Low cost sustainable building materials

LOW COST SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS

1. BACKGROUND

A hundred years ago, there were a lot of forests, which were our main material resources for
building constructions. However, nowadays, our forests are almost gone, and woods for
constructions are rare. This is because of rapidly increasing population and their dwelling
demand. Currently, the majority of developing countries are faced with a problem of providing
adequate and affordable housing in sufficient numbers. In the last few decades, shelter
conditions have been worsening: resources have remained scarce, housing demand has risen
and the urgency to provide immediate practical solutions has become more sensitive. Adequate
shelter is one of the most important basic human needs.

However, 25% of the world's population does not have any fixed home, and 50% of the urban
population lives in slums. Indeed, 80% of urban settlements in developing countries consist of
slums and spontaneous settlements made of temporary materials. Globally, the iron and steel
sector is the second largest industrial user of energy, consuming 616 Millions of tonnes of oil
equivalent (Mtoe) in 2007, and the largest industrial source of Carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions
with 2.3 giga tonnes of CO2 (Gt CO 2). India’s iron and steel sector is the largest industrial user
of energy in India, consuming 38 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2007. It is also the
largest industrial source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions with 151 million tonnes of CO2 (Mt
CO2) [1].

There is urgency need for using naturally occurring products as a construction material to
decrease the growth of energy consumption and CO2 emissions replacement of bamboo in
place of steel is widely recognized as one of the most important non-timber forest resources
because of the high tensile strength and socio-economic benefits with bamboo based products.
Bamboo has been used as a construction material in certain areas for centuries. As a result,
many researchers have been trying to find on non-polluting and eco-friendly materials.
Recently bamboo was consider to make use as a reinforcement material as it behave in-
elastically even in light loads. This experimental research is focused on the use of bamboo as a
reinforcing material instead of steel reinforcement in concrete. Bamboo is seismically resisting
material and for sustainable environment development without harming our global
environment since it absorbs a lot of nitrogen and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during
its growth [2].

There is a myth to accept burnt bricks, cement and reinforced Concrete as the only material
that helps constructing durable houses. In general concept, use of cement and sand in

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maximum quantity are the reason for durability of house. Nevertheless, they are costly and not
so affordable to the poorer families. On the other hand when we look back into our history and
traditions both in under developed and other African countries we see a difference. Clay, lime
and stones have been the best used materials to build massive structures and palaces in the past
and those have lasted centuries and withstood natural calamities. What do we learn from this
scenario? We are challenged, especially those who are involved and shares expertise in
construction, to come out with some innovative yet scientific methods, techniques and
alternatives to overcome the housing problem that has direct impact on the majority of the
population who live in inadequate housing in developing and under-developed countries.

2.0 INTRODUCTION

2.1 Building Materials:

Careful selection of environmentally sustainable building materials is the easiest way for
architects to begin incorporating sustainable design principles in buildings. Traditionally, price
has been the foremost consideration when comparing similar materials or materials designated
for the same function. However, the “off-the-shelf” price of a building component represents
only the manufacturing and transportation costs, not social or environmental costs.
Low cost housing projects are closely related to urbanization, natural population growth, and
the economical, financial and political situation. It involves everyone from decision-makers to
beneficiaries and users. Provision of "adequate housing" is one of the most pressing problems
of the 21st century. Worldwide, 18% of all urban housing units are non-permanent and 25% do
not conform to building regulations

Building materials and technologies, and building practices have evolved through ages.
Housing and building conditions reflect the living standards of a society. Stones, mud,
thatch/leaves and timber represent the earliest building materials used for the construction of
dwellings. Quest for durable building materials is an ongoing phenomenon ever since man
started construction activity.

Brick burning represents one of the earliest examples of using energy (other than animate
energy) to manufacture durable building materials from the soil/earth. Then came the
manufacture of lime and lime-based products. Burnt bricks, metal products and lime are the
manufactured materials (using external energy sources) commonly used for construction by our
ancestors for a very long period of time. Discovery of natural inorganic binders like pozzolanic
materials lead to the use of lime-pozzolana (LP) cement for construction purposes. Experience
of using LP cement paved the way for the invention of Portland cement in 1824. Portland
cement and steel brought revolutionary changes in the construction practices from early part of
20th century. Then plastics and plastic products entered the construction industry.

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Findings show that up to 60 % of the total cost of a low-income housing project is allocated to
engineering design and construction materials. Moreover, walls constitute up to 50% of the
total cost of materials and up to 45% of total construction time. Material origin, production
techniques and labour requirements all have major impacts on the selection of wall building
material.

2.1.1 TYPES OF BUILDING MATERIALS

The various building materials available can be divided into two types and they are:

2.1.1.1 Traditional materials

These materials serve the basic needs of the majority of the population. These have very useful
properties, however, there is a scope to modify these through appropriate changes in the
process of production as well as in the techniques of application, so that these are made
structurally and functionally acceptable.

2.1.1.2 Conventional materials

The conventional materials are those, which have been obtained by using the modern
technologies and can be mentioned as fruit of research and adopted to indigenous
requirements.

2.1.2 Three Phases of Building Materials

These three life-cycle phases relate to the flow of materials through the life of the building as
shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Three phases of the building material life cycle.

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2.1.2.1 Pre-Building Phase

The Pre-Building Phase describes the production and delivery process of a material up to, but
not including, the point of installation. This includes discovering raw materials in nature as
well as extracting, manufacturing, packaging, and transportation to a building site. This phase
has the most potential for causing environmental damage. Understanding the environmental
impacts in the pre-building phase will lead to the wise selection of building materials. Raw
material procurement methods, the manufacturing process itself, and the distance from the
manufacturing location to the building site all have environmental consequences. An awareness
of the origins of building materials is crucial to an understanding of their collective
environmental impact when expressed in the form of a building. The basic ingredients for
building products, whether for concrete walls or roofing membranes, are obtained by mining or
harvesting natural resources. The extraction of raw materials, whether from renewable or finite
sources, is in itself a source of severe ecological damage. The results of clear-cutting forests
and strip-mining once-pristine landscapes have been well documented.
Mining refers to the extraction, often with great difficulty, of metals and stone from the earth’s
crust. These materials exist in finite quantities, and are not considered renewable. The refining
of metals often requires a large volume of rock to yield a relatively small quantity of ore, which
further reduces to an even smaller quantity of finished product. Each step in the refining
process produces a large amount of toxic waste. In theory, harvestable materials like wood are
renewable resources and thus can be obtained with less devastation to their ecosystems. In
reality, a material is only considered a renewable or sustainable resource if it can be
grown at a rate that meets or exceeds the rate of human consumption. Hardwoods, for example,
can take up to 80 years to mature. The ecological damage related to the gathering of natural
resources and their conversion into building materials includes loss of wildlife habitat, erosion,
and water and air pollution.
Loss of habitat:

Habitat refers to the natural environment in which a species is found; usually, these areas are
undeveloped. Cutting forests for lumber or removing vegetation for mining destroys the
habitats of animal and plant species. A microclimate may be immediately and severely altered
by the removal of a single tree that protectively shaded the plants.

The widespread destruction of rainforests to make way for mining and farming operations has
been linked to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which in turn has been
linked to global warming.

Water Pollution:

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Waste and toxic by-products of mining and harvesting operations are also carried into the
water. Like soil erosion, they can increase the turbidity, or opacity, of the water, blocking
sunlight. Many of these byproducts are acidic and thus contribute to the acidification of ground
water, harming plant and wildlife. Oil and gasoline from engines and toxic metals leftover from
mining may also leech into the groundwater, causing contamination of drinking supplies.

