2nd Innovative Construction Materials Conference (ICMC 2014)

2nd May 2014

Liverpool

REPLACEMENT OF STEEL BY BAMBOO IN CIVIL CONSTRUCTION

Raylane de Souza Castoldi
Student No. 201029470
School of Engineering, University of Liverpool,
L69 3GH, UK

sgrdesou@liv.ac.uk

Key Words: Innovation, sustainability, durability, lift cycle cost, buildability, bamboo
ABSTRACT
Conservation of the environment is a concern global interest. Therefore, the research for greater
sustainability has fostered the increasing development for new products and the use of natural
materials and process with an ecological and sustainable tendency. One of these materials is the
bamboo, that presents itself as an excellent choice in the civil construction industry,
distinguished as well for its properties, offers multiplicity of bamboos applications, beyond the
traditional ones. It can be used as substitute of the steel, in the reinforcement of concrete
structures. Bamboo comes more than being searched the fifty years, however, exists few studies
of the species with this application.

1 INTRODUCTION
In recent years, the concern about the quality of life and environmental preservation has been a
constant discussion in all areas, especially in the civil construction. This concern has led to the
development and application of materials produced with low energy consumption and low level
of environmental aggression. One possible solution to this concern is the replacement of
conventional products by others with similar properties, which add both economic and social,
and in some cases, technical advantages.
An example of material that can be replaced is steel. To be obtained, steel consumes large
amounts of fossil energy, emission of gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect. It is a
material that the manufacture depends on the iron ore deposits, which constitute non-renewable
material source. Recycling also consumes a lot of energy, increasing costs of the final product.
His replacement in different situations can be considered a viable alternative to minimize
environmental impacts, with economic and social advantages. An example of non-conventional
material that can replace steel is bamboo.
MATERIAL
ENERGY (MJ/m per Mpa)
Steel
1500
Concrete
240
Timber
80
Bamboo
30
Table 1 Energy consumption per material [1]

For the use of bamboo on a large scale as a building material economically applicable and
possible industrialization, a systematic scientific study is needed. This study need to take into
account the variability of the raw material in terms of species and physical and mechanical
characterization. For this purpose, the process of planting, harvesting, curing, treatment, and
post-treatment should be studied to characterize them reliably.
Some advantages of using bamboo in construction:
The growth of bamboo is extremely fast
Bamboo accumulates CO2
Have a low energy production compared with steel, concrete or wood
The outer casing of the shell offers a very high tensile strength, which can be compared to
steel
The expense of cutting and transport is relatively low. [2]

However, bamboo is a heterogeneous material, i.e. bamboo stalks are not exactly equal to each
other. Consequently there are some disadvantages:
The structural behavior depends on the bamboo species, the place where it is grown, age,
moisture content and the use of the stem
Bamboo needs to be protected against weathering
Must be treated to prevent the attack of fungi and insects
Sometimes the stem is not completely straight. It may have a certain curvature
In many countries there is no official standard for buildings with the use of bamboo, so it
is difficult to get permits for this type of construction. [2]

2 BAMBOO: TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Bamboo is composed of the stem, rhizomes and roots. The stem is the part of interest. It has a
hollow cylindrical shape and presents a sequence of nodes. Natural fibres are strong, resulting in
excellent structural properties. [3]

Figure 1 Bamboo plant [3]

Specifically for constructions, it is recommended to use mature and dried bamboo, usually
between 4 and 6 years old. Bamboos with cracks going from one node to another should not be
used and the stem should be straight or slightly curved. It is not recommended to use stalks
showing attacks by insects or fungi. [3]
Some researchers argue that the best species for use as reinforcement are Bambusa vulgaris and
Dendrocalamus giganteus, respectively, 170 MPa and 135 MPa tensile strength. These
mechanical characteristics of bamboo are influenced by factors such as: species, age, soil type,
climatic conditions, moisture content and which part of the stem that will be used. The optimal
structural performance of bamboo as compression, torsion, bending, and especially tensile is
given by its tubular volume and the longitudinal arrangement of fibers forming bundles of micro
tubes. [4]
Despite the strength achieve the requisites sizing, low adhesion between bamboo and concrete is
one of the factors that makes it slightly used. Several researches are carried out in order to get a
better adherence, because correct measures would increase the capacity of the bamboo x
concrete.
Another factor leading to the bamboo not be used as reinforcement of concrete is the durability.
The concrete is generally alkaline, Ph = 13, and this value is high for bamboo. The alkalinity
destroys the cellulose fibers after a few years hence changes occur within the mass of cellulose
fibers, because it decreases the cohesion.[1] However, work has been seen in more than a decade
and did not see any signs of cracks or damage arising out of the loss of strength caused by weak
Bamboo splints.

