pp. 426-440.

Shui, L.T. 1990, "Some Properties of Bamboo for Consideration as Ferrocement Reinforcement", Journal of Ferrocement, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 149-157.

Singh, M.P.J. & Jain, S.K. Use of Bamboo as Reinforcement in Concrete Slabs, Technical Note, Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, India.

Subrahmanyam, B.V. 1984, "Bamboo Reinforcement for Cement Matrices" in New Reinforced Concrete Surrey University Press, Guildford, England, pp. 141-194.

Sumintardja, D. 1983, "New Methods of Using Bamboo for Low Cost Housing", To Build and Take Care of What We Have Built With Limited Resources, The 9th CIB ConferenceNatl. Swedish Inst. for Building Rsrch., Stockholm, Sweeden, pp. 36-37.

Venkateshwarlu, D. & Raj, V. 1989, "Development of Bamboo Based Ferrocement Roofing Elements for Low Cost Housing", Journal of Ferrocement, vol. 4, no. 19, pp. 331-337.

Youssef, M.A.R. 1976, "Bamboo as a Substitute for Steel Reinforcing in Structural Concrete", New Horizons in Construction Materials, vol. 1, pp. 525-554.

While the previous quote from Dr. Janssen has merit regarding bond of untreated bamboo, with a simple waterproofing agent, the swelling of bamboo can be stopped. With specific coatings, a bond strength of a few MPa is possible. Ghavami used a product called Negrolin combined with wire to achieve bond, I used simply varnish dusted with sand to provide bond. There are also other ways to improve devlopment, such as intergral shear connectors.

As for Janssen's comment about long term reliability, to a certain extent he is correct. There simply is just not much literature on long term durability. That, however, doesn't mean that that is correct. Ghavami, again, has data on bamboo reinforced concrete beams that after around fifteen years of being in the exposed campus environment in brazil was still in great condition. A press box for the former memorial stadium in Clemson was built by Glenn at the conclusion of his report on bamboo. Several years later when the building was demolished to make way for the new stadium, it was still found to be in good condition.

I personally don't believe that bamboo will ever be able to replace steel in every structural application, as it does have some major drawbacks compared to steel. In the case of low cost housing, the cost simply outweights the benefits that steel has, and it can provide much safer housing than unreinforced masonry.

Hope this helps.

[Scott]

Hope this helps.

Thank you, it's very helpful. I'm looking to build with bamboo, although not as reinforcing. If you have links to detailed information on bamboo construction joinery, pls post them here.

[jonbart]

This request is mainly to Jason Moroz. I am interested in whether bamboo might be substituted for rebar in the bond beam for low-cost, one-story schools in Sierra Leone. We are working with communities that have almost no money. My impression from previous posts is that the subject is technical but that you have worked intensively on the problem. If you (or others) would be willing to give us some advice, please either reply to this forum or write me at jonbart@gmail.com.

Thanks very much.

[smita]

In this context I had posted a new thread with query as below:
I am looking for a good method of bonding bamboo with concrete if a concrete plaster is applied on the inner side or outer side of bamboo walls. Can i be referred to some literature on this.
But I have not got any response. Can one of the experts who responded in this thread help me out. It is required for my research.