Steel bamboo question

[Johnleprekan]

I came upon a site that mentioned an item called steel bamboo. The site says that it is bamboo that has been treated for over 50 years until it has the hardness of steel and retains its lightness.

http://www.shaolinwingchun.com/en/readings/readings_mm.html

Does anyone know more about this? I've tried searching Google and found nothing.

[funvida]

Jonh

Here in Colombia we had a bamboo that is also called a steel bamboo, and It doesn´t takes 50 years to take the hardness of steel and retains its lightness.
The investigation was made in "German institute of Test of Materials of Civil Construction of Stuttgart" in November of 1999 for The Pavilion ZERI of Colombia in ExpoHannover, in guadua variety bambusa guadua angustifolia "macana" coming from the coffee area; we present their results noticing that these don't correspond to the limits but to those of design:
1) compression. Sigma: 18 N/mm2, Lamda: 0, module of Elasticity: 18.400N /mm2
2) Tension. Sigma: 4 18 N/mm2, Module of Elasticity: 19.000 N/mm2
3) Flexion: Sigma 18 N/mm2, Module of Elasticity: 17.900 N/mm2
4) Sharp: Tau - without cement in the tube - 1.1 N/mm2
5) I Weigh Specific: 790 Kg/M3.

Conclusion - and to comparative way - a bar of iron of 1 section cm2 - less than ½" - it resists to the traction 40 KN. ( Kilo Newtons); a guadua with a section of 12 cm2 216 KN resistans it is denominated: "steel vegetable!".
Let us remember that the guadua or bamboo works very well to the flexocompresión and the traction, in this last the problem is as holding it efficiently; It works very bad to the flexion and the perpendicular squashing to its longitude; consequently the guadua structures should be calculated like bars articulated in the ties; because in none of these knots can be considered like a structure aporticada or an empotramiento.
We live in a zone near to the Vulcano Nevado del Ruiz, it has been explote many times,and all the graund around here has some elements that get the bambusa guadua stronger.
I hope this information clear some ideas, and may be usefull for you.

Best Regards

Funvida from Colombia

[Johnleprekan]

Thank you.