Air Pollution:

Mining and harvesting operations contribute to air pollution because their machinery burns
fossil fuels and their processes stir up particulate matter. Combustion engines
emit several toxic gases:

i. carbon monoxide, which is poisonous to most life

ii. carbon dioxide, known as a “greenhouse gas”; has been linked to global warming
iii.sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide, which contribute to “acid rain”: precipitation acidified by
atmospheric gases, that can damage buildings or kill plants and wildlife.

In the United States, the Northeast has been particularly hard hit by acid rain. Forests and lakes
have “died” as a result of increasing acidity in the water and soil.

2.1.2.2 Building Phase

The Building Phase refers to a building material’s useful life. This phase begins at the point of
the material’s assembly into a structure, includes the maintenance and repair of the material,
and extends throughout the life of the material within or as part of the building.
2.1.2.3 Post-Building Phase

The Post-Building Phase refers to the building materials when their usefulness in a building
has expired. At this point, a material may be reused in its entirety, have its components
recycled back into other products, or be discarded. From the perspective of the designer,
perhaps the least considered and least understood phase of the building life cycle occurs when
the building or material’s useful life has been exhausted. The demolition of buildings and
disposal of the resulting waste has a high environmental cost. Degradable materials may
produce toxic waste, alone or in combination with other materials. Inert materials consume
increasingly scarce landfill space. The adaptive reuse of an existing structure conserves the
energy that went into its materials and construction. The energy embodied in the construction
of the building itself and the production of these materials will be wasted if these “resources”
are not properly utilized.

3.0 Sustainable materials:

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Sustainable building materials by definition are materials that are locally produced and sourced
(which reduces transportation costs and CO2 emissions), they can include recycled materials,
they have a lower environmental impact, they are thermally efficient, they require less energy
than more modern, conventional materials, they make use of renewable resources, they are
lower in toxic emissions and they are financially viable. Sustainable materials are key to
limiting the impact on the ecological system. Local techniques and technology, resources and
materials are a good starting point when researching or implementing projects. Housing models
should determine the sustainability of the building materials through lifecycle analysis, and
occupational use of building including renewable energy, water, land and use of resources.
Appropriate technology goes hand in hand with the design and building materials. It should
correspond to local conditions, reflect and respect climatic conditions and demand a minimum
of maintenance.
CONCLUSION
Methods of sustainable building and technologies can include building with rubble, sandbag
construction, abobe brick construction, the use of stabilized earth blocks and compressed earth
blocks and the use of hydraform bricks. sustainable building materials should be utilized
appropriately and contextually in each neighbourhood development. the use of sustainable
building materials not only reduces transport costs, carbon emissions, and in most cases
materials costs, it also provides employment and skills development opportunities for
community members.

3.1 Features of Sustainable Building Materials :

Based on the material life cycle that can be used in evaluating the environmental sustainability
of building materials. The presence of one or more of these features in building materials make
it environmentally sustainable.

3.1.1 Pollution Prevention Measures in Manufacturing :

Pollution prevention measures taken during the manufacturing process can contribute
significantly to environmental sustainability. Identical building materials may be produced by
several manufacturers using various processes. Some manufacturers are more conscientious
than others about where their raw materials come from and how they are gathered. While all
industries are bound to some extent by government regulations on pollution, some individual
companies go far beyond legal requirements in ensuring that their processes pollute as little as
possible. These companies are constantly studying and revising how they produce goods to
both improve efficiency and reduce the amount of waste and pollutants that leave the factory.
In effect, they perform their own life cycle analysis of internal processes. Selecting materials
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manufactured by environmentally responsible companies encourages their efforts at pollution

prevention. Although these products may have an initially higher “off-the-shelf” price,
choosing products that generate higher levels of pollution exploits the environment. The “law
of supply and demand” also works in reverse: reduced demand for a product results in lower
production. Lowered production means less waste discharged and less energy consumed during
manufacturing, as well as a lower volume of raw materials that must be gathered. Packaging
that is environmentally sound can be a pollution prevention feature, as the way in which a
product is packaged and shipped affects the total amount of waste it generates. Water is used in
large quantities in many manufacturing processes, especially in the production of paper,
cement, and metals. This wastewater is often released directly into streams and can contain
toxic substances. Dye used for coloring paper and carpet fiber are examples of environmental
contaminants that escape freely into the waste stream. By becoming aware of which
manufacturers use environmentally sustainable manufacturing methods, specifying their
products, and avoiding goods produced through highly polluting methods, architects can
encourage the marketing of sustainable building materials.

3.1.2 Waste Reduction Measures in Manufacturing

The waste reduction feature indicates that the manufacturer hastaken steps to make the
production process more efficient, by reducing the amount of scrap material that results. This
scrap may come from the various molding, trimming, and finishing processes, or from
defective and damaged products. Products with this feature may incorporate scrap materials or
removed them for recycling elsewhere. Some industries can power their operations by using
waste products generated on-site or by other industries. These options reduce the waste that
goes into landfills. Reducing waste in the manufacturing process increases the resource
efficiency of building materials. Oriented strand board and other wood composite materials are
made almost entirely from the waste produced during the process of milling trees into
dimensional lumber. Kilns used to dry wood can be powered by burning sawdust generated on-
site, reducing both the waste that leaves the mill (to be disposed of in landfills) and the need for
refined fossil fuels. Concrete can incorporate fly ash from smelting operations. Brick, once
fired, is inert, not reacting with the environment. The firing process can be used to encapsulate
low-level toxic waste into the brick, reducing the dangers of landfill disposal. Water used for
cooling equipment or mixing can be filtered and reused rather than discharged into the waste
stream.

3.1.3 Recycled Content

A product featuring recycled content has been partially or entirely produced from post-
industrial or post-consumer waste. The incorporation of waste materials from industrial

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processes or households into usable building products reduces the waste stream and the
demand on virgin natural resources. By recycling materials, the embodied energy they contain
is preserved. The energy used in the recycling process for most materials is far less than the
energy used in the original manufacturing. Aluminum, for example, can be recycled for 10–
20% of the energy required to transform raw ore into finished goods. Key building materials
that have potential for recycling include glass, plastics, metals, concrete or brick, and wood.
These generally make up the bulk of a building’s fabric. The manufacturing process for all of
these materials can easily incorporate waste products. Glass, plastics, and metal can be
reformed through heat. Concrete or brick can be ground up and used as aggregate in new
masonry. Lumber can be resawn for use as dimensional lumber, or chipped for use in
composite materials such as strand board.

3.1.4 Use of Natural Materials

Natural materials are generally lower in embodied energy and toxicity than man-made
materials. They require less processing and are less damaging to the environment. Many, like
wood, are theoretically renewable. When natural materials are incorporated into building
products, the products become more sustainable.

3.1.5 Reduction of Construction Waste

Minimal construction waste during installation reduces the need for landfill space and also
provides cost savings. Concrete, for example, has traditionally been pre-mixed with water and
delivered to the site. An excess of material is often ordered, to prevent pouring delays should a
new shipment be needed. This excess is usually disposed of in a landfill or on-site. In contrast,
concrete mixed on-site, as needed, eliminates waste, and offers better quality control.
Designing floor intervals to coincide with the standard lengths of lumber or steel framing
members also reduces waste. Taking advantage of the standard sizes of building materials in
the design phase reduces waste produced by trimming materials to fit, as well as the labor cost
for installation.

