Fiber reinforced composite membranes

Garrett Connelly

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Chapter Eight : Bamboo, Hemp and Jute Composite

Fiber reinforced composite membranes

Garrett Connelly

The flat table jig used here to make identical trusses would be quite different if bamboo were connected using a wrapping method commonly seen for connection points on wicker furniture or bamboo scaffolding. This sort of connection would be better where binding materials and skills are available. Supporting jigs with space under the joint would better allow for wrapping the joints than the flat table in the photo. A cement soaked fiber wrapping would be quick and easy if the bamboo is clamped in a jig and the joint wrapped like applying a bandage to a wrist or knee. The previous smooth plane roof on the small structure used wood which was cut to 2 x 4 centimeters so it would approximate the bamboo used in the trusses. Keep in mind that the wood was covered with cement and acrylic soaked fiber, the same idea that the wood is merely a mold for the fiber carries through here with the bamboo, that is why these designs are thought of as a method for utilizing the lowest quality of bamboo.

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The truss to be constructed is for a roof which is 3 x 4 meters (9.8 x 13.1). Eves will be 25 centimeters (10) and the outside dimension of the building will be 2.5 x 3.5 meters (8.2 x 11.5). Five trusses with a spacing of 62.5 centimeters are required (24.5). Purlins will be attached under the slope chord to connect trusses and extend 25 centimeters beyound end walls to create end eves. This roof design will have added strength of surface deflection equal to bamboo thickness to purlins and the slight sag between them. h 62.5 x Trigonometry is the relationship between the lengths of the different sides of triangles and the angles of triangles. There are books of tables which print the ratios of different sides and angles. One can also type the term describing the ratio into the google 27.5 y

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search box and hit enter/return and google will give the answer. 27.5 degrees is the selected angle because it is easy to set on my power saw. Its an angle Ive grown accustomed to using, if you dont care about setting the angle on your saw, measure out what looks good to your eye.

The full width of the truss is four meters, thus, the distance to the center is 2 meters. To compute the height of the truss we need to know the length of the side opposite the roof angle of 27.5. The ratio of the opposite side divided by the adjacent side of an angle is known as the tangent. h in the drawing refers to the hypotenuse of the triangle which is half of the roof. We are referring to the distance to the center as x (two meters) and we are solving for the height of the roof peak which is labeled y. Without trigonometry tables we resort to the computer and type tangent 27.5 degrees in the google search box, hit return and the solution is rendered = 0.520567051. Two meters multiplied by 0.5206 is 1.04 meters, which is the height of the top of the truss. The overall height of the truss is measured from the bottom of the horizontal length of bamboo to the top of the hypotenuse lengths which define the slope, note that the hypotenuse is also referred to as a chord. Thus, because the bamboo is of various

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thicknesses, the center piece will vary in length (height).

The joint method of wrapping with fabric around the bamboo, with a filler of cement soaked hemp in the joint proved to be excessively strong. A simple wrap without the fill would be sufficient, keeping in mind that the bamboo itself will be covered as the rafters were in the previous chapter.

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Plywood girders are positioned with exterior dimension at 3.5 meters to simulate exterior walls for example assembly. The actual roof material will not be placed until someone wants a 2.5 x 3.5 meter structure. The size is large enough to require extra permits for transport to a final site, also extra trusses could be made and the size might become three or four meters in length by 3.5 meter width.

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Purlins and the additional near end-wall eve are placed on one side only to illustrate construction order. Brief examination of the photo will reveal there are two X braces extending along the center, from end-to-end. Purlins are below the truss roof line. A tension controlled sag in each square created by the truss line and purlins will provide three dimensional strength which is not present in a two dimensional flat plain like that in the previous structure. Additional dimensional or geometric shape will provide strength to the roof plane since the bamboo would be covered by strips of soaked fabric and additional layers applied as in the previous photo series.

The next step is to build these roofs for actual use, perhaps in an emergency area like that still being dealt with after the earthquake in Pakistan or the Hurricane in Bangladesh. The joints for bamboo shelters being built to protect the tents in Pakistan are no more advanced than what is presented here. I am studying high tech materials to replace cement so that you will be sure to need me there, if only for the synergy.

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Economic cost analysis: Imagine a 400 square foot house = 37.2 m2 That house will have about 1200 ft2 of surface 111.5 m2, (roof edges can be built to collect drinking water, save on gutters). Acrylic...... $ .90/ft2 6.68/m2 cement..... .10 .74 fiber.......... .06 .44 bamboo... .24 1.78 _____________ Total........ $ 1.30 9.65
Note: Further significant savings are possible if bulk dry acrylic is procured from the refinery. There are serious health risks associated with this that require a mixing facility where the dry acrylic can be safely mixed with water. (Research term: fungal lung disease).

$1.30 per ft2 of surface area x 1200 ft2 = $1560 9.69/m2 of surface area x 111.5 m2 = 1080 This is for a shell (no windows doors, foundation or floor), add a little artful finish for pride of place = material cost for a decent shelter, (amenities equal to a tent). Finished shell material cost: $1800 $4.50 per ft2 of floor space 1250 11.2 per m2 of floor space Thus, a nice looking and permanent home can be built for about one third the cost of an emergency ten, per area unit measure. Caution, these are rough figures from a controlled environment and something may be overlooked.

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Chapter nine illustrates use of a new material to bind the joints of a truss. Antoon Versteegde, an extraordinary bamboo maestro who I am honored to be in consortium with at self-sheltering.org, and future projects unlimited, sent me a link to a very sad presentation of collapsed tents under snow load, in Pakistan, following earthquake disaster. I tried to salute the awesome efforts of those who still struggle there by building this to match their conditions. I failed at first because sliding on the ice gave me a stiff back. The next chapter was put together with hope for those in Pakistan who are still working to overcome a devestating earthquake and chilling winters.