Uses of Bamboo for Sustainable Construction—A Structural and Durability Perspective—A Review

Abstract

Bamboo is a natural biodegradable material used as a strength-bearing material that operates for system works, formwork supporting stands, structural members in low-rise houses, props, framing, bridges, laminated flooring, facades, walls, roofs, and trusses. Over recent years, there has been an increased demand for bamboo, considering sustainable construction practices. Exploring bamboo’s physical and mechanical behaviour is essential to develop innovative construction methods and design guidelines. Therefore, this paper aims to review the studies on bamboo culms’ material properties and physical behaviour, considering the load-bearing capacity and structural adequacy. This study summarises the physical and mechanical properties of a wide array of bamboo species grown worldwide. Mechanical properties such as compressive, tensile, flexural, shear, and bucking strengths are explored, highlighting the key findings in previous experimental works. Results have indicated a significant variability in bamboo’s material and mechanical properties considering the growth conditions, location along a culm, geometric imperfections and environmental conditions. In addition to material and mechanical properties, structural bamboo connections, engineered bamboo products, and preservative treatment of bamboo are also investigated. The construction industry can utilise the summary of the findings of this study to develop design guidelines for sustainable bamboo construction. Overall, this paper presents an overview of structural capability and drawbacks for future research and development using bamboo in modern construction.

Multi-Criteria Analysis and Design Ideas of Green Façade Systems as Eco-Friendly Architectural Solutions

“…Our research shows numerous construction methods and systems in use, which should form the basic and initial knowledge before the design process begins. In order to develop the best possible solutions, green façade system designers should take into account the latest materials, such as: aesthetically pleasing, flexible and thin perovskite structure [3,34]; bamboo which has remarkable strength and irrigation properties, and is biodegradable [20]; rammed earth which is resistant to vibration [27], noise and fire; the biomass generated by the algae oxygen production reaction which can be periodically harvested, then collected and used, for example, as fertiliser or as an energy source [31]; new raw materials from used plastic products [24] or ornamental or utility plants, selected to suit street-like conditions [4].…”

The Application of Bamboo in the Railway Industry: A Sustainable Solution for Track Construction

“…Bamboo exhibits a hollow internal structure with tube-like sections between the nodes, where longitudinal fibers are aligned within a matrix of lignin (see Figure 7a) [64,65]. The thickness of the culm wall gradually decreases from the base to the top of the bamboo culm [66]. The slender bamboo fibers, which are long, tapered at both ends, and sometimes forked, also vary in density within the culm wall, with a decrease in density from the outer wall to the inner wall [67].…”

Advances in Connection Techniques for Raw Bamboo Structures – A Systematic Review

“…There are some bamboo species that grow as much as 7.5 to 40 cm a day; one notable record is 1.2 meters in a single day recorded in Japan [5,6]. Some commercially used bamboo species have a relatively quick maturation period of 4 to 5 years [7]. Bamboo is regarded as a renewable resource since it can be harvested quickly and continues to grow new stems even after the culm or stem is removed [6].…”