3.1.6 Reusability

Reusability is a function of the age and durability of a material. Very durable materials may
have many useful years of service left when the building in which they are installed is
decommissioned, and may be easily extracted and reinstalled in a new site. Windows and
doors, plumbing fixtures, and even brick can be successfully reused. Timber from old barns has
become fashionable as a reclaimed material for new construction. The historic preservation
movement in this country has spawned an entire industry devoted to salvaging architectural
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elements of buildings scheduled for demolition. These materials are used in the renovation of
old buildings as well as in new construction. In many cases, the quality of materials and
craftsmanship displayed by these pieces could not be reproduced today.

3.2 Benefits of Using Low Cost Sustainable Building Materials:

The environment friendly building materials are composed of renewable, rather than non-
renewable resources. Use of these materials provides the following benefits.

i. Resource Efficiency - benefits like high recycled content, naturally available, efficient
manufacturing processes, locally available, high salvage potential,
reusable and highly durable.

ii. Indoor Air Quality - Selection of the materials with benefits like low/ non-toxic, minimum
emissions, low VOC content, moisture resistant and healthfully
maintained.

iii. Energy Efficiency - Selection of the materials with benefits like reduction in energy
consumption in buildings and facilities etc.

iv. Water conservation - Selection of materials with benefits like reduction in water use in
buildings and conserve water in landscape areas.

v. Affordability - It is considered to compare the eco-friendly building materials to

conventional materials within a defined percentage of the overall
budget of the building.

3.3 Commonly Available Low Cost Sustainable Building Materials:

i. Straw and Resin Panel - These are made from agricultural waste, such as straw. A binder is
applied that is made up of local resins to form insulating panels that can be easily installed
under and between existing corrugated metal sheeting and lightweight corrugated iron
currently being used as roofing in almost all third world countries. The technology and
construction method also mitigates added casualties when the region experiences
earthquakes, as heavy earthen roofs often collapse and bury those inside.

ii. Flax Insulation - Flax is a plant native to the region extending from the eastern
Mediterranean to India and China, and was once extensively cultivated in Egypt – today
flax fibers are amongst the oldest fiber crops in the world. The fiber has is soft, flexible,

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stronger than cotton but not as elastic. Natural insulation can be made from 100% flax
fibers by matting them together into a non-woven process and then utilizing their
properties for insulation in lofts or wall cavities.

iii. Corkoco- These are a panel made of combination cork and bioecologic coconut fiber,
mainly used for acoustic insulation. The performance is specialized in providing acoustic
insulation and insulation – for installation in attics, gaps, between rooms or apartments.

iv. Syndecrete- Syndecrete is a version of concrete that uses natural minerals and recycled
materials as aggregate. Fly ash is also part of the compound, an environmental material
that conserves natural resources and prevents the production of typical concrete contents
by resourcing waste from coal production. There are a variety of domestic applications –
tiles, sinks, countertops and slabs. The manufacturing process utilizes fly ash. This method
requires less water and gives better durability and workability when compared to typical
concrete.

v. Bendable Concrete - Its is a new type of concrete and is developed by the University of
Michigan. The fiber reinforced bendable concrete is 500 times more resistant to cracking,
and weighs 40 percent less. The compound is made up of 2 percent fiber, designed for
maximum flexibility. The costs and overall emissions are estimated to be lower as a result
of its long lifespan.

vi. Ecobrique- The Ecobrique is a French revolution in brick making. It is a ceramic product
made from partially dried sewage sludge by incorporating waste treatment plant residue in
the clay matrix. The lightweight material is just as durable as the traditional counterpart –
being fired in traditional kilns or rotary furnaces. Throughout this process, the organic
matter creates porosity and expansion in the material, this is where it lightens and gives
good properties of heat insulation and soundproofing.

vii. Magnesium oxide cement- Magnesium oxide cement is often referred to as ‘eco-cement’
as it has been engineered to incorporate a large proportion of waste materials while
retaining highly durable qualities for construction. Magnesium deposits are found
worldwide and cover roughly 8% of the earth’s surface and phosphates are available from
rock, animal wastes and fermented plants. Depending on where they are mined,
magnesium oxide and magnesium chloride cements require only 20-40% of the energy
required to produce Portland cement. Magnesium based cements are proven exceptional in
promoting the health for occupants of homes in which they are used as the prime building
material.

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3.4 Commonly used Low Cost Sustainable Building Materials in India

i. Earth blocks- Burnt brick production requires approximately huge energy. The brick
industry in India produces 22% of the CO2 emissions by the construction sector and
requires about 27% of the energy used in building material production. The production of
simple earth blocks only requires around one thousand of the energy needed to fire bricks,
and even in cases where earth is stabilized with cement it is no more than a sixth per kg of
material.

ii. Recycled materials in concrete- Though this is a very good sustainable concept owing to
its environmental and cost advantages yet there is limited development and research
regarding the inclusion of waste or industrial byproducts in the makeup of concrete
building materials. There is evident opportunity for further engineering and research
testing of new cement products containing waste, focusing on durability and the binding
capability crucial for their viability.

iii. Rice husk ash/ Pozzolanas- Rice husks are a large by product one ton is produces per five
ton of rice paddies, and it is estimated that 120 million tons of husk could be available
annually on a global basis. Rice is a major crop in many third world countries including
China and the Indian sub-continent, South-east Asia and in some regions of Africa and
South America.. Only 20% of its weight may be utilized as a pozzolana. The success of
using rice husks depends on the self-construction of individual ovens. With the ovens, this
method would be sufficient and successful, making rice husk ash an affordable and
sustainable alternative to cement.

iv. Fly Ash Technology - Flash Bricks

Fly ash is a fine, toxic powder produced as a byproduct from coal-burning power plants.
In India alone, approximately 100 million tones are generated per year, while 200 million
tones are produced in China. The Indian Government took action in 2005, requiring 25
percent of the fly ash to be used in the manufacturing of clay bricks for construction
within a 50 km radius of the original coal plant source. Bricks can be manufactured
entirely from waste fly ash, formally referred to as Flash Bricks. The manufacturing
process traps any harmful chemicals to reduce generated greenhouse gases. The materials
properties include being 28 percent lighter and 24 percent stronger than comparable clay
bricks. A separate aggregate called Flashag, a concrete can be made that is 22 percent
lighter and 20 percent stronger than standard products.

3.5 Other guidelines for Selection of construction materials are

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i. Study of prevailing condition of house which is going to renovate or, new construction.
ii. Keep record of materials which may be used after dismantling (if old house is going to
dismantled).
iii. Survey for different kind of materials which are locally available for construction.
iv. Short-list of available materials and record their prevailing rates.

4.0 Bamboo as an sustainable engineering material :

India has one third of the world’s poor. 87.2% of the population of Indians live below the
poverty line. Since the population is on the rise the demand for basic needs increases. We civil
engineers deal with providing shelter for humans. Our main aim is to provide best facilities at
an economic cost. Concrete has various advantages such as low cost, availability, fire
resistance etc. But it cannot be used alone because of its low tensile strength; usually it is
reinforced with materials that are strong in tension (often steel). Since some of the citizens
cannot afford to utilize steel in reinforcement due to its cost, we go in for a material which can
be replaced for steel. Bamboo is a giant woody grass, that grows chiefly in the tropics, where it
is widely cultivated. Bamboo proves to provide good reinforcement and is eco-friendly.
Moreover it is very economic. In this paper, a review of the research carried out on bamboo
reinforced concrete is given with emphasis on experimental work.

