Engineered bamboo and bamboo engineering

Abstract

This Research Summary is based on an international symposium titled Bamboo in the Urban Environment, which took place at the University of Pittsburgh in May 2016. The event was funded by the US State Department Global Innovation Institute. Participation was by invitation only, and there were 40 delegates from 14 countries. This Research Summary focuses on topics related to: • product development • material testing and characterisation • testing of connections, and • end products. The authors of this Research Summary, David Trujillo and Héctor F Archila, have selected this symposium as an appropriate reflection of state-of-the-art structural bamboo research. However, the size and nature of the event does not signify that the presentations encompass all bamboo research. This Research Summary highlights research and development work that we believe will be of interest to TRADA members, and provides an insight into future developments for the timber industry – a ‘crystal ball gaze’ into the future. The views expressed here, however, are not necessarily those of Exova BM TRADA. The information presented summarises work undertaken by others and readers are encouraged to contact the authors directly if further clarification on any of the subjects discussed is sough