Bamboo as a Construction Material: Prospects and Challenges

Bamboo is a naturally available, fast growing and renewable resource. Bamboo plants are found all over the world in tropical and non-tropical regions. Asia pacific region is specifically rich in bamboo biodiversity. Due to high energy demand of existing construction materials and scarcity of other naturally available materials like wood, bamboo is a good alternative for construction. This paper reviews the mechanical properties and use of bamboo in construction. The tensile strength of different bamboo species varies in the range 70-210 MPa, compressive strength 20-65 MPa, elastic modulus 2500-17500 MPa, and modulus of rupture 50-200 MPa. Bamboo is a versatile material and can be used in construction in various ways. Bamboo can be engineered to specific need in construction such as laminated and scrimber bamboo. Engineered bamboo are used for various housing purposes such as roofing and flooring. Bamboo culms are often used directly without any alteration as structural members such as beams and columns. Bamboo can also be used as reinforcement in concrete as a replacement to steel. The shear and flexural behavior of bamboo reinforced concrete (BRC) beams is significantly better than plain concrete beams. Bamboo fibers reinforced concrete (BFRC) is a good alternative to existing synthetic fibers reinforced concrete such as glass and steel fibers. Development of standardized testing procedures and structural specifications utilizing existing and future research findings will pave the way towards an extensive use of bamboo in construction industry.