In consequence of the consumers choosing industrialized products, among other effects,

activities are suppressed in rural areas or even in small towns, and renewable materials are
wasted and causing permanent pollution. In this sense, it becomes obvious that ecological
materials satisfy such fundamental requirements, making use of agricultural by-products such
as rice husk, coconut fibres, sisal and bamboo and therefore minimizing energy consumption,
conserving non-renewable natural resources, reducing pollution and maintaining a healthy
environment. Bamboo is one such material, which will have a tremendous economical
advantage, as it reaches its full growth in just a few months and reaches its maximum
mechanical resistance in just few years.

Bamboo is a tall grass, fast-growing and typically woody. The bamboo plant is a complex
system, consisting of two sets of similarly structured vegetative axes: one above the ground
and the other below the ground and the features are shown in Figure 1.The portion between
two successive nodes is called an internode. Internodes are invariably, but not always, hollow.

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They are covered by sheaths at the initial stages of growth, which fall off as the plant matures.
The inter-nodal length varies considerably across bamboo species, ranging from 5 to over 60
centimetres. In general, the inter-nodal length increases upwards along the culm from the lower
portion to the middle, and then decreases as shown in Fig 1. Mainly cross section of bamboo
has fibres from which the mechanical properties of bamboo vary. The properties may vary
based on the nature of growth, climatic conditions and soil moisture condition [3].

Bamboo is a non timber evergreen plant that is mainly distributed in subtropical and tropical
zones. Bamboo grows fast and has a high regenerating rate. Once planted, bamboo has new
shoots every year. Usually bamboo can be harvested for culms purpose in the third and
following years. Bamboo is both a decorative and a structural member. For shelter purposes
bamboo culms between 60 to 100 mm diameters are generally adopted, which means that most
of the bamboo spices available are within this range. Bamboo is widely used as a basic timber
for rural housing. It is used as poles, purlins, trusses, rafters, mats for wall/ceilings/roof, frame
of doors & windows and fence posts, especially in tropical countries.

Though it is a natural product, the presence of large amount of hemi cellulose, starch and
abundance of moisture makes it highly susceptible to biodegrading agent like white-rot, soft-
rot, brown – rot, group of decay fungi and stain fungi and insects like borers and termites. In
rural areas people are using bamboo without treatment. So it doesn't long last and this has
created a myth in the minds of the people that bamboo is not a durable construction material.
But with a simple treatment on bamboo the strength and duration of bamboo could be as long
as 25 -30 years.

Moreover, it exists in abundance in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. The energy
necessary to produce 1m3 per unit stress projected in practice for materials commonly used in
civil construction, such as steel or concrete, has been compared with that of bamboo. It was
found that for steel it is necessary to spend 50 times more energy than for bamboo . The tensile
strength of bamboo is relatively high and can reach 370MPa. This makes bamboo an attractive
alternative to steel in tensile loading applications. This is due to the fact that the ratio of tensile
strength to specific weight of bamboo is six times greater than that of steel.

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Figure 1: Structure of Bamboo Plant

A study of the feasibility of using bamboo as the reinforcing material in precast concrete
elements was conducted at the U. S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station in 1964.
Ultimate strength design procedures, modified to take into account the characteristics of the
bamboo reinforcement were used to estimate the ultimate load carrying capacity of the precast
concrete elements with bamboo reinforcing. Some of the positive aspects such as a lightweight
design, better flexibility, and toughness due to its thin walls with discretely distributed nodes
and its great strength make it a good construction material. Bamboo is used as structural
material for scaffolding at construction sites in India, China and other countries as it is a tough,
flexible, light weight and low cost material.

Table 1 presents the details of different types of Genus, number of species of bamboo and
their occurrence. Table 1 Genera and number of Species of Bamboos naturally occurring
and cultivated in India [4]

Sl . Genus Naturally Introduced/cultivated Total No. of

no occurring species

1. Arundinaria 2 0 2

2. Bambusa * 12 14 26

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3. Chimonobambusa 1 0 1

4. Dendrocalamus * 7 8 15

5. Dinochloa 5 1 6

6. Gigantochloa 2 5 7

7. Melocanna 0 2 2

8. Ochlandra 9 0 9

9. Oxytenanthera 1 1 2

10. Phyllostachys 2 3 5

11. Pleioblastus 1 0 1

12. Pseudosasa 0 1 1

13. Pseudoxytenanthera 4 0 4

14. Racemobambos 3 0 3

15. Schizostachyum 17 1 18

16. Sinarundinaria 18 3 21

17. Thamnocalamus 3 0 3

18. Thyrsostachys 0 2 2

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Total 87 41 128

*Locally available bamboo species used in the present study

4.1 Harvesting considerations

i. Choose only those bamboo which are more than 3 years of old and it can simply determine by
observing the colour of the culms has changed from clear and shiny green to greyish green
and white bands at each node that have almost disappeared with replacement of gray bands.
ii. As chances of attack by fungi will be more while moisture content is large so it is better to
harvest bamboo in dry season.
iii. Always cut the bamboo 20 to 30 cm above the ground or just above the first node.
iv. Always use sharp tool or saw to avoid damaging of bamboo.
v. Keep the bamboo aright with support of other trees or on such arrangement for two to three
weeks which helps to reduce the starch content of culms and as a whole it helps to reduce the
chances of attack by insects or Bostrichidae and Lyetidae beetle.

4.2 Treatment of Bamboo

Bamboo can be treated in two ways as follows

4.2.1. Non chemical Treatment
4.2.2. Chemical Treatment

4.2.1 Non-Chemical Treatment

Traditionally the following treatment methods are adopted.

i. Water immersion treatment
ii. Smoking
ii. Using diesel (Source: National Building Code-1994)

i. Water immersion treatment

Normal practice followed in many bamboo producing areas is to immerse freshly cut bamboos
in running water for about three to six weeks and keep it them for at least one week. By this
treatment starch from bamboo is leached out making the culms immune to insect attack.

ii. Smoking

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This method is simple and effective .In this, bamboo are kept in a temporary smoking
chamber to destroy starch by allowing smoking until they have a slightly dark color on its
surface.

iii. Using Diesel

Dry bamboos, both whole and split could be treated with light diesel oil by dipping in to.

4.2.2. Chemical treatment

Several permanent treatment method are available to protect bamboos and from insect attack and
fungal attack. These methods are both preventive and remedial. For such kind of treatment many
kind of chemicals are in use like creosote oil, Borax and Boric Acid.

i. Internodes Injection

Internodes injection for whole bamboo (poles and columns) 20-25ml. Creosote oil poured
through 6mm hole in each inter node, the hole is closed with wax or putty. It is rolled once in two
days for a week before it is put to use. The oil gets absorbed through the inner walls through the
cross structural area, this treatment is used for dry bamboo.

4.3 Basic characteristics of bamboo

Bamboos are giant grasses and not trees as commonly believed. They belong to the family of the
Bambusoideae. The bamboo culm, in general, is a cylindrical shell, which is divided by
transversal diaphragms at the nodes. Bamboo shells are orthotropic materials with high strength
in the direction parallel to the fibres and low strength perpendicular to the fibres respectively.

4.4 Impact and challenges of using these building technologies:

Impact

i. The immediate impact is on the number of families that will be served.

ii. The program will become a ‘community owned’ program as the technology will be known
and owned by the community being it a heritage of the communities especially the under
privileged, neglected and the deprived communities.
iii. Added pride and dignity to them promoting their own heritage and tradition.
iv. Construction of houses will result in the increase of awareness of the need to protect the
environment. The increased use of bamboo in construction will produce a 70% reduction of
plantation timber used thus helping to reduce deforestation, encouraging new and existing

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bamboo cultivators to grow more bamboo, utilise wasteland, unused land and river banks,
which will result in better soil conservation and mitigation of flood disasters.
v. This initiative will increase the options for income generation as bamboo mats can be
made and marketed as more and houses are built.
vi . As demand for bamboo increases more people will start cultivating bamboo.

