Performance evaluation of bamboo reinforced concrete beams

This study presents the evaluation of the feasibility of the use of bamboo as a potential reinforcement in concrete structural members. To achieve this objective a series of tensile tests on three types of bamboo Solid; Moso; and Tonkin; were conducted to obtain their constitutive relation. Also, four-point bending tests on concrete beams reinforced with bamboo were performed to identify their behavior compared to steel reinforced concrete members.; Tensile tests specimens were prepared by cutting the bamboo typically in ½ in (13 mm) wide strips of 9 to 12 in (228 mm to 305 mm) in length. In order to prevent crushing of the bamboo samples when placed in grips of the MTS machines end-tabs were epoxy glued to the bamboo samples. The results for the tensile tests which we performed indicated that the presence of nodes in Solid Bamboo samples did not affect the behavior.; Six four-point bending tests were conducted on 8 in x 20 in x 96 in (203 mm x 508 mm x 2429 mm) reinforced bamboo concrete beams. The initiation and widening of cracks and their respective loads were recorded. The test results were compared with plain concrete and steel reinforced concrete beams behavior. In general, the test results indicated that bamboo reinforcement enhanced the load carrying capacity by approximately 250% as compared to the initial crack load in the concrete beam. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...