3 EXPERIMENTAL STUDY
An experimental study in the University of the Extreme South of Santa Catarina (UNESC) by the
students Claiton Sommariva de Oliveira and Mrcio Vito will be taken as an example.[5] This
experimental study aimed at the analysis of the structural behavior of concrete beam with steel
replacement for bamboo as sturdy traction element in bending of beams, remaining the top
reinforcement steel as support for the stirrups.
The tested beams were 300 cm long, 12 cm wide, 40 cm in height. The test method was a 4-point
bending with forces concentrated load applied vertically in the gaps. Six concrete beams were
tested, three reinforced with Dendrocalamus giganteus bamboo and three referenced beams were
reinforced with CA-50 steel bars.

3.1 Design of the reinforced concrete beams

Through previous calculations, the required steel area was found. Having the area of steel, the
equivalent bamboo area was obtained and therefore a comparison can be made between the
beams reinforced with steel and bamboo.
MATERIAL
AREA
Steel
2.0 cm2
Bamboo
5.2 cm2
Table 2 Required area per material

3.2 Confection of the beams

After the equivalent area was found, the beams were cast. Cuts were made at an angle of 45o in
all steams of bamboo and later openings of small windows with 20 cm wide were made between
the nodes to be mechanical anchorage between concrete and bamboo.

Figure 2 The cut in 45o of the stems collected [5]

Then the reinforcement assembly was started. The reinforcement consists in a bamboo stick, and
two steel bars 5.0 mm as a support for the stirrups. The stirrups were distributed 5.0 mm in
every 20 cm, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 Bamboo beams with steel stirrups [5]

3.3 The test

Figure 4 The theoretical beam span [5]

The tests of flexural strength of the beams were executed in LEE - Laboratory of Experimental
Structures UNESC. The beams were subjected to bending test at 4 points. Is important to notice
that the applied load was following the same pattern for all specimens. During each step of load
application, the displacement occurred and the amounts of load on them were recorded.

Figure 5 Conducting the tests [5]

3.4 Results
In Figure 6 are shown the displacements due to the application of the load of the specimens with
steel reinforcement.

Figure 6 Load x Displacement Steel Beams [5]

In contrast, the graph of Figure 7 refers to the bamboo beams.

Figure 7 Load x Displacement Bamboo Beams [5]

As the graphs show, when the steel beam is loaded with the previously stipulated optimum load
(62.18 kN)[5], the average displacement is 6.17 mm. When the same displacement in the bamboo
beam occurs, the average load achieved was 22.13 kN. In percentage terms, the bamboo beam
compared to the steel beam, reached 35.59% load of the reference beam. In contrast, the
maximum allowable arrow, reinforced steel beam got a load of 101.82 kN and the reinforced
bamboo beam only 28.12 kN. This value is 27.62% of the reinforced beam with steel.

Figure 8 Comparative between steel beam and bamboo beam [5]

4 CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the design of concrete beams reinforced with bamboo should be done according to
their vertical deformation, because the modulus of elasticity is lower if compared to steel. In
other words, conventionally reinforced concrete beams with steel have higher rigidity than
reinforced with bamboo.
Nevertheless, the use of bamboo as reinforcement to combat flexing in concrete beams is quite
viable under the structural aspect, but studies regarding the durability of bamboo in the concrete
are required for application in practice. Furthermore, to use bamboo for large scale as a viable
construction material and economically feasible a systematic scientific study that takes into
account the variability of the raw material in terms of type and physical and mechanical
characterization is required.

REFERENCES
[1] Janssen, J.J.A. Building with Bamboo. London, UK. Intermediate Technology Publications,
65p. 1995.
[2] Minke, G. Manual de construccin con bamb. Merlin, 1st edition. Cali, Colombia, 154p.
2010.
[3] Hidalgo, O. Bamboo: the gift of the gods. Colombia, Bogot: Dvinni Ltda. 2003.
[4] Ghavami, K. Estruturas de Concreto armadas com bambu. Anais do 6o CECAP PUC-Rio.
August, Vol.1. 1990.
[5] Sommariva, C, Vito, M. Substituio total do ao, usando bambu como armadura de combate
a flexo em vigas de concreto. University of the Extreme South of Santa Catarina, UNESC.
2012.