Challenges:

i. The biggest challenge will be to change the mindset of the people to accept that bamboo
construction is durable. Constant orientation and awareness program, distribution of
educational materials and community group meetings will be helpful in addressing this
issue.
ii. Acceptance of “cement” and ‘burnt bricks’ as the sole durable construction material by the
majority. Research findings and the model houses have been able to make a change on this
though still it remains a challenge with all media and construction world being supportive
of the same.
iii. Less cooperation from the village skilled labourers in promoting the bamboo technology.
iv. The prevailing old houses depict a poor picture of bamboo technology. Therefore, people
tend to see all bamboo construction as poor technology though treated bamboo is durable
for more than 30 years according to research done.

4.5 Advantages of Bamboo

i. Bamboo is an extremely strong natural fiber, on par with standard hard woods, when
cultivated, harvested, prepared and stored properly. The strongest part of a bamboo stalk is
its node, where ranching occurs.

ii. Bamboo is an exceptionally versatile material. It is used in a myriad of ways for building,
such as for scaffolding, roofing, concrete reinforcement, walls and piping. It may be used
structurally and as a decorative element.

iii.Bamboo is extremely flexible. During its growth, it may be trained to grow in

unconventional shapes. After harvest, it may be bent and utilized in archways and other
curved areas. It has a great capacity for shock absorption, which makes it particularly useful
in earthquake-prone areas.

iv. It is considered to be sustainable and renewable alternative to hardwoods, foremost because

it regenerates at exceptionally fast rates.

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v. It is cost-effective, especially in areas where it is cultivated and is readily available.

Transporting lightweight bamboo is less costly than transporting its heavier alternatives.

Various types of the Bamboo used are solid and the moso. The Bamboo with nodes and without
nodes was also used. At the end he concluded that the moso Bamboo shows higher strength and
ductility than that of the solid Bamboo. In general the node was found to be failure point for
the Bamboo having nodes. Thus moso Bamboo shows higher grip and strength than that of the
solid Bamboo.

Only basic carpentry, Masonry tools and skills are necessary for the construction of bamboo
houses. Figure 2 below shows end profiles of bamboo poles for use in construction. For the
joints and other clamping points these kind of cutting or fabricating is preferred. With clear
instruction and proper workmanship we may get such a kind of joint arrangement with using
steel clamps and nut arrangement.

Figure.2 : End profiles of bamboo poles for use in construction

5.0 Selection and Preparation of Bamboo:

The brown colour bamboos are selected, which indicates that the plant is at least three years
old [4]. Longest and large diameter culms are selected based on availability. In the preparation
of bamboo the culms should be seasoned and split. The culms should be well seasoned before
use so that sweetness of the bamboo will be lost and insect attacks will be minimised which is
used for construction [5]. The bamboo culms are split or cut by means of hand knife or
machine splitting equipment. The bamboos split in to required dimensions based on use called
as moso bamboo used in present study.

5.1 Water proof material

When bamboo is used as reinforcement in concrete it gets swelling; it should receive a

waterproof coating to minimise swelling. “ALGICOAT RC-104” is used as a water proofing
agent .

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5.2 Steel bars

HYSD bars are used in this study, for determining bond stress. These values are compared with
bamboo bond stress as per IS-456:2000 specifications.

5.3 Concrete

M-30 grade mix concrete used in the present study as per IS-456:2000 specifications. The
concrete mix proportion (cement: fine aggregate: course aggregate) is 1:1.5:3 with a 0.54
water-cement ratio for cast cylinders for pull out test.

Table 2: List of Abbreviation

Symbol Description

Abt Area of Bamboo in Tension

Abc Area of Bamboo in compression

E Modulus Of Elasticity

σ Stress

ε Strain

6.0 EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM

Physical and mechanical properties of bamboo as reinforcement are determined. The properties
are purely based on the requirements of reinforcement in concrete.

6.1 Physical Properties of Bamboo

Brown coloured bamboo specimens were selected and the length, weight, diameter, nodes were
determined. The physical properties of bamboo culms are tabulated in table 3.

Table 3 : Physical characteristics of Bamboo culms

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Sl. Length (m) Weight No. of Diameter(mm)

no (Kg) Inter
Base Middle Top
nodes

1 5.50 9.45 20 77.7 80.1 67.3

2 4.55 7.77 13 72.1 75.2 65.7

3 4.63 6.81 15 75.6 76.0 69.8

4 5.78 11.40 22 89.5 85.4 72.9

5 5.55 10.12 21 76.2 75.3 70.1

6 4.92 6.41 18 72.4 79.7 71.2

7 5.10 8.65 18 87.3 79.6 75.4

8 5.37 9.43 16 77.5 80.2 69.4

9 4.91 8.25 15 71.1 76.7 62.2

10 5.25 9.28 21 89.5 97.4 92.8

6.2 Mechanical Properties of Bamboo

The mechanical properties are very important for using any material in construction and
design. Mechanical properties of bamboo were determined by conducting the following tests:

i. Tensile test
ii. Modulus of Elasticity, E
iii. Compressive test
iv. Pull-out test,
v. Shear test and
vi. Water absorption test

6.2.1 Tensile Test

Moso type of Bamboo samples of length 600mm was used. Three types of specimens are used,
first type with centre node, second type specimens contains nodes at 1/4th of length from each

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ends and third type of specimen contains random nodes. The test procedure followed for
bamboo is same that of steel. Load and elongation readings for sample placed in UTM are
recorded.

The relevant Stress Strain graph were developed as shown is the Figure 3 (g). Ultimate stress
values for different specimens obtained are tabulated in in Table 4.

The failure of bamboo members are observed mainly as node failure due to brittle nature at
nodes, because of widely spacing of fibers at the node points. In addition some powder like
material is also observed at the node points. The type of failure is the node failure for first
specimen samples containing node point at middle. For the second type of specimen samples
containing node points at 1/4 length from each end, the failure is of node failure at end node
points or split failure at middle of the specimen. For the third type of specimen samples
containing random nodes the failure is node failure or splitting failure and combination of both
is also observed.

Figure 3 (a): Test Setup to check flexural strength of Beam

Gripping of bamboo reinforcement

Proper gripping is an important factor for tensile test. Bamboo is relatively soft materials than
the materials used for gripping purpose in UTM. At the time of tension tests, early failure was
observed at the gripping end as shown in the Figure 3(b), possibly due to high stress developed
from lateral compression. Moreover, the surface of the bamboo specimen is very slippery and
therefore the samples in some case experienced slip at the time of tension test. To solve these
gripping problem GI wires (2mm diameter) were wringed spirally at both ends of the
specimen. The application of GI spiral around the ends of bamboo specimen has been shown in

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Figure 3(c). Aluminum tabs at both the ends of bamboo can also be used to avoid slipping of
bamboo during tensile test.
Three samples of finished bamboo were tested in natural condition (without treatment) and five
samples of finished bamboo were tested with GI wire spiral at the ends to improve gripping.
Sabbir et.al[12] (2011) were investigated the possibility of using bamboo as a potential
reinforcement in the concrete beam to compensate the low tensile property of the concrete.
Based on the experimental studies the bamboo wounded by G.I wire gives uniform tensile
strength and their failure pattern is also similar as splitting parallel to the grain. The average
tensile strength with prepared ends (wounded with G.I wire) has been found to be higher than
the specimens without prepared ends. Bamboo specimen shows some nonlinearity before its
failure. The modulus of elasticity, E of bamboo is found to be much lower than the steel
reinforcement. Therefore, the deflection will be higher considering the steel reinforcement.

