BAMBOO

Bamboo is one of the most sustainable building materials on

the planet and is termed as vegetable steel with a tensile
strength of 28000 per square inch and provide earthquake
resistant structures.

Introduction
 Facts about bamboo
• Bamboo contains high levels of starch which attracts insects.
without proper treatment, bamboo has a natural durability of
less than 2 years.
• Species like genus “dendrocalamus” and “bambusa” have the
best properties for structural applications.
• One of the fastest growing plants on earth.its growth rate
ranges from 30cm to 1m in 24 hours.
• 1450 species are found in diverse climates across the world.
The various advantages of bamboo are mentioned below:
1. Light, strong and versatile
2. Environment friendly
3. Accessible to the poor
4. Self renewing resource
5. Fast growing
6. Highly productive
7. Earthquake resistance

Advantages of Bamboo
• SOAKING: A method commonly used in India is to soak bamboo
for ninety days in water. Then set to dry in a sunny area for two
weeks.

• AIR DRYING: Cut the bamboo leaving the branches and leafs
still attached. Store the bamboo upright in the sun for two weeks.
Then continue drying in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight,
cross your fingers and hope for the best. Depending on the area,
watch for molding.

• ABURANUKI: The Japanese method of drying used by the

Shaku hachi or flute makers of Japan.

How to protect bamboo

 Use Percent Consumption

• Building and construction. Paper Pulp 35.0

Housing 20.0
• Small scale and cottage
Non-Residential 5.0
industries, for handicrafts and
Rural uses 20.0
other products.
Fuel 8.5
• New generation products as
Packing, including baskets 5.0
wood substitutes
• Industrial products Transport 1.5
• Transportation industry- truck Furniture 1.0
bodies, railway carriages etc. Other wood industries 1.0

• Boards and furniture Others, including ladders etc. 3.0

bamboo Uses
 Bamboo, like true wood, is a natural composite material with a high strength-
to-weight ratio useful for structures

Various structural shapes may

be made by training the
bamboo to assume them as it
grows. Squared sections of
bamboo are created by
compressing the growing stalk
within a square form. Arches
may similarly be created by
forcing the bamboo's growth • Scaffolding
into the desired form, costing • Reinforcement
much less than it would to
obtain the same shape with • Roofing
regular wood timber. • Walling
• Doors & Window

Major Uses of Bamboo in

Construction
• It is a combination of traditionalism and modernity, a
bamboo construction is in roofed garden and high level
thermal insulated systems.

• The solar array here is able to generate nine kilowatts

electricity for a bedroom and a living room blueprint.
• Traditional Chinese architecture technology inclusive of
humidity and temperature control system.

Bamboo House
 Roofing
The roof offers protection against extremes of
weather including rain, sun and wind,
and to provide shelter, clear and usable space
beneath the canopy. Above all it must be
strong enough to resist the considerable forces
generated by wind and roof coverings.

Scaffolding
Because of the favorable relationship between load-bearing
capacity and weight, bamboo can be used for the construction
of save scaffoldings even for very tall buildings. Only lashed
joints are used. The cane extension is carried out by lashing the
cane ends together with several ties.
 Walling
Bamboo can be cut and laminated
into sheets and planks. This process
involves cutting stalks into thin
strips, planing them flat, and boiling
and drying the strips; they are then
glued, pressed and finished

Reinforcement

Five story parking garage at the

Leipzig Zoo using bamboo for the
building’s envelope
• Renewable – can be harvested without damaging the plant
and grows extremely quickly
• Plentiful – there is great potential for timber-quality bamboo
to be produced in the U.S.
• Local – can be grown locally in a small land area
• Waste-reducing – sequesters carbon and leaves can be used
as fodder or compost

Potential for Sustainability

State Bamboo Growing Bamboo Stock
Area (Sq.Km.) (Million tons)
Mizoram 9210 10.89
Assam 8213 13.41
Arunachal Pradesh 4590 9.84
Manipur 3692 11.47
Meghalaya 3102 4.41
Tripura 939 0.86
Nagaland 758 3.66
Total 30504 54.53

Status of Bamboo Resources in

North-Eastern Region
Species of Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of of woody pernennial grasses in the grass family poaceae, which is
large family with over 10000 species. Bamboo species can be divided into clumpers and
runners.
The seven species of bamboos.
Most Suited Species
1. Bambusa Balcooa
Bamusa bamboos Dendrocalamus
strength
2. Bambusa Bambos
Bright shiny, green Pale blue green when
3. Bambusa Nutans
when fresh, yellow fresh dull green to 4. Bambusa Tulda
with age yellow with age 5. Dendrocalamus Giganteus
Height 15-30m 8-16m 6. Dendrocalamus Strictus
7. Melocanna Bambusoides
Diameter Upto 150mm 25-80 mm
Internodes 200-400mm 300-400 mm
Thickness Thick-walled Thick walled often
solid Other species: Bamboo Below; Bamboo;
Dendrocalamus as per;Dendrocalamus transitions
Bamboo sizes are generally specified by minimum
diameter, wall thickness and length. For the type of
conservation covered by this manual, columns and roof
members should be 80-100mm in diameter with wall
thickness of 10-12mm.

For purlins, round-solid or near culms 25-35 mm in

diameter should be used.

Sizes
Sorting out bamboo on the basis of characteristics
importance for structural utilization.
• Diameter and length of culms
• Taper of culms
• Straightness of culms
• Inter-nodal length
• Wall thickness
• Density and strength
• Durability and seasoning.

Grading of structural bamboo

 The properties as top grade building material and increased
availability of bamboo in our country makes it possible to use,
bamboo in the field of construction extensively.
 Its high valued utilization not only promotes the economic
development, but also saves forest resources to protect our ecological
environment as a wood substitute.
 As an economic building material, bamboo’s rate of productivity and
cycle of annual harvest outstrips any other naturally growing resource.

Conclusion
ABHISHEK SAINI
Made This.