Bamboo reinforced concrete: a critical review

© 2018, The Author(s). The use of small diameter whole-culm (bars) and/or split bamboo (a.k.a. splints or round strips) has often been proposed as an alternative to relatively expensive reinforcing steel in reinforced concrete. The motivation for such replacement is typically cost—bamboo is readily available in many tropical and sub-tropical locations, whereas steel reinforcement is relatively more expensive—and more recently, the drive to find more sustainable alternatives in the construction industry. This review addresses such ‘bamboo-reinforced concrete’ and assesses its structural and environmental performance as an alternative to steel reinforced concrete. A prototype three bay portal frame, that would not be uncommon in regions of the world where bamboo-reinforced concrete may be considered, is used to illustrate bamboo reinforced concrete design and as a basis for a life cycle assessment of the same. The authors conclude that, although bamboo is a material with extraordinary mechanical properties, its use in bamboo-reinforced concrete is an ill-considered concept, having significant durability, strength and stiffness issues, and does not meet the environmentally friendly credentials often attributed to it

Toughening and Strengthening Mechanisms in Bamboo from Atoms to Fibers

Bamboo, a grass, with stiffness-to-weight and strength-to-weight ratios higher than steel and concrete is a wonder of nature. In this chapter we present a comprehensive review of the mechanical properties of bamboo from nano- to macroscale. After presenting the main toughening mechanisms in bamboo, we present a summary of the atomistic simulations of bamboo microfibril which is the main sources of stiffness and strength in bamboo fibers. The role of humidity in bamboo microfibril is also presented at small scale. It is shown experimentally and numerically that the addition of 1% moisture content to the system does not change density and increases the elastic modulus in the longitudinal direction. This is probably due to the relatively larger fractional free volume in the structure of lignin, and subsequently LCC, at low moisture contents. This interesting phenomenon is important in understanding the mechanics of bamboo microfibrils.<br/