Figure 3(b) : Early failure at the gripping end

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Figure 3 (c) : GI Spiral around the ends of bamboo specimen

The different failure patterns were shown in Figure 3 (d) to 3 (f)

Figure 3 (d) : Centre node type failed sample in tensile test

Figure 3 (e) : Splitting type failed sample in tensile test

Figure 3 (f) : Combined node and splitting type failed sample in tensile test

Table 4: Tensile Test Results for Bamboo

Ultimate tensile stress of bamboo (N/mm2)

Sl. no End nodes Center nodes Random nodes

1 244 201 127

2 119 151 158

3 106 102 142

4 90 93 177

5 108 117 180

6 85 113 134

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7 125 140 118

8 155 180 108

9 133 135 125

Average 120 115 128

The average ultimate tensile strength of bamboo from test values is given as 125 N/mm2.

The Stress vs. Strain graph for tested specimens is shown below in Figure 3 (g)..

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Figure 3 (g) : Stress - Strain chart for moso bamboo

6.2.2 Modulus of Elasticity

Modulus of elasticity test procedure followed for moso bamboo is same as that of steel. Two
types of moso bamboo specimens of length 600mm are used for test, first type of specimen
with centre node and second type of specimen contains nodes at 1/4th of length from each end.
The samples are placed in setup for simply supported action and loads were applied at centre
and deflections are recorded at 1/3rd and 1/4th form any one direction of sample. Considering

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Load Vs. Deflection graphs and simply supported beams deflection formula, modulus of
elasticity of bamboo were determined and the results are tabulated in Table 4.

Figure. 4. Performance of bamboo and other materials, in relation to their E and ρ , [7].

The modulus of elasticity E values obtained for central nodes stress are greater than end node
samples, due to stiff and brittle nature at node points so, the nodes may be resists the deflection
of bamboo. Table 5 Modulus of Elasticity test results for bamboo .The average Modulus of
elastic value is taken as 1.5 x 104 N/mm2 for design. The modulus of elasticity of steel is 2 x
105 N/mm2.

Table 5: Modulus of Elasticity test results for bamboo

Modulus of Elasticity (E) of bamboo (N/mm2)

Sl.no Center node stress End node stress

1 2.9473 x 104 1.5898 x 104

2 1.9347 x 104 1.40153 x 104

3 1.4218 x 104 1.3379 x 104

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4 1.3476 x 104 1.14435 x 104

5 2.1804 x 104 0.9535 x 104

6 1.6402 x 104 1.27188 x 104

7 2.7989 x 104 1.7498 x 104

8 2.16365 x 104 0.9998 x 104

9 2.16760 x 104 1.9818 x 104

10 2.78404 x 104 1.0638 x 104

6.2.3 Compressive Test

The Hollow culms of 152 mm length are cut for compressive test. Three different types of
specimens are selected for the test. The first type of specimens contains central node; second
type contains end node and third type without nodes. The dimensions of samples are measured
and samples were placed in compressive testing machine of capacity 2000KN. The load is
applied parallel to fibers of bamboo in gradual increments until the sample failure. From the
ultimate load, compressive strength is determined.

6.2.4 Pull-out Test

The measure of the bond strength or interfacial strength between the bamboo and a concrete
can be found in this test [7]. Also comparison between bamboo reinforced concrete and steel
reinforced concrete are made as per requirement according to IS-456:2000 standards and
requirements. Moso type bamboo of 1000mm length each and area based on cross section of
bamboo are used. Concrete cylinders of size 150 mm diameter and 300 length are used for the
test. Three types specimens of uncoated bamboo, water proofing material coated bamboo and
HYSD steel bars of 8mm diameter are used for this test. Concrete of M - 30 grade with 1:1.5:3
(cement, fine aggregate and course aggregate). The bamboos specimens were placed at centre
in concrete cylinders while casting. Three samples are prepared for each specimen by varying
bond length until the specimen comes out of concrete by means of bond and not by tension
while testing. Bond length (Lb) is the length of bamboo which is in contact with concrete in
cylinder as shown in Figure 5(b). The samples were tested after 28 days of curing are tested in
universal testing machine of capacity 400KN. The ultimate load is recorded. The test results
are tabulated in Table 6 . The bond stress is determined from ultimate load using following
formula.
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Bond stress = Zbd =P/(πdLb) Units are in N/mm2

Where ,
P is the ultimate load at failure,
d is the diameter of specimen and
Lb is the length of bonding.

Figure 5(a) : Bamboo specimen

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Figure 5 (b) : Schematic diagram of Bamboo specimen

For first few samples at the time of testing the bamboo were broken in tension without bond
failure from concrete so, these values are not considered as bond stress. The samples were
again cast by changing bond length Lb i.e., the length of bamboo embedded in concrete was
decreased and was tested and the procedure was repeated until bamboo comes out smoothly
from concrete while testing and these values obtained are due to bond failure. Pull-out failure
occurred due to the shear strength between the bamboo and the concrete. From the table 5 it is
observed that bond stress of coated and uncoated bamboo samples is nearly same if it pulls by
an amount 0.1mm. It is observed that the bond stress of bamboo is 4.7 times less than that of
steel.

Table 6 Pull-out test results for Coated and Uncoated Bamboo and Steel

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Bond stress of bamboo and Steel (N/mm2)

Sl.no Length of Bond stress Bond stress Bond stress Remarks

bonding with of uncoated of water of HYSD bar
concrete Bamboo proof
(mm) materials

1 260 1.3 1.05 5.2 Tension

2 260 0.9 0.95 4.8 Tension

3 200 1.2 1.07 6.5 Tension

4 200 1.4 1.25 6.3 Tension

5 150 1.68 1.45 - Bond

6 150 1.45 1.95 - Bond

7 150 1.74 1.51 - Bond

8 130 - - 11.73 Tension

9 130 - - 10.62 Tension

10 115 - - 7.57 Bond

11 105 - - 7.79 Bond

12 100 - - 7.90 Bond

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Figure 5 (c ): Pull-out tests on untreated and treated bamboo segments.

(a) 3cm bamboo segments. (b) Test specimen before testing.

6.2.5 Shear Test

The samples used for shear test are moso bamboo of 50mm length. Three different types of
specimens, the first with central node, second type with end node and third type of specimens
without nodes are used in this test. The test procedure followed for bamboo is same as that of
steel. The shear shackle used is of double shear action the test is called as double shear test.
The test setup consists of placing shear shackle in Universal Testing Machine (UTM) of
400KN capacity and load is applied gradually until the specimen fails as shown in Figure 6.
The ultimate load at failure is noted. Shear Stress is determined using formula given below
from ultimate load and results are tabulated in Table 7.

Shear stress = V = Load/(2 x Area) = P/(2 x A)

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Figure 6 (a): Test setup of Shear shackle arrangement in U.T.M

4.2.6 Shear Test

The values of shear strength are shown in Table 6. The failed sample of bamboo in shear test is
shown in Figure 6(b).

