ALTERNATIVE CONSTRUCTION

TECHINIQUES
BAMBOO REINFORCED CONCRETE
BAMBOO REINFORCED CONCRETE
What is bamboo reinforced concrete ?
Bamboo reinforced concrete is where bamboo
is used as a replacement for steel
reinforcementinconcreteconstruction. This
type of reinforcement can be used in columns,
beams and also in slabs.
In recent years, steel prices have soared. The
production of steel has high consumption of
fossil fuels and its has a high embodied
energy(LCA).
Bamboo is a low-cost and low-energy
substitute construction materials. Bamboo
takes less energy to harvest and transport. It
has low manufacturing costs compared with
steel.
BAMBOO CHARACTERISTICS
Bamboo is giant grass not a tree. Some
species can grow up to 1metre in a day.
The density of fibers in cross-section of a
bamboo shell varies with thickness as well as
height.
The strength of bamboo is greater than most
of the timber products.
Seasoned Bamboo is less prone to insect
attack.
Bamboo can prevent pollution.
The fire resistance is very good because of
the high content of silicate acid.
The enormous elasticity of bamboo makes it
to a very good building material for earth-
quake-endangered areas.
SELECTION AND PREPARATION OF BAMBOO
SELECTION
Use only bamboo showing a pronounced brown color. This will insure that the
plant is at least three years old.
Select the longest large diameter culms available.
Do not use whole culms of green, unseasoned bamboo.
Avoid bamboo cut in spring or early summer. These culms are generally weaker
due to increased fiber moisture content.
PREPERATION
Sizing
Splitting
Seasoning
Bending
Waterproof Coating
CONSTRUCTION PRINCIPLES
CONCRETE MIX PROPORTIONS:

The same mix designs can be used as would normally be used with steel
reinforced concrete. Concrete slump should be as low as workability will allow. Excess
water causes swelling of the bamboo. High early-strength cement is preferred to minimize
cracks caused by swelling of bamboo when seasoned bamboo cannot be waterproofed.

PLACEMENT OF BAMBOO
Bamboo reinforcement should not be placed less than 1
inches from the face of the concrete surface.
The clear spacing between bamboo rods or splints should not
be less than the maximum size aggregate plus inch.
Reinforcement should be evenly spaced and lashed together
on short sticks placed at right angles to the main
reinforcement.
The ties can be made with vegetation strips. This embedded
depth is approximately 10 times the diameter of whole culms.
Spacing of the stirrups should not exceed 6 inches.
BAMBOO REINFORCED CONCRETE - COLUMNS

Bamboo finds an efficient application in concrete columns.

The construction process is same as that of steel reinforcement.

Bamboo reinforcement in columns serves to resist a compression load equal to that taken by the
concrete it displaces. It also will resist shear and tensile stresses.
Vertical reinforcement should be approximately 4 percent of the column cross section for
rectangular columns.
When bamboo is used as lateral tie reinforcement, the ties should be spaced not over 16 times the
least dimension of the vertical reinforcement nor farther apart than the least dimension of the
column.
BAMBOO REINFORCED CONCRETE - BEAMS
Bamboo longitudinal reinforcement should be
between 3 and 4 percent of the concrete cross
section. concrete Mix
It have the same bending moment resistance proportion
coefficient as a balanced steel reinforced 1 : 3 :
beam, singly reinforced. 2.2
Due to the economy of concrete therefore, cement Coarse Fine aggregate
deeper, narrower replacement beams are aggregate
recommended. 1 : 0.45
A minimum number of rods should be used to
provide adequate spacing. The bamboo stirrup water cement
area should always be about 4 times the steel
stirrup area.
BAMBOO AN EFFECTIVE CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL
The strength of bamboo is greater than steel.
Bamboo lowers the cost of construction.
Increases the strength of the buildings .
Bamboo can crack and deflect more than steel reinforcement.
It withstands 7.8 Richter of seismic attack.
The embodied energy of bamboo is very less compared to steel.
Bamboo is also a easily accessible material since it can grow in tropic and
sub-tropic zones.
Some species of bamboo can grow up to 1metre in a day.
The plant will be fully mature at an age of three to four years.
EXAMPLES OF BAMBOO REINFORCED CONCRETE