Figure 6 (b): Failed bamboo samples in shear test

Table 7: Shear test results of bamboo

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Shear strength of bamboo

Sl. Area of Ultimate Shear strength

load (Kg) (N/mm2)
no Specimen(mm2)

1 101.29 597 29.47

2 81.86 538 32.86

3 96.2 520 27.03

4 160.6 938 29.20

5 162.85 993 30.49

6 142.79 646 25.62

Average 29.12

The higher strength values are obtained for center node samples. The average shear strength of
bamboo is taken as 29.12 N/mm2.

6.2.7 Compressive Test

The failure of bamboo is observed as compression failure as shown in Figure 7. The stress
values obtained for central node specimen is greater than that of end node specimen and
without node specimen. This is due to widely spacing of fibre and stiff behaviour at node
points. The maximum and minimum stress values obtained in central node, end node and
random node specimens are 123N/mm2, 120N/mm2; 112N/mm2, 104N/mm2; 96N/mm2,
93N/mm2 respectively. The average compressive stress of bamboos is 108.19N/mm2.

Figure 7: Failed bamboo samples in compression test

6.2.8 Effect of water absorption

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One of the main shortcomings of bamboo is water absorption when it is used as a

reinforcement and/or permanent shutter form with concrete. The capacity of bamboo to absorb
water was studied on several species.
A summary of the results is presented in Figure 8(a). As seen from Figure 8(a), DG, and
Bambusa vulgaris schard, VS, absorbed the least amount of water among all compared species.
The dimensional variations of the transversal section of bamboos DG and VS reached up to 6%
after 7days immersion in water [2,10]. The dimensional variation of untreated bamboo due to
water absorption can cause micro or even macro cracks in cured concrete as shown in Figure 9.

Figure 8 (a): Water absorption of different species of bamboo.

Figure 9 : Behaviour of untreated segment bamboo as reinforcement in concrete

(a) bamboo in fresh concrete, (b) bamboo during curing of concrete and (c) bamboo after cured concrete.

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7.0 Bonding strength

A reinforcing bar in concrete is prevented from slipping by adhesion or bond between them.
The main factors which affect the bond between the reinforcing bar and concrete are:
i. Adhesive properties of the cement matrix,
ii. The compression friction forces appearing on the surface of the reinforcing bar due to
shrinkage of the concrete and
iii. The shear resistance of concrete due to surface form and roughness of the reinforcing bar.

The dimensional changes of bamboo due to moisture and temperature variations influence all
the three bond characteristics severely. During the casting and curing of concrete, reinforcing
bamboo absorbs water and expands as shown in Fig. 9(a). The swelling of bamboo pushes the
concrete away, shown in Fig. 9(b). Then at the end of the curing period, the bamboo loses the
moisture and shrinks back almost to its original dimensions leaving voids around itself, shown
in Fig. 9(c). The differential thermal expansion of bamboo with respect to concrete may also
lead to cracking of the concrete during service life. The swelling and shrinkage of bamboo in
concrete create a serious limitation in the use of bamboo as a substitute for steel in concrete. To
improve the bond between bamboo segments and concrete, an effective water-repellent
treatment is necessary. Various types of treatment have been studied with different degrees of
success. The impermeability treatment of bamboo is affected by three factors:
i. The adhesion properties of the substance applied to bamboo and concrete
ii. water repellent property of the chosen substance and
iii. the topography of bamboo/concrete interface.

One effective treatment is the application of a thin layer of epoxy to the bamboo surface
followed by a coating of fine sand. However, this is an expensive treatment in many countries
including Brazil. Materials such as asphalt paints, tar based paints and specific bituminous
materials satisfy all the impermeability requirements.

8.0 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH AND DUCTILITY OF BAMBOO REINFORCED

CONCRETE COLUMNS

Bamboo treated with water-repellent substance gives more strength and ductility. Satjapan
et.al[11] (2010) were investigated the structural and environmentally sustainable aspects of
bamboo as a reinforcing material instead of steel reinforcement in concrete columns. Seven
small-scale short columns (125 mm x 125 mm x 600 mm) with different type of reinforcements
were tested under concentric loading to investigate strength capacity and ductility. The results
of this study showed that for the column reinforced by reinforcing bamboo without surface
treatment, strength capacity was sufficient to withstand the maximum axial force provided by
ACI318-05, while ductility was rather low, especially the column reinforced by 1.6% of
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bamboo without surface treatment. This was because of the effect of water absorption and loss
of bonding strength between concrete and bamboo. The columns reinforced by reinforcing
bamboo treated with the water-repellent substance, Sikadur-31CFN, before concrete casting
showed more strength and ductility than the columns reinforced by untreated reinforcing
bamboo.

9.0 Bamboo reinforced concrete elements

Bamboo as reinforcement in concrete can increases the load carrying capacity. Bamboo
possesses low modulus of elasticity compared to steel. So, it cannot prevent cracking of
concrete under ultimate load. Rahman et.al [10] (2011) were evaluated the aptness of bamboo
as reinforcement in concrete. They have conducted tensile test for bamboo and flexural
strength test for bamboo reinforced concrete beam.
In this research three types of beam were used :
i. Beam was casted by plain concrete,
ii. Beam was casted by singly reinforced beam and
iii. Beam was by doubly reinforced beam having same dimensions.

In plain concrete beam, they used one bamboo stick. In singly reinforced beams as shown in
figure 10 (a) they used two bamboo sticks placed at the bottom with 1 inch clear cover.
Similarly, in doubly reinforced beams figure 10 (b) they used two bamboo sticks placed at the
top and bottom with 1 inch clear cover.

Figure 10 (a): Singly Reinforced Concrete beam

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Figure 10 (b) : Doubly Reinforced Concrete beam

Compressive Strength Test and Splitting Tensile Strength Test were conducted for cylindrical
concrete specimen. Flexural Test was conducted for Beam. Tensile Strength Test was
conducted for Bamboo Stick in UTM.

Simply supported bamboo reinforced concrete beams, fabricated with normal, lightweight and
laterite aggregates of 20mm maximum size have been tested. A beam, reinforced with steel
bars, served as reference. Expanded clay is commonly used as the lightweight aggregate. In
the Northeast, as normal aggregates do not exist, abundantly occurring laterite aggregates were
considered. Research paper [6] ordinary Portland cement CP-32 and natural-washed river sand
were used. The normal concrete was proportioned 1:1.4:2.4 by weight with a water cement
ratio of 0.45; and the proportions for lightweight concrete were 1:3.22:0.78 of cement, fine and
coarse aggregate with a water cement ratio of 0.55 respectively.

The compressive strength of the concrete was established on 15cm diameter and 30cm high
cylinders. The ultimate compressive strength, fcc, and modulus of elasticity in compression, Ec,
varied between 20–40MPa and 12–34GPa, respectively [1–5,7]. The split bamboo culms were
of 30mm wide rectangular sections. The smooth surface of the bamboo splints was cleaned and
slightly roughened before being coated with a thin layer of the impermeable product together
with sand. The pieces were then wrapped with 1.5mm wire at 10mm distance and once more
coated with the same product. Immediately after that, fine sand was manually pressed into the
surface and the splints were allowed to dry for 24hr before being fixed inside the formwork as
can be seen in Figure 11(a). The bamboo reinforcing ratio, ρ, varied between 0.75% and
5.00%.

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(c)

Figure 11. Bamboo reinforcing concrete beams.

(a) Detail of bamboo reinforcement in beam. (b) Bamboo reinforced concrete beam test
(c) Two point loading system.

The beams of dimensions 340 x 12 x 30cm, with a free span of 300cm, were fabricated inside a
form, into which concrete was poured in layers of 10cm. Then the form was vibrated as
recommended by the [10] (IS: 8242 – 1976 Methods of tests for split bamboos.)
The beams were tested after a curing period of 28days, Fig. 11(b) and 11(c) shows the
experimental set up of a beam subjected to two-point load at the third span.

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The test results showed that the treatment of bamboo prior to use improved the bamboo–
concrete bonding by more than 100%. By adopting ρ = 3% as the ideal value, the ultimate
applied load increased by 400% as compared with concrete beams without reinforcement [7].

9.1. Concrete slabs with bamboo permanent shutter forms

Bamboo finds an efficient application in concrete slabs reinforced with half bamboo sections,
which work as permanent shutter forms [2,4,6,9]. The same methodology and concrete, as used
for bamboo reinforced concrete beams, were applied to establish the mechanical and structural
behaviour of a slab of maximum dimensions of 80 x 14 x 316 cm, with a free span of 300
cm,as shown in Figure 12
A half split DG bamboo culm, which works as a tensile reinforcing bar and also as a permanent
shutter form, schematically shown in Figure 13(a), was filled with concrete as can be seen in
Fig. 13. In the most recent experimental investigation different types of connecters, such as
steel bars or entire diaphragms as shown in Figure 14 (b) have been investigated. In all cases
the internal parts of bamboo were treated with a thin coat of Sikadur 32-Gel as shown in Figure
13 (b). In Fig. 13 the fabrication of permanent shutters is shown: with half diaphragms shown
in Figure 14 (a), with entire diaphragms as connectors in Figure 14 (b) and the permanent
shutter bamboo slab, before the lateral timber forms were taken out, in Figure 14(c).

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Figure 12: Dimensions of the concrete slabs reinforced with bamboo permanent shutter forms
The experimental results have been analysed using conventional analytical methods proved not
to be sufficient enough as this type of structural elements work as composite slabs with the
bamboo diaphragms acting as connectors. Therefore, for the analysis of the slabs, beside the
normal semi-analytical method, the layer-wise theory and Finite Element method were used to
realize a parametric study considering different variables influencing the behaviour of the
composite slabs [2,9]. One of the important factors, which has a great influence on the ultimate
load of the slab, is the shear resistance of the bamboo diaphragm.

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Fig. 13. Concrete slabs reinforced with bamboo permanent shutter forms
(a) Schematic set up of the slab. (b) Bamboo of slab during treatment.

The shear resistance of whole and half bamboo diaphragms of species DG has been studied.
For the half bamboo its shear strength has been found to be 10.89MPa with a standard
deviation of 2.56MPa. Although the bamboo diaphragm creates a composite interaction
between bamboo and concrete, its shear resistance is not sufficient enough to prevent its shear
failure. Most of the tested slabs had first failed due to de-bonding and failure of the diaphragm
then followed by concrete compression failure.

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Fig. 14. Concrete slabs reinforced with bamboo permanent shutter forms.
(a) Half bamboo diaphragm as connector. (b) Second type of connector .(c) Slab before testing.

To increase the shear strength of half bamboo several alternatives were considered.
One of the simplest methods was to consider the entire bamboo diaphragm as shown in Fig.
13(b). To improve further a strip of steel or bamboo rod close to the bamboo diaphragm
passing through the bamboo diameter was fixed.
These two methods almost doubled the shear strength of the diaphragm hence the ultimate load
of the slabs. This type of slab is now successfully used in Brazil and North –east part of India.
However, at present, studies are being carried out to improve the bonding between bamboo and
concrete with other new products available on the market beside the improvement of the shear
connector behaviour of low cost.

10. CONCLUSIONS

The constitutive relationship of the nodes differs from those of inter-nodal regions. Further the
nodes possess brittle behaviour and the inter-nodal regions possess ductile behaviour. The
average tensile strength of moso bamboo from present study is 125N/mm 2, which is half the
strength of mild steel. There is no failure pattern followed by samples in tensile test. However,
the samples with nodes generally failed at higher loads than those samples without nodes. The
compressive strength of bamboo is nearly same as the tensile strength of bamboo and this
behaviour is similar to steel. Bond stress of bamboo with concrete is very low compared

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HYSD steel bars, due to surface smoothness of bamboo. Water absorption of bamboo is very
high and waterproofing agent is recommended. From the test conditions, bamboo can
potentially be used as substitute for steel reinforcement. As bamboo is eco-friendly material,
limiting the use of steel can reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In the green building concept use
of bamboo reinforced concrete may be recommendable.

Environmental concerns have broadened during the last two decades. Initially it meant to
analyse visible catastrophes such as a dying forest or dead fish on a shore and we slowly came
to realize that any excessive or inefficient consumption of resources is in fact an abuse of the
environment. The understanding of sustainability in building construction has also undergone
changes over the years. First attention was given to the issue of limited resources, especially
energy, and how to reduce the impact on the natural environment. Now, emphasis is placed on
more technical issues such as materials, building components, construction technologies and
energy related design concepts as well on non-technical issues such as economic and social
sustainability.

11.0 References :

1. Nathalie Trudeau, Cecilia Tam, Dagmar Graczyk and Peter Taylor (2011). ”Energy
Transistion for Industry: India and The Global Context”, International Energy Agency,
Information paper.

2. Satjapan Leelatanon, Suthon Srivaro and Nirundorn Matan (2010) “Compressive

strength and ductility of short concrete columns reinforced by bamboo”,
Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. 32 (4), 419-424, Jul. - Aug.

3. Dr. N R K Rao, IFS (Retd.) Andhra Pradesh Technology Development and Promotion
Centre (APTDC), Hyderabad “Resources & Utilisation Of Bamboo in Andhra
Pradesh”.

4. Prof. NK Naik (2003), as Principal Investigator “Mechanical and Physico-Chemical

Properties of Bamboos” carried out by Aerospace Engineering Department, Indian
Institute of Technology.

5. Francis E. Brink and Paul J. Rush (1966), “Bamboo Reinforced Concrete

Construction”, U. S. Naval Civil Engineering Labaoratory Port Hueneme, California.

6. Bamboo as reinforcement in structural concrete elements by Khosrow Ghavami *

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 Low cost sustainable building materials

Department of Civil Engineering, Pontificia Universidade Catolica, PUC-Rio, Rua

Marques de Sa˜ o Vicente 225, 22453-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Received 26
September 2003; accepted 4 June 2004

7. Wegst UGK, Shercliff HR, Ashby MF. The structure and properties of bamboo as an
engineering material, University of Cambridge, UK, 1993.

8. American Institute of Architects. Environmental Resource Guide Subscription.

Washington: American Institute of Architects, 1992.

9. Dell’Isola, Alphonse J., and Stephen J. Kirk. Life Cycle Costing for Design
Professionals. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1981.

10. M. M. Rahman, M. H. Rashid, M. A. Hossain, M. T. Hasan and M. K. Hasan

“Performance Evaluation of Bamboo Reinforced Concrete Beam”, International
Journal Of Engineering & Technology Ijet-Ijens Vol: 11 No: 04 August 2011.

11. Satjapan Leelatanon, Suthon Srivaro and Nirundorn Matan “Compressive

strength and ductility of short concrete columns reinforced by bamboo”,
Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. 32 (4), 419-424, Jul. - Aug. 2010

12. Md Ahsan Sabbir, S.M. Ashfaqul Hoq, and Saiada Fuadi Fancy “Determination
of Tensile Property of Bamboo for Using as Potential Reinforcement in the Concrete”,
International Journal Of Civil & Environmental Engineering Ijcee-Ijens Vol: 11 No: 05
Oct 2011.

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